THIS IS THE BIG ONE! Japan’s premier rafting course with the most powerful and exciting rapids that we have on offer. Dive into this one and make a splash! Nowhere else in Japan comes close to this in terms of rapid size and intensity. Big rapids interspersed with meandering pools, cliff-jumps and rapids that you can swim down, along with a delicious picnic lunch and lots of time to play games and relax. We guarantee a it will be a day to remember.
10 km of rafting through some of the best scenery in Japan with our professional, crazy fun guides ensure that you will be safe whilst enjoying this pristine white-water mecca. Fire up! Bring your sense of adventure and get ready for the most amazing rafting trip in Japan.
Koboke Long Tour Menu
Why Koboke?
Koboke Long Rafting Tour
Japan's greatest rapids
Biggest and Best White-water in Japan.
5+ hours on the river allowing lots of time to swim, play games, relax and refresh.
Incredible scenery.
Delicious bagel lunch
Options for 7m+ cliff jumps and rapid swimming
Sensational surfing spot (water-level dependant)
Koboke rocks!!
Introduction to Koboke Course
The Koboke Long Tour is HappyRafts’ premium rafting tour, featuring 8 major rapids and 10 minor rapids included in the tour. It’s a big day out loaded with action and adrenaline. It has a great mixture of white-water and calm pools with heaps of opportunities to swim, jump off rocks, and play play play! Highlights also include stunning scenery with fantastic views of the valley along with spectacular rock formations. This is the very best rafting tour that you can do in Japan! We whole-heartedly recommend this tour for anyone looking for the most awesome rafting.
Lunch Bagel Sandwich
Koboke Long Tour includes a lunch of HappyRaft's famous handmade bagel sandwiches☆ Some people come to HappyRaft just to eat our bagels – Yes they are that good!
In summer, while looking at the beautiful view of Koboke, everyone will enjoy YUM, YUM♩ Chilling out having a picnic at the river is just one more reason to choose the Koboke Long Tour.
How is the Koboke long tour different from the Oboke short tour?
The Koboke course is a completely different course to the Oboke course.
- The rapids are much bigger and more intense… in some cases double or triple the scale of intensity.
- The cliff-jump is also 2-3 times higher on the Koboke section.
- Scrumptious Bagel Lunch is included in the Koboke course- Oboke lunch is not included.
- Koboke course runs over 9km while the Oboke course is 4km.
Course
Km
The Koboke Long Course is Japan’s premier white-water rafting course. 18 rapids over 9km. This is the very best rafting available in Japan. Just Do it!
Grade４(Max5)
Grade(Max5)
Anyone aged 12 and above can experience this world-class whitewater rafting.Beginners are welcome. Let our experienced professional guides show you this amazing section of white-water.
Time required
hours
From registration to the end of the tour, it takes about 6.5 hours. We will spend around 5 hours on the river, working together as a team to take on one rapid after another, playing games, swimming, as well as enjoying our scrumptious lunch.
Conditions of participation, fees, and other information about the tour
| Participation Requirements | 12 years old and above. ※Those under 15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. ※For minors, a parent or guardian must sign the participation agreement. If you are a minor, please let us know in advance so that we can organize parental permission. ※For parents with minors, please bring something to confirm your child's age on the day. |
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| Price |
※The price is the same for adults and children. ※ 2024 High season July /13、14、20、21、27、28 August/3、4、10～12、17、18、24、25、31 September/1、7、8、14、15、21、22 Obon season: August 13-15 Regular price: Any day other than the above |
| Payment Method | In order to ensure smooth reception on the day of your tour, 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 |
※Boat charter available (additional fee required). If you wish to charter a boat, please contact us as soon as possible. We may not be able to meet your charter request depending on availability. |
| Tour Dates | March - October |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 person minimum ※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 | Meet time 9:45am ※Tour ends around 4:00pm-4:30pm ※During the cold season, we provide wetsuits and the finish time may be up to one hour earlier depending on river conditions. |
| Meeting/dismissal point | Meet and Dismiss at HappyRaft |
| Parking lot | At 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 |
※In cold weather, wetsuits are layered to protect against the cold. |
| About taking photos and selling photos | We take photos and videos during the tour with a waterproof camera! When there is more than one boat, we also take pictures from land with a DSLR camera. After the tour, you can view the pictures in a slideshow and purchase them for 2,000 yen per group if you wish. ※You may bring your own camera, but we do not recommend this . We take no responsibility for lost or damaged cameras. |
Precautions
- Occasionally tours may be canceled due to heavy rain usually caused by typhoons. In this case, we will contact you. We reserve the right to cancel tours when we see fit but generally can raft even during heavy rain.
