Haidee’s sister, Kylee, was visiting from New Zealand, so we were keen to show her around some of our favourite sea kayaking locations close to Sapporo City. High on the list, therefore, was Shishamonai Falls – a perfect location to experience some of Shakotan Peninsula’s best coastal scenery, in a small package.
Haidee and I had paddled to Shishamonai Falls previously, but only at the end of a mammoth 26km day from north of Kamui-misaki cape (story here).
Today, with a full day available to explore just the falls and surrounding area, we’d be able to check out the area in a much more relaxing way.
The weather forecast for the day was for only light winds for the entire day. As we pushed off from the rocky put-in, the sea was a typical summer Japan Sea sort of sea.
We first headed north towards Cape Numamae-misaki, to check out the caves and passageways there.
We then headed back south, past the put-in, and landed on Sai-no-kawara Spit next to Cape Jubo-misaki. There was the most perfect sea breeze blowing, and the temperature was just right.
After a quick lunch of onigiri rice balls, we carried on towards Shishamonai Falls.
Along the way, we stopped in at the caves at the bottom of the towering cliffs forming a natural barrier between Sai-no-kawara and the falls.
As always, the falls took us by surprise, suddenly appearing out of nowhere as we rounded a rocky cape.
Landing at the Shishamonai Cove, Haidee and Kylee went straight for the falls.
Once we’d had our fill of the falls, we headed straight back to the put-in. Great day out!
