Not only in Japan, but also from abroad, skilled foreign rafting guides want to go down at least once! That is, the Yoshino River, a first-class river that flows from Ehime Prefecture through Kochi Prefecture to Tokushima Prefecture.
Since the Rafting World Championships held in 2017, the river has become increasingly famous, and there is no end to the number of core rafting fans from Japan and overseas. In the holy land of rafting, you can experience the rapids in half a day with this Oboke Short Tour!
Oboke Short Rafting Tour Menu
Short Rafting Tour Recommendations!
Oboke Short Rafting Tour
A short tour of the rapids in a compact package
The Oboke Short Tour starts at the Kochi side, upstream from the Long Tour. The whole tour is 4km long. This is one of the best short rafting tours in Japan, packed with rapids in a compact size! You can choose between morning and afternoon rafting, so it is easy to plan if you are a budget traveler who wants to enjoy sightseeing and other activities in addition to rafting!
Introduction to Oboke Short Rafting Course
There are 4 big rapids and 10 small rapids in this 3-hour tour. This tour is open to junior high school students and above, and you can experience real whitewater rafting. This tour is very popular with adult groups of rafting beginners, as well as families with children of junior high school age and above!
Only at HappyRaft!
The finish line is below the base of HappyRaft. After landing on the shore, there will be mini trek. At the end of the tour, you will return to the base on your own. (about 1 minute) We have less time to travel back than other companies, so we can have more fun on the river! Before and after the tour, you can also enjoy HappyRaft's famous homemade bagel sandwiches. They are so popular that some people come to HappyRaft just to buy bagels! Come and try it for yourself!
Difference from Koboke Long Rafting Tour
How to choose? We recommend this tour for people who
- Want to leave home slowly in the morning and play in the afternoon!
- Want to use either the morning or afternoon for other sightseeing.
- Those who are worried about the biggest rapids in Japan from the beginning.
- Short! Compact! I want to play hard!
Course
km
This 4 km course starts further upstream than our Long Tour and is packed with thrilling rapids in a shorter distance.
Intensity
Grade(Max5)
A little gentler than the Long Tour, but still enough to satisfy first-time rafters. For those who have rafted other rivers in Japan before, this course will be a step up challenge!
Time required
hours
This course takes about 3 hours from registration to the end. This is about half of the Koboke Long Course. Time spent on the river is about 1.5 hours.
Conditions of Participation, Fees, and Other Information About the Tour
| Participation Requirements | 12 years old and above. ※Suitable for chest sizes up to 147cm. Please contact us if your chest size exceeds this. ※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 |
※Repeat Customer Discount: ¥500 off (Please bring your membership card on the tour day.) ※The price is the same for both adults and children. ※High Season Dates (2026): July 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 August 1, 2, 8-12, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 September 5, 6, 12, 13, 19-22 ※Obon season: August 13-15 ※Regular Rate applies to all other dates not listed above. |
| Payment methods | 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. |
Cancellations & Changes | If you need to change or cancel your booking, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellation fees: 1 week – 2 days before tour: 30% 1 day (within 24 hours): 50% Day of the tour: 100% ※If Happy Raft decides to cancel a tour due to weather, river conditions, or disasters, no tour fees will be charged. If payment has already been made in advance, a full refund will be issued. ※ Arriving more than 30 minutes late may result in cancellation and a cancellation fee.
※For cancellations or changes to your booking, please contact us by phone/SMS (090-1000-8184), email (booking@happyraft.com
), or WhatsApp (+81 90-1000-8184).
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| Included in the tour price |
※In cold weather, wetsuits can be layered, and wet socks are available. |
| Tour period | March 1 - October 31 |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 person minimum. ※The minimum number of participants required to run a tour is 2 people. We do accept bookings for single participants; however, if no other guests join by the day of the tour, the tour can still operate with an additional 50% fee. |
| Meeting and dismissal time | • Morning tours 【July 11 – September 22 / 9:00 am start】 Meeting time: 8:45 am, Start time: 9:00 am Finish time: around 12:00 pm
【March 1 – July 10, September 23 – October 31 / 9:30 am start】
• Afternoon Tours: / 1:30 pm start
※The meeting time may vary depending on the day of the tour, so please check your email for the details. |
| Meeting and dismissal point | Meet and Dismiss at HappyRaft |
| Parking lot | Right next to HappyRaft Base Free parking available. Parking for 40 passenger cars or 5 large buses |
| Changing rooms | available separate for men ,women and individual use space (no showers, but outdoor hoses are available for a splash down shower...its cold ) |
| What to bring |
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| Tour Photos | During the tour, our guides take photos and videos using waterproof cameras.
