Two types of family rafting tours!
Choose the tour depending on the age of your children and the intensity you want. Our Family rafting tour was voted Japan's best family tour in 2022. Its a fantastic trip for families.
Otoyo Family Rafting Tour
For groups with pre-school children aged 3 years (13 kg) and over.A 5-kilometre section of the Yoshino River, one of the most gentle rapids on the river, where you can play and enjoy yourself in a relaxed and leisurely manner. Includes five small rapids and is recommended for small children making their rafting debut!
Oboke Family Rafting Tour
For groups with primary schools childrenOnly Happy Raft can offer you a real rafting tour on the same course as the Oboke Short Tour! Take on the rapids with the whole family! We really recommend this one if your kids are big enough.
Otoyo Family Tour
For groups with pre-school children aged 3 years (13 kg) and over.
Otoyo Family Rafting Tour Menu
Recommendations for the tour!
Otoyo Family Rafting Tour
Rafting debut for 3 year olds
My child doesn't like the water, is it ok? He can't swim yet, is he OK? We receive many enquiries about family rafting, but don't worry.
Helmets and life jackets are worn by all participants on all tours.
It could be the day they swim for the first time! Parents and children can challenge themselves, adventure!
Introduction to the Otoyo Tour Course
There are about five small rapids between the start and the finish line, and parents and children paddle along together.
In areas where the current is calm, they can play games using the boat or jump in and float puka-puka from the boat.
The kids will be maxed out with excitement in the great nature of the Yoshino River!
One of the fun events is a free-entry rock-diving competition on the way to the river.
Kids who love playing in the water will have a special time.
Tour options.
With a choice of morning or afternoon tours, you can also enjoy lunch before or after your tour with HappyRaft's famous handmade bagel sandwiches (currently takeaway only). They're so popular that some people come to Happy Raft just for the bagels! Come and try one for yourself!
If you are unable to join the tour, you can wait in a hammock at the base overlooking the Yoshino River while you nap, play in the water or take a walk in the beautiful nature.
Differences from the Oboke Family Tour
How do I choose? Recommended for...
- Children from 3 years old (13kg and over) can participate.
- No need for intensity!
- Want to relax and enjoy the scenery!
- Don't want to get wet as much as possible Don't want to swim
Course
km
Gentle course starting further upstream than the Short Tour
Intensity
Grade(Max5)
This is a very popular tour for families, with participants from 3 years old (13kg and over), so young children and the elderly can all enjoy this tour together!
Duration
hours
Approximately 3 hours from registration to dismissal. About 1.5 hours of river time is spent on the river, including a trip down a slightly flowing section and games using boats.
Conditions of participation, prices and other information on tours
| Conditions of participation. | Minimum age of 3 years (weight 13 kg). ※15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. ※Minors must have a parent or guardian sign a participation agreement. ※Please bring proof of the child's age on the day of the tour. |
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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. |
| Payment methods | In order to ensure smooth reception on the day of your visit, we kindly ask you to pay in advance. 【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 dates | March - October |
| Minimum number of participants | Minimum 2 person. ※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. |
| Meeting and dismissal times | Morning tour 9:15am (7/15th- 8/27th, 9/2, 9/3, 9/9, 9/10, 9/16-18, 9/23, 9/34), 9:45am (days other than listed next to 9:15am dates) Afternoon tours 1:45pm ※Tour meeting times are subject to change due to weather and river conditions. Please note that the meeting time may be changed due to weather or river conditions. ※The time for disbandment may vary by 30 minutes to one hour depending on the river conditions and the number of guests. |
| Meeting/dismissal point | Meet and disperse at Happy Raft. |
| Parking | At Happy Raft Base. Free parking available Parking for 40 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 |
※In cold weather, wetsuits are layered to protect against the cold. |
| Photography and photo sales | We take photos and videos during the tour with a waterproof camera! When there are many boats, we also take photos from land with a telephoto camera. You can view them in a slideshow after the tour and purchase them for ¥1,000 per group if you wish. ※You can also bring your own waterproof camera, but we do not recommend this as they are often lost or broken and can cause injuries. |
Notes.
