Kyoto Hozugawa family rafting

You can enjoy river rafting near Kyoto station.Ages 5 and up! From young children to seniors!

Rafting Fee

Fee

Available from July to August.

2,980 JPY~(with tax)

Rafting tour guide fee, insurance fee, basic rental fee.

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.

Please wait for a while until the season starts.

Introduction to halfday rafting

Hozu Family River 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!

Rafting Schedule

Meeting

Kyoto Hozu Base is located 30 minutes train ride from Kyoto station. And we have free parking lot for cars. There are enough of free wet suit and variety of sizes(XS~4XL)

Before the meeting time, you fill in the rafting form. After that,change for the wet suit in the clean and comfortable room with A/C.

After changing, put on your life jacket and helmet.The guide will check your equipment thoroughly, so don't worry.

Now it is time to go to the starting point by our bus. Tour guides explain about safety in the bus.

Let's go rafting!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

There is always one rescue-qualified guide on board to ensure a safe tour.

Row the boat with everyone breathing together! Adults and children alike will join forces to float down the river!

Let’s take some souvenir photos with our camera...with a Big Smile!

Authentic in water play and games! River play!

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!

Life jackets for peace of mind: Even if you cannot swim, you can float in the river with a life jacket.

Swimming in the river at the swimming point♪ Floating in a life jacket is a very pleasant sensation♪ (free participation)

Children are happy to play in the river, which is something they cannot normally do.

Souvenir photo! Many photos will be taken by our guide in each boat. You can check the photos after rafting.

Goal - Arrival

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.

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!

/> 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!

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.

Why choose BIGSMILE?

Run by rescue professionals

The company's president has the technical skills to teach river rescue to firefighters. Staff also receive regular rescue training to ensure safe tours.

Repeat customers with 50,000 participants

Established in 1998, more than 20 years in operation. One of the largest in Japan, with six nationwide locations. Trusted by repeat customers and major travel agencies due to its reliability and track record, with approximately 50,000 customers using the service annually.

Polite and friendly customer service

From couples, groups of friends, young children and families, "I'm glad I came rafting!" The friendly service is highly rated by many Google reviews.

What you need?

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

Learn more about what to bring and wear.

Access to Kyoto 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

google map

By car
By train

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.
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

Smiles burst out on their first rafting trip!

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.

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Charter one boat for the price of 9 people!

We promise that you can charter an exclusive rafting boat with no sharing the boat! You can enjoy rafting in a space just for your family and friends! Up to 9 people per boat, any number of people can ride on the boat. It is also possible to rent a boat for just two couples... This is also recommended for those who want to join only with a group.

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.