raftingtour Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting
  • Torrent! Enjoy with the water slider in the outdoor.
    Torrent! Enjoy with the water slider in the outdoor
  • Kids have a smile as BIGSMILE Rafting.
    Kids have a smile as BIGSMILE Rafting.
  • Rafting games are also fun!
    Rafting games are also fun!
  • Family rafting for the whole family
    Family rafting for the whole family
  • Go for it! You can do it!
    Go for it! You can do it!
  • Everyone jumps together
    Everyone jumps together!
  • Let's float on the river and play!
    Let's float on the river and play!
  • Let's paddle in unison with our breath.
    Let's paddle in unison with our breath.
  • Best time with good friends and family
    Best time with good friends and family
  • Big smiles on their faces after their first real rafting experience!
    Big smiles on their faces after their first real rafting experience!

Introduction Kyoto Hozu Family Rafting

Ages 5 and up! From young children to seniors!

Rafting Fee

Credit support. Various credit cards can be used

Fee

from July to the last day of August
Prices start from
JPY2,980
(including tax-10%)
JPY2,710 (excluding tax-10%)
The fee depends on the date and course.
the charge after reservation discount on the website
including wet jacket and accident insurance

Meeting Time

  • usual season
  • start9:00 finish10:45
  • start11:30 finish13:15
Finish time depend on the condition of the river.

Age Limit

Minimum age is 5, and under 12 must join with a parent or a guardian.

Rafting Fee(WEB Discount)

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Contents

Introduction Kyoto Rafting

Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting Tour Guide
Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting Tour Guide,
Tani
Hozu River Family Rafting is one of the few spots where three generations from children as young as five years old to elderly people can enjoy our rafting. The family rafting course is a slow and gentle course on the Hozu River, so even small children and those with limited physical strength can enjoy the experience without being nervous. All of our guides are certified rescue technicians, so you can rest assured that you are in safe and secure hands. During the rafting, you can play games, swim in the river, and have fun in a way that you cannot experience on ordinary rivers! The whole family, from children to grandparents, can fully enjoy the great nature of the Hozu River. Advance reservations are required, but reservations can be made on the day of the tour if space is available. The meeting place is only 30 minutes from Kyoto Station by train and 5 minutes by car from the Shino IC of the Kyoto Jukan Expressway. Parking for 20 cars is available, and we will guide you to the nearest paid parking lot in case the lot is full. Please enjoy rafting on the Hozugawa River with our trained and courteous staff with big smiles, which is possible because we are the largest rafting company in Japan, and the safety and reliability of BIGSMILE, which is requested by nearly 100 school groups every year!

Tour Schedule

Meeting at Kyoto Hozu Base♪


BIGSMILE Hozugawa base
Kyoto Hozu Base is located 30 minutes train ride from Kyoto station. And we have free parking lot for cars. There are coin lockers and air conditioners in changing rooms. Also enough of free wet suit and variety of sizes(XS~4XL)
More information
Getting dressed
Before the meeting time, you fill in the participation application form. And after that, change for the wet suit in the clean and comfortable room with air conditioners.
Safety instructions
After changing, put on your life jacket and helmet.The guide will check your equipment thoroughly, so don't worry.
Move
Now it is time to go to the starting point by our bus. Tour guides explain about safety in the bus. (sometimes at the meeting place before movement)

Let's go rafting!


Rafting start
After practicing paddling with a guide, we will begin our descent down the river. 2 km course will take about 1.5 hours. Please enjoy the great nature!
One point advice
Even if you are a first time user, you don't have to worry!
Many of our guides are rescue certified, so you can rest assured that your children will have a safe and enjoyable rafting experience. We will give you a full safety briefing and practice before the rafting, so that both young children and first-time rafters can fully enjoy the experience.
More information
Let's board the boat
Each boat can accommodate up to 9 people (children are counted as one person) and each boat is always manned by a rescue certified guide. After a thorough safety briefing, you will get on the boat and start rafting!
Rowing practice
The first step is to practice rowing. Please be assured that we will guide small children with kindness and care. Please ask anything you do not understand!
Let's get down
Grab a paddle and get started! Enjoy a real rafting experience! Don't worry if your child gets scared and stops paddling! Rafting is fun even if you are just on the boat.

