Canyoning is a river sport that allows you to experience the thrill and sense of oneness with nature, descending through the canyon with only your body, a harness and a rope.
Recently, the keyword “outdoors" has been on the rise, and thanks to this, canyoning is becoming a popular activity in Japan and abroad!
The secret place that only HappyRaft has found is the beautiful nature that is perfect for canyoning…
If I had to describe it in one word, it would be: unexplored.
Come and play in our natural adventure playground. We have exclusive use of Musasabi canyon -an amazing place of wonder. Featuring a slide into a washing-machine type experience, zip-lines, rock-slides, and a 45m waterfall to finish. Let our guides show you around this amazing world. Unlike other Canyoning places in Japan we have exclusive access to this canyon so no lines or waiting – the way that it’s meant to be.
Canyoning Tour Menu
Canyoning Tour Recommendations!
Canyoning Tour
Summer is in full swing! Limited Tours
Summer is in full swing! Limited Tours
Rafting is one of HappyRaft's most popular activities, available from March to November and from spring to autumn, but there is one more tour that is very popular and available only from July 1 to September 30!
That's canyoning!
Whether you've heard of it or not, once you've experienced it, you're sure to be hooked!
Introduction to Canyoning Course
Located deep in the canyon of the Akane River, a tributary that flows into the Yoshino River, is a place named “Musasabi Canyon". The crystal clear water and majestic rocks are so beautiful that you cannot take your eyes off them. From the start to the finish line, you can enjoy a variety of activities such as a waterfall dive using a rope, a natural monolithic water slide, swimming in an emerald green waterfall pool, and river trekking on your own through a huge rock tunnel and a beautiful carpet of moss. The 40-meter high “Musasabi Falls" is the goal of the tour.
Tour Options
You can choose between a morning or afternoon tour, and enjoy lunch before or after the tour with HappyRaft's famous homemade bagel sandwiches (advance reservation required). They are so popular that some people come to HappyRaft just to buy bagels! Come and try one!
If you are unable to join the tour, you can take a nap in a hammock at the base overlooking the Yoshino River, play in the water, or take a walk in the beautiful nature.
The difference between rafting tours
How do I choose? This is for you!
- Adventure with only your own body and equipment such as ropes/harnesses without any vehicles.
- Clear water, green trees, and the sun shining through the trees.
- The canyon is always filled with negative ions and you can feel everything close to your body.
Course
Km
Unlike rafting, which is more of a fast-paced sport, this is a sport played at high and low altitudes, with each person taking turns to walk along the rocks, descend cliffs with ropes, and jump into waterfall basins.
Everyone acts as one team.
Intensity
Grade
Unlike shower climbing, this is a water sport in which participants descend through a steep valley (waterfall up to 40 meters in height) using ropes, cables, and harnesses. On the way, there is also a zip line across the valley and a natural waterslide attraction where you slide down small and medium-sized waterfalls by yourself.
Time required
hours
About 3 hours from the time of registration to the end of the tour. Time spent in the canyon is about 1.5 hours.
The tour is open to junior high school students and above, and a maximum of 13 people (accompanied by two guides) will participate in the tour.
Since this is a completely different sport from rafting, there is no grouping.
Conditions of participation, fees, and other information about the tour
| Participation Requirements | ※To participate in the canyoning tour, our guests must be 12 years of age or older. Also,a waist circumference (above the hip bone) between 65 cm and 125 cm. If you have a fear of heights, please rethink about attending the canyoning tour. There are sections of the tour where you will be suspended several meters in the air.
※Those under 15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. |
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| Price |
※Repeat Customer Discount: Returning customers get an additional ¥500 off！ (Please bring your member's card on the tour day) ※The price is the same for both adults and children. ※High Season Pricing (2025): For the following dates: July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 August 2, 3, 9–11, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31 September 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 ※Obon season: August 13-15 ※Regular price: For all other dates not included in the high season or Obon period. |
| How to pay | In order to ensure smooth reception on the day of your visit, we kindly ask you to pay in advance. ※Credit card payment can be made at the time of reservation through the website or at the site on the day of the tour. 【Advance payment methods.】 ①Bank transfer ②Credit card payment (MasterCard, VISA card) - Available for bookings made via the website. 【Payment on the day of the tour】 ①PayPay ②Credit card payment (MasterCard, VISA card, Union Pay, JCB, American Express, Diners club, DISCOVER) ③ Cash payment In the case of cash payment, the representative person should make the payment together. |
Cancellation | If you need to change your booking or cancel it entirely, please contact us as soon as possible to avoid any cancellation fees. Cancellation fees are as follows: 1 week – 2 days before Tour ~ Cancellation fee = 30% 1 day (24 hrs) before Tour ~ Cancellation fee = 50% Day of booked tour ~ Cancellation fee = 100% ※HappyRaft decides to cancel a tour due to weather, water conditions, or disaster, all tour fees will be refunded. ※ Please note that arriving more than 30 minutes late for any HappyRaft tour may result in cancellation and a cancellation fee may be incurred.
