Golden Week Starts Tomorrow...

....the river is HIGH and the cherry blossoms are out.

We're doing pick-ups from Jomokogen bullet train station this year (as well as the usual ones from Minakami) to make it even easier to make the quick trip up here.

Don't waste your Golden Week - do something exhilarating!

Perspective on the current situation

There’s been plenty of conflicting information and many alarmist reports on the effects of the tsunami and the Fukushima meltdown over the last month. In our secluded valleys, we are enjoying the same pristine environment that has always existed. Our aim is to offer reassurance of the safety of Minakami as a tourist destination and our commitment to continue providing exhilarating, refreshing adventures.

Earthquakes

Historically Minakami has never suffered from large earthquakes. This is thanks largely to its location at the base of the mountains and the hard rock base on which it stands. This was one of the reasons that it was chosen as a safe location for the dams that were built upriver.

The recent quakes and aftershocks have been tremors here in Minakami. Historically the largest earthquake has registered as a 4. Earthquakes or aftershocks do not affect canyoning or rafting tours in any way. (Caving is on hold for the moment.)

Radiation

Environmental

Background radiation naturally occurs everywhere and despite the current events, radiation levels at present are lower in Tokyo than in Hong Kong and Singapore. Minakami has been relatively unaffected and all measurements are at normal background levels at this time. Hourly measurements are being made at the nearby city of Maebashi.

20011/04/15 Maebashi             0.040 µSv/h http://atmc.jp/

20011/04/15 Tokyo                    0.079 µSv/h http://atmc.jp/

20011/04/15 Singapore            0.090 µSv/h http://app2.nea.gov.sg/index.aspx

20011/04/15 Hong Kong           0.100 µSv/h (http://www.hko.gov.hk/radiation/ermp/rmn/applet/map/rmn_hourly_e.htm)

Water

The Tone River runs right through the heart of Minakami and is key to its tourism. As a precautionary measure the local government has been monitoring the condition of the river and have given it a clean bill of health. (no traces of radiation)

Food

We have always believed in supporting local producers and this is paying dividends at the moment as food from Gunma is perfectly safe and healthy. Added to that we have also checked with our suppliers to find out where they source their supplies, in order to ensure the quality and reliability of our food.

Refresh and contribute

The tourism industry in Minakami have been helping in many ways with the relief effort; sending people as volunteers, providing needed goods and accommodating refugees. To continue these efforts, Minakami now NEEDS YOUR HELP to stop the secondary disaster of a possible recession.

Accommodations, activity providers, restaurants and other tourism related businesses have all been hit hard over the last month with cancellations, in some cases nearly losing 100% of business.

The best way everyone can help is to go out , HAVE FUN, SPEND MONEY and REFRESH YOURSELF! This not only reinvigorates you, but is a major contribution to the tourism industry in Minakami, which in turn contributes to Japan's economy and eventually those affected in Tohoku.

So get a day away from the daily drag, refresh with a shot of adventure, enjoy the clean and safe natural environment and do your bit for the economy at the same time. 

www.canyons.jp

Canyons help with the disaster releif

Many of the Canyons crew have been helping out in the Tohoku areas in a number of different capacities over the last few weeks. We have been working with many different agencies but the main one was the Minakami Rescue and Support team, made up of staff from all the outdoor companies in Minakami. The team (to date) has done a total of 16 runs to some of the worst hit areas in the Miyagi and Iwate regions, carrying supplies and offering manpower.

Beau (Bungy Japan) also headed up a number of missions to various ares in Iwate delivering much needed supplies.

Below are some pics from one of the missions we did delivering items to HOPE internationals heliport in Miyagi Pref.

 Loading the Heli to do food and water drops on one of the Higasji Matsushima Islands that had been cutoff from the land when the road bridge collapsed.

 There was a fleet of 4 heli's shuttling goods, 5-7 trips a day each carrying around 250Kg.  The pilots were all volunteers from the Japan Helicopter Club. Great work guys!

Sometime we hooked up with other NPO's to get supplies to people that were in desperate need.  This is one of the warehouses in Sendai.