Photos from short rafting tours can be purchased for ¥1,000. ※We do not recommend bringing your own camera, as it may be lost or damaged and could cause injury. Any personal equipment you bring is used at your own risk. ※If you bring a GoPro, helmets with mounts are available in limited numbers. Helmet sizes and mounts cannot be reserved. |
Precaution
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■ Weather & River Conditions
Depending on weather conditions and river water levels, the course may be changed or the tour may be cancelled.
Tours are cancelled only in cases such as typhoons with heavy rain warnings or when the river level exceeds our safety standards.Tours are not cancelled due to normal rain.
Depending on river conditions, children’s participation may be restricted.
■ Cancellation Notice & Refunds
If there is a high possibility of cancellation due to a typhoon or similar conditions, we will contact you as early as 2–3 days in advance, and no later than the day before the tour.
If you would like to check the situation, please feel free to contact us.
Please note that, in rare cases, the final decision may be made on the day of the tour.
If the tour is cancelled by Happy Raft’s decision, the full tour fee will be refunded.
■ Participation of Minors
Please inform us in advance if any minors will be participating.
If a minor is not accompanied by a parent or guardian, a signed consent form is required in advance.
When children participate, please follow the guide’s instructions and cooperate to ensure everyone’s safety.
■ Alcohol Policy
Participation while under the influence of alcohol or with a hangover is extremely dangerous and strictly prohibited.
In this case, a 100% cancellation fee will apply.
■ Facilities & Waiting Area
There are no showers, but you may rinse off using the outdoor hose.
Guests who are not joining the tour may wait at the Happy Raft reception area.
At the base, you can relax on the sofa, let children play with water using the outdoor hose, or spend time comfortably while waiting.
There are also 1–2 hour trekking courses nearby. If you are interested, we would be happy to provide information.
▼ Nearby Area Information
https://www.happyraft.com/2025/04/25/play-hot-springs/
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【About Boat Seating】
Each boat accommodates up to 7 guests plus 1 guide.
If your reservation is for fewer than 7 guests, you may be grouped with other participants.Private boat reservations are available.
For a private boat, the full rate for 7 guests applies regardless of the number of participants.Please note that private boats may not be available depending on booking conditions.
If you wish to reserve a private boat, we recommend contacting us as early as possible.
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!
Move to the riverbank / safety briefing / practice in the toro area (where the current is calm)
After everyone has changed clothes, it's time to go. While suppressing your excitement, the guide will take you on a bus ride with funny talks. When we arrived at the riverbank, we had a safety briefing. Then we boarded each boat and were introduced to the team members and guides. Practice how to paddle and how to hold on.
Start the whitewater rafting!
The total distance is 4km, including 4 large and violent rapids, with small rapids and calm areas in between the rapids. In between the rapids, there are small rapids and calm areas where we can jump from boats and rocks, and play games with boats. You can jump into the water from a boat or a rock, or play games with a boat, or just float around in a calm place, looking up at the sky without thinking. There are endless ways to have fun.
Goal
After safely clearing the last rapids, we were almost at the finish line when we saw the red bridge near the HappyRaft base. Use your last bit of energy to jump off the boat! You can swim as hard as you can, or just float around and enjoy the aftermath. A one-minute walk up from the riverside will take you back to the HappyRaft Base, where you can register and change your clothes.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q、Is it okay for beginners?
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, you can try the Oboke short tour first!
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.
Q、Is it possible for a group of adults to ride together with a group of children?
There is carpooling with groups that include children of junior high school age or older, but not with groups that include elementary school age children.
Q、I'm thinking of doing some sightseeing or other activities in the remaining half day, do you have any recommendations?
Obviously check out our canyoning page or the trekking page!
30 minutes drive, you can visit the Iya-Valley vine bridge. The Unpenji Temple (Temple 66 on the Shikoku Temple Pilgrimage) is an amazing temple approximately 1 hour drive from HappyRaft
Please check this page too.
Q、 We are coming from far away and are not sure if we should take a day trip or stay overnight
I recommend staying here!
The inn is a renovated old house in the mountains, where you can spend time in nature that is completely different from your daily life.
After rafting, you can have a barbecue at the guesthouse and have a beer and a Kanpai!
The next day after a day of fun and drinking, wake up to the sound of birds chirping, take a walk around the inn, try the trekking course, or play in the nearby 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!
Happyraft Guest House >
Accommodations in the area >
Otoyo Town HP >
About Trekking >
Q、How long can I play on the river?
It takes about 3 hours from the time of meeting to the end of the tour, but if you subtract the time for registration, changing clothes, transportation, post-tour slide show, etc., the actual time spent in the river is about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Q、Is there any diving from the rocks?
You can participate in a diving competition from a rock about 3 meters high (depending on the water level and other conditions). Of course, you are free to participate and stay on the boat to watch.
