Hello, my name is Bethany and I'm a student from the United States. This summer has been particularly scorching so when I told my friends that I wanted to have a full day of outdoor adventure, it was not a surprise that everyone refused to come with me. I guess it is a little uncharacteristic because I'm from one of the colder regions of the United States, but I wanted to enjoy the last summer vacation I'll have before I'm too busy writing my dissertation. Fortunately, finding this tour gave me the chance to meet like-minded adventurers and check out Shiga for the first time, something I've been meaning to do since I moved to Japan several years ago. You see Shiga is a pretty famous day trip spot during summers in Kansai.
■Forest Adventure
After meeting at Otsu Station, our first destination was Forest Adventure, a newly opened zipline park in Maibara. Forest Adventure, which has a few dozen locations across the country tries to promote harmony with nature. As such, they try to build their facilities while minimizing the environmental impact, striving to keep the forest in its original form. Because of that, each Forest Adventure park emphasizes the uniqueness of each region's forest. The Maibara location is the first and only one I've visited so far, but the view of Mt. Ibuki, one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, was breathtaking.
On this tour, we got to experience the canopy course. According to the website, it consists of 5 sites and 37 activities in total, but we completed 4 of the sites. The course is advertised as being friendly for children and first-timers. However, heights can range from 5-8 meters (15-24 feet), so it is recommended that people who have a fear of heights decide carefully whether they would like to continue or not. It's important because you're not allowed to stop once you're in the middle of a site.
Fortunately, the instructions are very clear which should bring some relief. First, some of the general safety rules and policies were explained and we were asked to sign a consent form. Then we changed and the staff strapped us into harnesses. Of note: be sure to use the bathroom before this because you're neither allowed to once it's on. Also, later on, one of my leg straps came loose midway through the course, but the staff was kind enough to adjust it for me when I went back to ask. Next, we were asked to watch a multilingual instruction video that covered both the basic techniques and actual rules for the park. As the final preparation step, the staff kindly reinforces what you learned from the video at the practice spot.
I can't say I was exactly frightened because I've had exactly one minute of zipline experience before coming here, but I was practically shaking in my harness. I could feel the adrenaline building up inside of me just watching everyone go before me. Because of my one minute of prior experience, I was nominated to go first in my group. Okay, I have to be brave for everyone then. Sit down and then fall forward. 3…2…1…
Even at the practice spot the whirring sound of your device sliding down the zipline can be a little startling. I could feel the tension rising and had to stop myself from running excitedly to the actual starting point so that I could try to cheer on my group.
On the course, there are a variety of athletic challenges. Supposedly, they build in difficulty as you go through each site, but in my experience, some of the more difficult ones were in the beginning. Little signs would introduce each challenge and depict how they were supposed to be accomplished. Some reminded me of my childhood - the joy of crawling through net tunnels or my dislike for gym class - the struggle of climbing the "Spider's Web", another net that you have to hang onto in order to move from right to left. The challenges I enjoyed the most made me feel like I was in an adventure video game, walking across tightropes or jumping across platforms. The best part though was getting to see Mt. Ibuki's appearance through the trees.
At the end of each site, you finish by zipping across an increasingly lengthy distance from the trees to a platform on the ground covered in leaves and mulch. As exciting as this is, I have to warn you - despite using the recommended technique, I landed on my back every single time. By the way, it's important to note that because of the risks of things like these, you are instructed to carry as few items as possible and to keep them either in a small bag on your person or in your zippered pockets. They have small bags for you to borrow and I highly suggest using that service. The strap of my groupmate's purse ripped during one of her landings. You also have to be prepared to brush off a ton of wooden bits stuck to your clothes which if that's a concern for you, they also have reaaaaally cute jumpsuits that you can rent for 500 yen as well as shoes and gloves.
In the end, our sense of accomplishment was matched by our hunger. Outside of Forest Adventure, there are spaces to barbecue or picnic, but we had something better scheduled.