Experience real rafting!


Torrent！
Real rafting with your children! Let's enjoy going down the river together. Even if they are a little awkward at first, they will get used to it. During the rafting, the guide will take a lot of pictures with the camera, so it will definitely be a memorable experience!
More information
Challenge torrent
There is always one rescue-qualified guide on board to ensure a safe tour.
Koayu no Taki
Row the boat with everyone breathing together! Adults and children alike will join forces to float down the river!
Rapid flow of Hozugawa river
Let’s take some souvenir photos with our camera...with a Big Smile!

Authentic in water play and games! River play!


Dive from the rocky field
Please experience the unique river fun that you would not normally have, such as games and swimming in the river (free participation) along the way!
One point advice
Life jackets for peace of mind
Even if you cannot swim, you can float in the river with a life jacket.
More information
Let's swim a lot
Swimming in the river at the swimming point♪ Floating in a life jacket is a very pleasant sensation♪ (free participation)
Rafting game
Children are happy to play in the river, which is something they cannot normally do.
Titanic game
Souvenir photo! Many photos will be taken by our guide in each boat. You can check the photos after rafting.

Goal - Arrival


It's a goal
After plenty of fun, you will arrive at the goal. Walk back to the meeting place. If you are lucky, you may see a Sagano Romantic Train! Please look forward to a screening of the many photos we took.
More information
It's a goal！
After enjoying the great nature, they reached the goal! After a lot of fun, swimming, and rowing... the participants are all smiles with a sense of accomplishment after reaching the goal!
Hozukyo station
It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the goal to the meeting place. You may be able to see the trolley train if you time it right as you walk beside the trolley Kameoka Station!
Dissolution
After returning to the Hozugawa base (meeting place), you are free to change your clothes and disband. There will be a screening of photos taken by the guides, so please take as much time as you need.
Hozu half-day rafting daily updating！
We update every day, the movement situations of the river

What you need?

  • Spring rafting clothes
  • Early summer rafting clothes
  • Summer rafting clothes
  • Winter early fall rafting clothes
  • Autumn rafting clothes
  • helmet, life jacket ,paddle and so on are prepared by BIGSMILE for free
  • It depends on the weather situation of the day, we prepare another wears.

You need to prepare for Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting

  • bathing suit
  • Towel
  • Shoes for rafting (It will get wet)

during summer sunny days (July to September) who don’t need wet suit

  • T-shirt and short pants

who wear glasses and contact lenses

  • glasses band goggles
More information of Kyoto Hozu Rafting

We prepare for you

wear

wear

paddling jacket(on the left)

We have paddling jackets for windy and rainy weather for protect you from cold climate. You are not strong to the cold, you wear it.

wet suits(in the middle)

The wet suits, we prepared is made of neoprene material. You can enjoy rafting with this wet suit even in the cold weather. Enough to wet suit and variety of sizes(XS~4XL) But we don's have enough 4XL size, please contact us beforehand.

wet jacket(on the right)

In the cold day or you are not strong to the cold, we are ready wet jackets for you. There are a lot of situations idle at a river for a child, so the child wears a wet jacket for all seasons.

gear

gear

helmet

In the river, there are many rocks and drift wood. You need to wear a helmet to protect your head. We have various sizes.

life jacket

For your safety, you have to wear a life jacket one by one. Whenever you are not good at swimming, you can float on the water with the life jacket.

paddle

Paddles are an essential element of rafting. We row the boat with the paddle. We have a small size paddle for a child.

You need to bring yourself

necessary belongings

bathing suits

bathing suits

You wear your bathing suits under the wet suits. Underwear is substitute for bathing suits. the underwear get wet in the river water, bring your one more underwear for changing.

towel

After the rafting, you use your towel in the changing room for dry your body. You don't bring it to the river.

