Enjoy a leisurely boat trip along the world heritage site “Kumano River”. Experience the “three-tan sail” moving with the river breeze! ～Kumano River Experience School～

KihoTown is located at the southernmost tip of Mie Prefecture, surrounded by nature.
I came to "Kumano River Experience School" located along the majestic Kumano River!

The person who welcomed us was Yoshikazu Tanigami, the only boat carpenter along this river who is still building riverboats. About 13 years ago, when the Kumano River was registered as a World Heritage Site, we wanted to pass down the long-historic "Sandanbo" to future generations and revitalize KihoTown. We have launched the Kumano River Experience School, where you can experience sightseeing along Santanho with local friends.

What kind of boat is “Santanho”?
With these questions and expectations in mind, I went to experience it.
At the beginning of the experience, we were shown valuable photos from that time and taught about the history of the Kumano River.

The Kumano River was originally called the ``River Pilgrimage Route'' because the retired emperors who visited Kumano Hongu Taisha during the Heian and Kamakura periods took boats down the river.
Until the mid-1950s, every family owned a boat, and it was the main source of transportation for people, transporting daily necessities, transporting people, and fishing on river roads, and even in the days when many riverboats came and went. Apparently there was.

However, around 1955, with the construction of roads, the role of transportation by boat came to an end, and the riverboat culture is said to have disappeared.

Because of this history, the Kumano River was the first in the world to be registered as a World Heritage Site as a "river pilgrimage route."

After deepening his knowledge, Mr. Tanigami said, ``Let's go for a ride on a santan sail!''
The Kumanogawa River, which is right in front of the Kumanogawa Experience School, is about a 1-minute walk away.

This is the river boat "Santanho" (total length 8.6m x width 1.6m).
It is large enough to accommodate up to 8 people.

In order to cope with the violent currents of the Kumano River, also known as the "raging river," every aspect of the riverboat has been carefully thought out, from its overall shape and cross-section to the indentations in the bottom and materials such as boards and nails. It has a sophisticated structure that can meet the conditions of.

There are four types of wood used for riverboats: cedar, cypress, zelkova, and oak. All of the wood is sourced from forests in the Kumano River basin, and each tree is used according to its characteristics. These boats are made by inheriting the wisdom of people of the past.

That's not the only feature of "Santanho"!
``Santanho'' is a boat that makes good use of the unique winds of the Kumano River, and as its name suggests, it is a boat that can carry three sails on its mast and move by catching the wind.

When the wind started blowing, the three canvases were finally hoisted onto the poles!
Catch the wind and make bread! The sails are stretched.
The ship moves forward as if being pushed by the wind and slipping.

While on board, you will be wearing Kumanogawa Experience School's original Sandogasa hat. Feel like the retired emperors of the time (!?) as you walk along the leisurely flowing Kumano River.

What you can hear is the wind, the river, and the voices of birds... We move slowly, sometimes forcefully, and leave it to the wind.

Then, this island that appeared before my eyes was the World Heritage Site "Mifunejima".

The island is part of the grounds of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine and is the venue for Kumano Hayatama Taisha's annual festival, the Mifune Festival. It has a history of more than a year.

Mr. Tanigami makes 100 paddles every year for this festival.

If you would like to visit the World Heritage Site "Kumano Hayatama Taisha", you can just drop off the train near "Kumano Hayatama Taisha" and continue on your way!

On the way back, take advantage of the uphill wind.
Mr. Tanigami, for some reason, was barely making his way to the riverbed, unlike when he was heading there.
``With this wind, it's faster to just stay on the edge of the riverbank,'' he said, and I realized that he was steering the ship perfectly while reading the wind.

Mr. Tanigami has lived with the Kumano River since he was a child. Since he had always loved boats, he taught himself how to build boats. Then, 13 years ago, they revived the riverboat "Santanho" and continue to convey its charm to this day.

``A lot of children come to play, especially in the summer.When I tell them about how I used to play in the river when I was little, they listen with great interest,'' says Tanigami.
It taught me the wonders of living in contact with nature, something that we tend to forget in this day and age.

After completing the 2 and a half hour boat trip, we were given a tour of the workshop.
The many well-organized tools convey Mr. Tanigami's temperament as a boat craftsman.

I received this bill as a souvenir.
This tag is made from the same material as the ship, making it a great souvenir of your trip!

The most memorable thing about the Kumano River Experience Tour is the magnificent scenery of the Kumano River, a World Heritage Site.
We hope you will enjoy the time you spend reminiscing about our eternal history in the midst of nature!

As for corona countermeasures, thoroughly disinfect your hands.
In order to avoid crowding, we are operating with a reduced number of people allowed on each boat.