- 【About the boat ride】
The boat will accommodate a maximum of 7 persons + 1 guide.
If there are children below 4th grade, the boat may be able to accommodate 8 guests.
If less than 6 guests are booked, they may share the boat with other guests. - Boat can be chartered (additional fee required).。 Depending on availability, we may not be able to meet charter requests. Please contact us as soon as possible if you wish to charter a boat.
We will contact you if there is a possibility of cancellation due to heavy rainfall caused by typhoons. In the event of normal rainfall, the tour will go ahead. - If there is a high possibility of cancellation due to a typhoon, we will contact you as early as 3 or 4 days before the tour.
We will also make a final confirmation call to everyone the day before the tour to inform them of the situation.
Depending on weather conditions and water levels, the course may be changed, the tour itself may be cancelled, or children may not be able to join the tour even if adults are able to join. - We will inform you as soon as we know, but there may be cases where we decide to cancel the tour on the day. Please be aware of this.
No one is allowed to participate in the tour if they are under the influence of alcohol or have a hangover on the day of the tour.
The above-mentioned persons will not be allowed to participate in the tour even if they arrive on the day of the tour. (In this case, a 100% cancellation fee will be charged. Please understand). - About the use of car navigation systems
If you are using a car navigation system, please search for Tosa Iwahara Station (JR Dosan Line).
Please note that if you search by phone number, address or Happy Laughts, you will be led to the old address of Happy Laughts or a diversion along a mountain road, which can lead to a number of problems.
Frequently asked questions
Q、Is it suitable for small children?
Children aged 3 years and weighing at least 13 kg can participate. Children who weigh more than 13 kg but are not yet 3 years old are not allowed to participate. Please wait until their birthday.
There is a small rapids point, but if they are scared, an adult can hold them and sit in the boat while they go down the rapids. We can devise a descent and play method to suit your child.
Q、 Is it not enough for the primary school children and adults who go with you?
No. For those who are looking for the intense rapids of the Oboke course, it may not be enough, but you can play games, swim in the river and dive in the rocks, so the whole family will have great memories together. If your older children want to go down bigger rapids, you can split the tour with the Oboke Family Tour. The meeting and disbanding point is the same as the Oboke Family Tour, so you can come together as a family, experience rafting on different courses, and meet up again at Happy Raft at the end of the tour.
Q、 Are there any dives?
Yes, there is.
You can dive from 1m to as high as 4m. Each person can choose their own height, so you can try it out. Diving is free, so if you don't want to jump in, just cheer on the people who do!
Q、Do you have wetsuits and rental shoes for small children?
Yes, we do! Wetsuits from 100 cm (size) and rental shoes from 14 cm are available.
Tour flow
Meeting/reception
Good job on the drive! When you arrive at Happy Raft Base, first feel the pleasant breeze in the great outdoors, looking out over the Yoshino River. After registration, sign the consent form and other necessary documents.
Briefing on the tour/start changing clothes.
Explanation of the day's general schedule and tour content. This is where the tension starts to build up for both the guests and the guides! Let's get going! Wetsuit and changing time in separate men's and women's changing rooms.
Move to the riverbank / safety briefing / practice at the trolling area (where the current is calm).
After everyone has changed, it's time to go. Bus transfer with a guide's hilarious talk to suppress any nervousness. Safety briefing on arrival at the riverbank. Afterwards, we get into the boats and the team members/guides are introduced. Practice rowing and holding on to the boat.
Rushing rapids Start!
Total distance of 5 km including 5 large and violent rapids, with small rapids and calm areas in between the rapids. You can jump in from boats or rocks, or play games with boats. Or just float around in the calm areas, looking up at the sky and not thinking. There are endless ways to have fun.
Goal.
After enjoying the afterglow of floating in a puddle in moderate fatigue at the last trolley place, you will return to the base of Happy Raft in a 10-minute car ride back to the base.
Changing/viewing a slideshow of photos from the tour.
After returning to Happy Raft base and changing, we'll have a chance to look at today's photos.
And don't forget to take a photo with all the friends you met today! Free to disband.
