The Oceans Seven: Anatomy of a Tsugaru Channel Crossing

The Oceans Seven has been accomplished by 29 individuals in history (see list below).

Some channel crossings are well-known (English Channel and Strait of Gibraltar) and other channels are less well-known. Today, we will look at the logistics and background of crossing the Tsugaru Channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan.

Travel to Japan

Travel to Japan will require international flights into one of the major airports in Japan. Sapporo (New Chitose Airport (新千歳空港, CTS) is the closest international airport in Hokkaido, but swimmers can also fly into Narita International Airport (成田国際空港, NRT) or Haneda Airport (羽田空港, HND). Narita requires a comfortable hour-long train ride to Tokyo Station (東京駅) while Haneda only requires a short taxi ride or monorail into the center of Tokyo.

After arriving in Japan, you can take a flight to Aomori Airport (青森空港, AOJ) or a bullet train ride to Shin-Aomori Station (新青森駅). From there, you can catch a taxi or rent a car to get to the Tappi Misaki (竜飛崎 or 龍飛崎) area that lies on the shores of the Tsugaru Channel. English and other languages are available in the airports and train stations so language barriers are not insurmountable.

Travel to the Tsugaru Channel

Travel to the Tsugaru Channel can take up to 80 minutes from the Aomori Airport or Aomori train stations. Along the way, you will see Japanese convenience stores (7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson’s) that sell all kinds of uniquely packaged foods and drinks – as well as monkeys on the road and a stunning countryside.

Tappi Misaki Accommodations

Hotel Tappi Misaki (see here) is a very conveniently located accommodation that serves food directly sourced from the Tsugaru Channel. From its location, the hotel offers spectacular views of the Channel and surrounding countryside. Tappi Misaki is a peninsula that faces the Sea of Japan and the Tsugaru Channel with Hokkaido only 19.5 km away.

If you do not prefer seafood (e.g., raw fish, boiled fish, shellfish, and seaweed), then meals can be procured at the convenience stores that are less than a 30-minute drive from Hotel Tappi Misaki.

And you can always purchase cold and hot drinks out of the ubiquitous vending machines:

Warm-up and Preparations

All along the Tappi Misaki peninsula, there are beautiful locations to swim along the shores. The water is clear with plentiful marine flora and marine life in absolutely crystal clear, protected waters.

You can always walk down to the shore or drive – either way, the scenery is a joy to behold.

While the waters have a tropical vibe near the shore with a variety of blues and greens, the water can be cool in the June and July (14-17°C) and much warmer later in August (22°C+).

Meeting the Escort Pilots and Crew

It is always best to meet the escort pilots and crew ahead of time – and clear up any misunderstandings that often run rampant among English-speakers when it comes to swimming across the Tsugaru Channel.

The Crossing

Swims start as early as 4 am – which means gathering at the port to load the escort boat in done during the dark.

The boats will have signs in Japanese that mean swimmer in the water. The boats have low drafts that are convenient for feedings.

The escort pilots are fishermen who fish every day out in the Tsugaru Channel – they know the waters well and the conditions and situations that you should avoid and exploit (e.g., Tsugaru Current). Once the sun rises above the horizon, the swim is a go. You can jump in from the shore and swim to shore. The start is from the water after touching the shore.

The Crossing

The crossing is highly technical as the elements can push you all over the channel – and not necessarily to your goal. Swimming from Point A to Point B in the Tsugaru Current can be tricky. Often, starts in Kodomari on the Aomori Prefecture side do not seem logical, but trust your boat captains and ask them questions – or me via email at steven.munatones@kaatsu.com if you have questions.

While the Tsugaru Channel is measured at 19.5 km at its closest two points, the actual distance traveled (and pushed by the currents) is usually significantly longer.

The Celebration

Enjoy your crossing.