Paid rented

shoes for rafting

shoes for rafting

Please bring your sport sandal or sneakers. CROCS are not good, because heels should be firmly fixed. You can rental our shoes for JPY300/ for each pair.

other belongings

sunscreen

sunscreen

Cause of reflection of ultraviolet rays is strong, it's very easy to get a tan in the river. You should bring sunscreen, waterproofing sunscreen is more good to protect you.

disposable contact lens

We don't recommend the type of hard contact lenses. Even if you wear soft contact lenses, contact lens often come off in the water. You can rent our goggles for JPY100/ for each. And also we are ready for you who wear glasses rent glasses band for JPY100/ for each.

Access to Kyoto Hozu Rafting

Access to Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting
Meeting Place
BIGSMILE Hozugawa base
direct phone line
090-5243-9787
Address
ZIP-code:621- 0828
2-208- 8 Umahoriekimae, Shinocho, Kameoka-shi, Kyoto
  • By car
  • By train
  • Access to Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting by car
    Osaka → (Meishin Highway) → Ohyamazaki JCT → (Kyoto Longitudinal Expressway) → Shino exit → 5 minutes on the general way → BIGSMILE Hozugawa base
    When it can't be set as a car navigation equipment, set 「Umahori eki( JR Umahori station)」、and then please check the map above-mentioned.
  • Access to Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting by train
    JR Kyoto Station → (JR Sagano Line) → Umahori Station　→ (5 minutes walk) → Kyoto Hozugawa base
    JR Sagano Line has 3 trains for one hour for averages. Please check the time table of trains.

Family Rafting Course Map

Map of Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting

Smiles burst out on their first rafting trip!

Kanage no Se
Even children who were a little nervous at the beginning of their first rafting trip were all smiles by the middle of the trip! A great memory for the whole family!

Get in the water and swim or jump in!

Not only big wave! Let's enjoy the whole Hozu river!!
At the gentle part of the river, you are free to join in and play to your heart's content. Even those who cannot swim can enjoy themselves with peace of mind as they are fitted with life jackets.
This rafting course is suitable for children as young as 5 years old, as it takes you down one of the calmest courses on the Hozu River! Children will be thrilled by their first real rafting experience! The course has also received many reviews and positive comments for its fun and playful activities, such as swimming in the river along the way. We also provide safety equipment such as life jackets and helmets, as well as wetsuits and other clothing to suit the season. We are only 30 minutes away from Kyoto station, which is very accessible from the Kansai area. Please spend the most enjoyable holiday with Kyoto Hozugawa Rafting.
continued from here

Sightseeing around Kyoto

Kinkakiuji

Kinkakuji1Kinkakuji2
It takes about 40 minutes by bus from JR Kyoto Station. Its original name is called ” Rokuon-ji”. This was rebuilt twice in 1694 and 1950. First time, this was burnt down by a war called “Onin war”. Second time, this was burnt down by arson. The temple you see is the one rebuilt after the arson. Kinkaku-ji is made from 3 floors. The second and third floor is covered with gold which is why this temple is called “Kinkaku-ji”. “Kin” means gold and “ji” means temple in Japanese. In spring, the cherry blossoms blooms around there. In summer, the clear blue sky and the trees around Kinkaku-ji will be covered with green leaves. In fall, the leaves turn red and yellow, and Kinkaku-ji will be surrounded with lovely coloring on trees.
Contact
Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
*open all year round
*Hours may change for special exhibitions.
Admission:General 400 yen
Primary and Middle School Students300 yen
*There is no group discount, but if it is over 30 people please enter as a group.
*The admission fee may change for special exhibitions.
URL : https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/
address:1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361 Japan
Contact:075-461-0013(Japanese only)