■OUMI WAVE
OUMI Wave is a campsite along Lake Biwa, Japan's largest and most beautiful lake. Its concept focuses on three elements: "Act", "Chill", and "Food". The layout keeps the serene ambiance of Lake Biwa as the central point. The first thing that struck me was the water stretching as far as the eye could see. Distant mountains of the opposite shores appeared like shadows on the horizon. The weather was perfect - sunny and warm. The sparkles of sunlight on the water were as white as the clouds in the sky. However, as peaceful as it may be, there is just as much thrill and excitement to be had there.
We started this part of the tour with a barbecue of various grilled meats and veggies aplenty. It seemed like most people were racing to get a piece of the Japanese beef as soon as it was served, but really we all ate to our satisfaction. Afterward, some nursed their food comas under the gazebos or basked in the sun on the lounge chairs, but most of us rushed to the water.
Let me preface this by saying - I can't swim. As such, I'm normally pretty uncomfortable around bodies of water. For a while, I thought I would just stand waist-deep and try to catch as much of the seemingly infinite seaweed between my toes. So, as you can understand, I surprised myself with how quickly I took to paddleboarding. We were lucky to have such a kind instructor who not only gave us the initial lecture and demonstration but also continued to monitor us and aid us when we got stuck or pushed us in the right direction when we accidentally wandered into the swimming section.
Boyfriends paddled for girlfriends, girlfriends paddled for boyfriends, parents for children, and children for parents. Some paddled off solo like brave adventurers. Others put their faith in strangers' abilities, forging friendships. The further you paddled out, the more serene it became…is what I want to say, but really once I couldn't hear anyone distinctly anymore, I got scared and hurriedly paddled back to my new friends. In the end, I think we burned off enough calories to not only negate our hearty lunch but to reward ourselves with an insanely delicious mango soda from the food truck.
Lastly, we had the opportunity to try a tent sauna. I know you're probably thinking, "A tent sauna in summer!? Are you crazy!?". Actually, I warned the tour organizers that I may skip this part of the tour depending on how my body felt that day. I hesitated for as long as I could, but once I was inside it was hard to leave.
It may not be as sophisticated as saunas you've seen before, but that's also part of the charm. Inside an ordinary tent sat a couple of benches and an irreplaceable stove from Russia with necessary precautions taken for ventilation. We were left to pour the water on the logs to our hearts' content and with each ladle the tent filled with the scent of berries. Drenched in sweat, we were probably more wet than when we were playing in the lake itself. Some of us followed the recommendation to rush back to the cool murky waters. The latter part may not be ideal come winter, but we were told by OUMI WAVE staff that the sauna at least is available year-round.
There are just a few more points I want to mention. First, while we were there, we got to witness a large family gathering celebrating a birthday - which is something I now want to do next year. Second, across the street from the campsite is a motorcycle and Americana-themed cafe that I regret not checking out. Third, the toilets and shower rooms were really clean and well-equipped. Body soap, shampoo, and hairdryers were free to use. (Yes, you will have to bring your own conditioner). There were also tiny lockers available for valuables. Last, there are plenty of other things available for rent that I'm sure would be available upon request for people who take the tour in the future (life jackets, towels, etc.)
What I really liked about Oumi Wave is that it felt really like a place to bring people of all ages and swimming abilities. It seemed that whether you wanted to read a book on the shoreline or swim until your arms were sore, you could gain just as much satisfaction from the experience.
Overall I can highly recommend this tour to anyone who likes the outdoors. Joining the tour gave us access to these beautiful adventure spots that aren't easily accessible unless you have a driver's license. The tour guides were also warm and welcoming and some seemed just as excited to have us there as we were to be there. Our guide for the bus was also kind enough to not wake us from our naps when we stopped at the rest area on our way back to Otsu Station. It was a nice ending to the perfect summer adventure. Definitely check it out!