※For cancellations or changes, please contact us by phone, email (booking@happyraft.com) or SMS (090-1000-8184).
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| Included in the tour price |
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| Tour period | July 1 - September 30 *We do not hold this event outside of this period because the water is too cold. |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 person minimum. ※Maximum number of participants: 13 people. ※Tours require a minimum of 2 participants to proceed. Single bookings are accepted, however, tours are subject to cancellation if fewer than 2 participants are confirmed.
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| Meeting and dismissal time | Morning tour 9:45am - 1:00pm Afternoon tour 12:45pm - 4:00pm |
| Meeting/dismissal point | Meet at HappyRaft |
| Parking | Right next to HappyRaft Base Free parking available Parking for 40 passenger cars or 4 large buses |
| Changing rooms | available separate for men and women (no showers, but outdoor hoses are available for a splash down shower...its cold ) |
| What to bring and wear |
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| About taking photos and selling photos | We will take photos and videos during the tour with a waterproof camera! After the tour, you can view them in a slideshow and purchase them for 1,000 yen per group if you wish. ※You can also bring your own camera, but we do not recommend this as it is often lost or broken and can cause injury. |
Precaution
- If there is a possibility that the tour will be canceled due to heavy rain caused by a typhoon, we will contact you. If it rains normally, the tour will go ahead.
If there is a high possibility that the tour will be canceled due to a typhoon, we will contact you at least 3 to 4 days in advance.
We will also call you the day before the tour for final confirmation and let you know the situation at that time. - Depending on the weather and the amount of water, the course may be changed, the tour itself may be canceled, or it may be difficult for children to participate even if adults can.
We will inform you as soon as we know, but please understand that we may contact you on the day of the tour. - Those who are under the influence of alcohol or have a hangover will not be allowed to participate in the tour.
If you fall into any of the above categories, you will not be allowed to participate in the tour even if you arrive on the day of the tour. (The tour fee will not be refunded. Please understand. - About using a car navigation system
- If you are using a car navigation system, please search for “Tosa-iwahara Station on the JR Dosan Line".
If you search for a phone number, address, or HappyRaft, you will be directed to the old address of HappyRaft or a mountain road, which can cause a lot of trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q、What is the difference from rafting?
While rafting involves paddling down the rapids in a boat, canyoning is a water sport that involves descending a mountain stream with only your body through a series of waterfalls. Wearing a harness and making full use of ropes and cables, the guide will support you safely.
Q、I'm not good at heights and I'm not very confident in my physical strength. Can I participate?
The guide will guide you while securing your safety with a harness and rope. We often see people who are not good at heights returning to the base with a smile on their face. Even if you are not sure about your physical strength, the actual distance is only about 1km, so it should not be too much of a problem. Please consult with us if you have any pre-existing conditions that you are concerned about.
Q、Do I need special shoes?
Canyoning shoes are provided here. (21cm-30cm) Rental fee is not required as it is included in the tour price.
Q、Is canyoning more likely to be canceled due to rain than rafting?
Yes, The canyon where we do canyoning is narrower and more susceptible to rain than the main river where we do rafting. However, this does not mean that the tour will be canceled.. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, we will refund the tour fee or change the date, or if there are seats available for rafting, we can change to that.
Tour Flow
Meeting / Reception
Thanks for the early morning drive! When you arrive at HappyRaft Base, please first feel the pleasant breeze in the wilderness, looking at the Yoshino River. After registration, sign the consent form and other necessary documents.
Briefing on the tour / Start changing clothes
Explanation of the general schedule and contents of the tour. Around this time, both the guests and the guides start to get excited! Let's go!
Move to the starting point / Safety briefing
After everyone has changed, we're off to the canyon. Get in the car and drive deeper and deeper into the mountains. Upon arrival at the start point, safety briefing. It's time to start the Canyoning tour!
Goal with a pleasant sense of fatigue ^^)
Return to the HappyRaft base for registration and change of clothes.
Change clothes / Watch a slideshow of tour photos
After returning to the base of HappyRaft and changing clothes, we enjoy watching a slide -show of today's photos. Don't forget to take a photo with all the friends you met today! After that, we are free to disperse.
