Frequently Asked Questions

DO PEOPLE FALL OUT OF THE RAFT?
Certain situations, such as the boat bumping into rocks, may cause individuals to fall out of the boat. Our helmets and lifejackets protect your head from injury and prevent drowning. Our life jackets are reliable and buoyant, and are designed for extreme water activities. We carefully maintain them to ensure the safety of our guests.
WHAT SIZE ARE THE RAFTS?
Our rafts are specifically designed for whitewater use, and measure at 4 meters in length and 2 meters in width, and are suitable for up to 8 rafters. We also have bigger rafts for up to 10 rafters. Those rafts are made with hyperon rubber, a very tough and durable material, which is highly resistant to damage.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER COMPANIES?
  1. Easy Access – It takes only 4 minutes from both JR Umahori station and Tram Kameoka station by foot.
  2. Beautiful View – You will enjoy beautiful scenery of rice fields from our rafting base site. After rafting, you can relax and enjoy the nature at our site. We also have optional BBQ plans for you to enjoy BBQ & beautiful scenery on our well-maintained lawn.
  3. Experienced Staffs – Our staff are all highly knowledgable and experienced with Hozu River. All staff are also very familiar with the local area.
HOW MUCH IS THE RAFTING TOUR?
Tour Prices
HOW LONG IS THE RAFTING TOUR?
The Hozu River half-day rafting course is 6 kilometers long.
It will take about 2 hours to run the river. In the tour, you will have a chance to rock jump or float at the still stream in the river.
Plan to spend about 3.5 hours total with us for the tour. Depending on the river conditions, end time may vary, so please allow enough time when you plan your day in the case that the tour ends at a later time than expected.
IS THERE A PARKING?
Nearest parking is available at Tram Kameoka Station and costs about \500 yen. There is also a parking near JR Umahori Station. Both parkings are 4 minutes away (about 100 meters) from our rafting base site.
IS IT TOUGH ACTIVITITY?
Whitewater rafting is a fun and thrilling activity which beginners can also enjoy.
During the tour there are activities you can join, such as rock jumping and floating on slow stream.
After rafting, you may get physical fatigue just like when you swim in the pool or ocean. Please drink enough water to stay hydrated and use restroom before the tour.
IS THERE A HOT SPRING NEAR BY?
Yes, there are hot spring you can visit by trains or cars after rafting. Please check “hot springs near by” for details.
IS THERE A MINUMUM AGE?
The minimum age is 13 years old for our rafting tour, or 9 years old if accompanied by the parents. We also have children's life jackets for their use.
CAN I PARTICIPATE WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY?
It depends on the conditions. If you have concerns please feel free to contact us.
CAN I PARTICIPATE TOMORROW? OR TODAY?
Please contact us from Reservation form. We will do the best we can.
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
Tours run both on rainy days or sunny days. Rafting is a perfect rainy day activity, as it gets more exciting with higher water levels. But in the case of a typhoon or heavy rain, we will monitor the weather and cancel the tour if conditions are too dangerous.
WHEN DO WE KNOW IF THE TOUR IS CANCELLED?
If we see that river conditions are dangerous for rafting, we will cancel the tour to ensure our guests' safety. While we try to inform our guests of cancelation 2.5 hours prior to the meeting time of the tour, the tour may be cancelled after guests' arrival in the case that river conditions suddenly change. In the case that Tomsawyer decides to cancel a tour, the full paid amount will be refunded into the representative's bank account. Transportation expenses will not be refunded.
Cancellations and Modifications Policy
Please be aware cancellations and modifications (date change, decreasing participants) apply as listed below. On the tour day：100% of the total tour fee 1-2 days prior to arrival: 40% of the total tour fee 3-6 days prior to arrival: 30% of the total tour fee 7-10 days prior to arrival: 10% of the total tour fee