Torokko Ressha Romantic Train

Torokko1torokko2
It takes only 5 minutes on foot from Kyoto Hozu Rafting meeting base. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Hozu River canyon on an open-air train through the mountains. The Torokko Ressha (トロッコ列車, also known as the Sagano Romantic Train) winds through beautiful mountain scenery connecting Kameoka to Arashiyama. It is an enjoyable travel alternative to car or JR train and a must for anyone visiting Kameoka. As the train makes its way through the tunnels through the mountains, passengers can enjoy the scenery of the mountains and the Hozugawa River during all seasons on this 25 minute ride. The cherry trees are in bloom during the springtime, while the mountain breezes are a refreshing way to cool off in the summer season. In autumn, the red and yellow maple leaves create an enchanting view. The ride also offers panoramic views of the Hozugawa River, with perfect photo opportunities arising each time the train passes over the bridges.
Contact
URL : https://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/en/index.php
address:Kameoka torokko station/Shinden Shinochoyamamoto, Kameoka, Kyoto
Saga torokko station/11-1 Sagatenryuji Kurumamichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto

Arashiyama

Arashiyama1Arashiyama2
It takes about 15 minutes by train from Kyoto Hozu Rafting meeting base.
Very close to Arashiyama Trokko Station on the Sagano Scenic Railway Sagano Sight-seeing Tram Line.
Arashiyama, also known as Sagano, is one of the time-honored travel destinations located on the western outskirts of Kyoto. Offering a breathtaking panorama of serene Mt. Arashiyama,Togetsukyo, or “Moon Crossing Bridge,” is the major landmark of this scenic spot featuring a wide variety of tourist attractions ranging from Tenryu-ji Temple to Iwatayama Monkey Park to spectacular bamboo groves. Arashiyama is also world-famous as one of Japan’s best spots for viewing cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
Contact
URL : https://kyoto.travel/en

Let's Enjoy Together

recommendation
Kyoto Hozu Rafting meeting base is located only 2 train stations from Arashiyama,one of the most famous tourist spots. We recommend every ages from 9 years old to senior. Please make some memories with you.

About Kyoto Hozu River

Kyoto Hozu River
Hozu River which joins Yodogawa at Sakai with Osaka is the river with 107 kilometers of big full length through a famous tourist spot in Kyoto, Arashiyama. You can see "Hozugawakudari" ( a boat going down the river ) , trolley trains, wild animals like deer,monkeys, wild boars, if you have a chance.

FAQ Kyoto Hozu Rafting

Q. How long does it take from JR Kyoto Station?
It takes about 30 minutes by train. You should take a local train and get off at Umahori Station. And 5 minutes walking. Please look up "Kyoto Hozugawa rafting BIGSMILE" on Google Map.
Q. Is there a parking lot?
Yes, we have free parking lots for 30 cars( in the order of arrival). When it has already fulled, you can park a car in parking area with charge near JR Umahori Station.※If you come here on the sightseeing bus, can I have a contact beforehand?
Q. When a companion doesn't participate in rafting, is there a waiting place?
There is a river beach at the place to which you can walk from the meeting base, so you can play in water. In addition to, there is the horse cart near trolley train station(Wednesday is closed), and you can feed horses.

Comment from CEO

The president
I recommend you, Kyoto Hozu rafting is the best scenery spot in West Japan area.
You can also enjoy beautiful scenery, cherry blossoms in spring, refreshing fresh green in summer, colorful of leaves in autumn, and then morning mist in spring and autumn.
It's outstanding in access from Kyoto by trains or cars.
Please come to experience it according to the Kyoto sightseeing by all means.

Limits for Rafting

Age limits
Minimum age is 5, and under 12 must join with a parent or a guardian.
Health conditions
Participation is sometimes declined by the day's health.
Decline to accept for be drunk.
We decline a drunken person. And the case's repayment can't refund a fee.
During pregnancy
A pregnant woman can't participate in rafting.
An epileptic fit
Doctor's medical certificate is needed, mentioning of participation permission of rafting.
Handicapped person
There is dangerous risk in rafting. There are acceptance pros and cons by a case. Please consult us beforehand.

cancellation policy

Until 8days before: No charge
Until 7～4days before: charging 30%
until 3～1days before: charging 50%
on the day: charging 100%


Kyoto Hozu Halfday Rafting
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