It took three and a half years, but we finally ran our first rowing tour in Japan from Sunday 23 March to Tuesday 01 April, 2025. It was worth the wait!!
Who we were
Twenty rowing guests and two non-rowers joined us
- From Australia: Trish Butler, Sarah Cavanagh, Elizabeth (Wiz) Moir
- From Austria: Andrea and Rüdiger Ranner
- From Canada: Marion Bacon, Janine Chan, David Himsworth (non-rower and husband of Tamzin), Tamzin Jeffs, Donnee Wright
- From Great Britain: Laura Gordon
- From Switzerland: Flavie Aramendy, Kathleen (Kathy) Berezin, Anneco Dintheer, Eva Keller, Franziska Müller Tiberini, Sally Zimmerman
- From USA: Elizabeth (Liz) Kantor, Rick (Krem) Krementz (non-rower and husband of Barbara), Barbara Krementz, Chris Tesla, Lorena Topilow
The main guides, translators and all-round amazing hosts to Japan were James Kent and Kotone Fujimoto from the J-Team, a destination management company based in Tokyo and Kyoto.
I first met James virtually in September 2021. Over the next few years and especially during our research trip in January and February of 2024, James enthusiastically worked with us to design the tour, planning all the in-country travel logistics. The J-Team was our connection to the local rowing clubs with which we partnered for boats, guiding, safety boats and everything related to rowing. A sincere thank you to Yuji Kawahara, the man who put the J-Team in touch with all the clubs!
These clubs and our main contact warmly welcomed us: there were many volunteers involved, whom we say thank you to!
- Shimo Suwa Town – Hideto Kamiwari and Nagano Rowing Association – Yoshiaki Kinoshita
- Seto Rowing Club – Akira Tanaka
- Imabari Rowing Club – Katsutoshi Ide & Masahiro Nojiri
What we did
It is hard, actually impossible, to distill into a short space the essence and the details of our ten day adventure. Below are quick summaries and lots of photos. First a few comments from the guests at the end of the tour:
What great memories of Japan, with the highlight being rowing with you all, such a great group of people, both rowers and organizers. And not forgetting, of course – the cherry blossoms!!
What an outstanding week of rowing, adventure, wonderful people, and eating in exotic Japan!
Such a life changing trip in so many ways! Experiencing beautiful Japan with new friends coming together as a crew ….. thank you all for the laughter and strength we shared together. Thank you , Ruth. Thank you James & Kotone.
I just want to express my gratitude to the whole crew (Ruth, J team, all participants) for making this trip so rich in learning and a wonderful experience (physically and mentally).
Thanks to all of you for your open friendliness and sharing. What amazing memories to treasure Stay well and never stop rowing!
All photos courtesy of J-Team unless otherwise noted.
Day 1 – Sunday 23 March
- Meet in Tokyo for train with group to Suwa OR individual arrangements to get to Suwa
- Lunch at your own expense
- Afternoon – Sake tasting experience in Suwa
- Check in Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu
- Briefing meeting followed by dinner
Day 2 – Monday 24 March
- Morning- Row on Lake Suwa
- Afternoon- Visit to Matsumoto Castle
- Briefing and dinner
We had such a lovely row and warm welcome. A small thank you of a plaque plus assorted goodies from all the guests.
And then a little culture …
Day 3 – Tuesday 25 March
- Check out Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu
- Transfer to Otsu
- Lunch at rest stop – many options!
- Afternoon- Row on Seta River with Seta Rowing Club
- Check in Otsu Prince Hotel
- Briefing and dinner
Day 4 – Wednesday 26 March
- Row on Lake Biwa with Seta Rowing Club – the water was a little “lumpy” and we did not have coastal boats to play in the waves, so after a brief tour of the south basin of the lake, we returned for a final row in the river.
- Briefing and dinner
Day 5 – Thursday 26 March
This was a travel and transfer day. We left Otsu, stopped for a walking tour of Kyoto and then took trains to Imabari, getting ready for the exciting tour on the Seto Inland Sea.
Day 6 – Friday 27 March
We were beginning with the biggest challenge – crossing the Naruto Strait. This channel has the strongest tidal currents in Japan and is also a major shipping route. And those tankers and container ships sure can move fast. The crossing was carefully timed by the amazing crew from Imabari Rowing Club and many coastal rowing friends brought from other parts of Japan. The current was lowest at slack tide, as it was turning from high to low. We launched, rowed up to the crossing just past Onaruto Bridge and waited, watching the massive sign in the hill which gave the current in knots. When the current was at its lowest and there were no approaching ships we gave the crews the signal and they sprinted across from Shikoku Island to Oshima Island. We did it! First ever crossing by rowing shells!
Days 6 through 9 – 27 to 31 March
Although chilly with wind, a bit of drizzle, some sun and unseasonably low temperatures, we had an absolutely sensational tour on the Seto Inland Sea, beginning in Imabari and ending in Onomichi. Each day we rowed between 20 and 30 km, with stops for a fabulous variety of lunches. The Japanese support crews took amazing car of us and we passed under multiple bridges, dodged big ships and launched from and landed at sandy beaches.
Loading the trailer and a final, very fond and very sad thank you and farewell.
Thank you Japan for wonderful rowing and travel!
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