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A.01 |
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What is rafting? |
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Rafting is a sport which run through
rapid riding on a inflatable rubber boat. That is one of the excitements
and fun sports in the world. |
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A.02 |
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What kind of inflatable rubber boat are you using? |
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The length is 4 meters and the width is 2 meters. The boat was invented for "rafting". It's made of hi-tech material PVC or Hypalon. These material are very tough. These won't break even hit a sharp edge. |
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A.03 |
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How many people can ride on a raft ? |
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The raft capacity is maximum 8 persons
which include one guide. The guests who comes with small group will
join together the other guests who also come with small groups.
The team making will be done by our staff at the time before you
are starting rafting trip. |
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A.04 |
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Is there any chance to fall out from the raft all of the sudden? |
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It may happen occasionally. But you
are wearing life jacket. No worries. You are definitely floating
with the life jacket. |
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A.05 |
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Is there any risk on the rafting? |
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Every outdoor sports have some risks.
Rafting is the same. To avoid risk we are doing safety briefing
before the trip. And also you are wearing not only life jacket but
also helmet and wetsuit. That will prevent you from accident. |
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A.06 |
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What kind of accident did you have? |
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Unfortunately few guest got a kind
of hurts. The most frequently case is related with paddle. If you
grab on the paddle it's OK. But if you let it go, the paddle might
hit your face or teeth. Therefore please listen and understand the
safety briefing carefully. Don't stand up in the rapid. That is
fatal. |
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A.07 |
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What kind of training do your guides do? |
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Our guides are doing hard training
from boat handling to river rescue training. Consequently they have
vast knowledge and experience about rafting operation. Our guides
give you a good time and big smile on the river. |
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A.08 |
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I have no experience with rafting. Can I have
good time on the river? |
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No experience, no worries. Most of
our guests don't have that. We are giving safety briefing and paddling
practice before trip. So you will be right. Have a wonderful time
on the river. |
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A.09 |
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What kind of things do I need? Do I need any
special equipment? |
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You don't need any special equipment. But please take a swimming
suit, a towel and shoes with you. If it's on the summer you should
take T- shirts with you. It protects you form sunburn. We have
some rental gears which are river shoes, eye glass belts and swimming
goggles. Rental shoes are 200yen. Eyeglasses belt and swimming
goggle are 100yen each. We recommend if you wear contact lens,
please wear disposal contact lens while you are doing rafting.
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A.10 |
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How long is the river trip? |
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We have three courses. Kyoto Hozu river
half-day trip is 5km long. It takes about 2 hours on the river.
Kochi Yoshino river half-day trip is 3.5km long. It takes about
one and half hours. Tokushima Yoshino one-day trip is 8km long.
It takes about 4 and half hours. |
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A.11 |
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What happen after the finishing point? |
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We have shuttle from the finishing
point to our base. So don't worry about shuttle. |
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A.12 |
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Do you have any shower facility? |
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Unfortunately we don't have any shower
facility. There are some hot springs and public bath near our base.
So our staff can tell you the place before or after the rafting
trip. |
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A.13 |
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Do you have any toilet facility? |
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Yes, we have. All of our rafting bases
have the toilets and also there are some toilets at Tokushima Koboke
lunch point. |
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A.14 |
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Do you have any car parking space? |
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Yes, we have car parking spaces. Kyoto
base has smallest parking ,but even there guest can park at least
10 cars. If the parking lot was full, you could park the other parking
lot which is 3 minuets walking distance and it cost you 500yen per
day. Yoshino half day, Yoshino one day base and Nagara base have
bigger parking space so you can park your car there fee of charge. |
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A.15 |
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How can I get the rafting base by train? |
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The ways to our rafting base by train are as follows:
Kyoto Hozu half day trip
BIG SMILE Hozu gawa base
Drop off at JR Umahori station which is on the Sagano Line. The
Base is 5 minutes walking distance from the station. Or drop off
at Kameoka station which is on Sagano Scenic Railway. This also
takes 5 minutes.
Kochi Yoshino Oboke half day trip
BIG SMILE Oboke base
Take super express Shinkansen and go to Okayama station. Transit
there and take limited express Nanpu and drop off at Oboke station
which is on JR Dosan Line. The base is 7 minutes walking distance.
Tokushima Yoshino Koboke one day trip
BIG SMILE Koboke base
Take super express Shinkansen and go to Okayama station. Transit
there and take limited express Nanpu and drop off at Awaikeda
station which is on JR Dosan Line. You can get our free shuttle
from the station to the base. Advanced reservations required for
the free shuttle.
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A.16 |
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If it was raining, the trip would be closed? |
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We are doing rafting tour even in the
rainy day because we are going to wet sooner or later. The rain
makes river higher and you will get more excitement than usual.
But we anticipate dangerous situation like flood or typhoon, we
are obliged to close the tour. |
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A.17 |
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What's is the river grade? |
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River or a part of section of river,
it calls rapid, categorized by Grade1 to Grade6. The number is grater,
the river is the harder. Kyoto Hozugawa and Gifu nagara half day
trip is grade3. A Grade 3 section will have numerous rapids varying
in length, with irregular waves and small drops. Kochi Oboke half
day trip is defied Grade 3 plus. Tokushima Koboke one-ay trip is
one of the biggest rapids in Japan. It is saying Grade 4 plus. A
Grade 4 river will feature long, difficult and continuous rapids
with highly irregular waves, a steep gradient, a stepped profile
with drops up to 3m in height. ( ref. Wiki paddle ) |
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A.18 |
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Does the rafting boat easily sink? |
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No, it doesn't. The rafting boat is
rubber inflatable boat which has many air bag sections. So it doesn't
sink easily . |
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A.19 |
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I don't have confidence about my physical strength.
Am I OK? |
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You don't need physical strength. The
reason is you don't have to paddle all day long. You just have to
paddle in the rapid. All you need is feeling to have fun. |
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A.20 |
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I have a disability. Can I join the rafting
trip? |
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It depends on what kind or what level
of disability you have. So please call us and tell us about your
condition. |
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A.21 |
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What is the minimum age to join the rafting trip? |
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Some risk is involved in the rafting.
Therefore the minimum age is basically 14years old. But the condition
of Hozu half-day trip is 10 years old with parent. |
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A.22 |
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Do I need reservation? |
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Yes, you need the reservation at latest
one day before the trip. But some courses are easily booked out.
We advise you to make your reservation early. |