When a dangerous typhoon is forecasted to approach our region, we will endeavor to contact and update you on the situation as it unfolds.
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 are severely hungover, will not be allowed to participate.
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 “JR Tosa-iwahara Station. Our base is 100m from the station.
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、 Is it okay for beginners?
YES!!
Please do not worry. Please listen carefully to the guide's safety explanation before the tour.
Experienced guides with RAJ (Japan Rafting Association) river guide certification will accompany you. Our guides have been trained to ensure that the tour is fun and safe.
If you are new to rafting and are still worried about your safety, try the Oboke short tour as more of an introduction to white-water rafting.
Q、Is it okay if I'm not confident in my physical strength?
It's okay. In the rapids, we work together to paddle the boat, but in the slower currents, we go down slowly or float on the surface of the river and let ourselves be swept along. Even those who are not confident in their physical strength can enjoy this tour.
Rafting is a great way to experience the Koboke and our professional guides will ensure a safe fun day.
Q、What can I bring to the lunch spot?
You can bring anything you want (within reason) to use during lunch, such as cigarettes, sunscreen, telephone etc. to the lunch spot. There is also a restroom at the lunch spot, so you can also bring sanitary products. We collect these items during the morning briefing and they will be brought with the lunch – not on the raft so there is no danger of them getting wet.Please keep these items to a minimum
Q, Does the long rafting tour always take place on Koboke?
As long as the water level is within the regulation of RAJ (Rafting Association of Japan), we will run the Koboke course. However, if the water level rises due to heavy rains caused by typhoons, we may have to change the course.
When the river is extremely high, the Oboke Long Course, Ananai Course, and other courses may be used to ensure you a safe tour. These courses are also world class and also make for an amazing day.
When the water rises, these sections that are usually too low to raft may be rafted with great intensity!
After rain, Big water Yoshino River takes on a completely different look, as crystal-clear water turns to an “icey milk coffee” color. All the rapids become bigger and more powerful and make for extremely exciting rafting. We have been running these sections for 20 years and have a good idea of where the most suitable sections to run in these conditions.
Q, I am coming from far away and I do not know if I should take a day trip or stay overnight.
Of Course you should stay with us! The guesthouse is a renovated old house in the mountains, where you can spend time in nature and relax.After rafting, you can have a barbecue at the guesthouse and have a beer or two 😉 The next day, wake up to the sound of birds chirping, take a walk around the inn, try the trekking course, or take a swim in the river. You can meditate or read in the great outdoors. If you have come all this way, rafting is not the only thing you should do. Please enjoy the surrounding wilderness as well! HappyRaft's guesthouse can be booked together with the tour. Of course you can stay the day before the tour!
Tour Flow
Assembly / Reception
Thanks for the drive! When you arrive at HappyRaft Base, please first enjoy the great outdoors and feel the nice breeze while looking at the Yoshino River. After registration, sign the consent form and other necessary documents.
Briefing on the tour / Start changing your clothes
Explanation of the general schedule for the day and the contents of the tour. Around this time, both the guests and the guides start to get excited! Let's go!
Start the whitewater rafting!
The total distance is 9 km, including 8 big and violent rapids, and in the morning we will descend about 5 km and 5 big rapids. In between the rapids, there are small rapids and calm areas where you can jump in from boats or rocks, play games with boats, and look up at the spectacular view of the Koboke gorge from the water. There are endless ways to have fun. The morning went by in a flash. You're getting hungry ^^^.)
Lunch of all-you-can-eat sandwiches with freshly baked bagels at a lunch spot overlooking the spectacular view of Koboke Gorge.
A sandwich of ham, tomato, lettuce, tuna, cheese, and jam mixed with cream cheese like a dessert! YUM, YUM, YUM while enjoying the spectacular view of Koboke gorge! Even just eating lunch outside is delicious! Delicious~! Eat up!) Recharge your batteries for the second half of the rapids!
About 4km to go. 3 major rapids. The most difficult part of the Koboke course comes closer!
After getting used to the course in the morning and fully recharged after lunch, we are ready to take on the biggest rapids of the course! As we descend the 8th major rapids, we see a different view from the one we saw in the morning! The sky was blue! The water is clean! You will find yourself with a different sense of self!
Goal
The smiles on everyone's faces filled with a pleasant sense of fatigue and a sense of accomplishment are the best.
Change clothes/view slideshow of tour photos
After returning to the HappyRaft base and changing clothes, we'll have a look at the photos from today's tour. Don't forget to take a photo with all the friends you met today! Free dismissal.
