TOURS
2-Day Tour: Tenryu River-Rafting, Local BBQ & Tea-Picking Experience inc. Hot Spring Hotel

2-Day Tour: Tenryu River-Rafting, Local BBQ & Tea-Picking Experience inc. Hot Spring Hotel

Period

mid-May - September

Time

Day1: 12:30-21:30
Day2: 10:00-16:20

Meeting Place

Tenryukyo Station

Price

Adult (13+)50,000〜 JPY

2-Day Tour: Tenryu River-Rafting, Local BBQ & Tea-Picking Experience inc. Hot Spring Hotel

This fun and engaging two-day tour takes you along the Tenryu River deep into the Tenryu Riverlands starting with river-rafting and barbeque dinner on the first day, followed by a traditional river boat and tea-picking on the second day in one of Nagano’s most scenic locations, the terraced tea fields of Nakaisamurai. All guided by a local guide and including accommodation a hot spring hotel overlooking Tenryu Gorge, this is one tour that is fun for all ages!

Highlights

  • Start your tour with the excitement with an afternoon of rafting on Tenryu River including the fun of white water and other activities led by a qualified instructor followed by a tempting local BBQ dinner to round-out a day of fun!
  • Indulge in a tempting local BBQ dinner to round-out a day of fun!
  • Enjoy an overnight stay at a traditional ‘onsen’ (hot spring) guesthouse including breakfast
  • Follow the river deep into the heart of the region on your second day with a Tenryu Rhine-Kudari boat ride followed by tea-picking in the beautiful terraced fields of Nakaisamurai – one of Nagano’s most beautiful yet least visited landscapes

Want to join this tour from Tokyo or Nagoya? It’s easy to do! Scroll to the bottom for our FAQs including train services that you can use to join the tour!

Day 1

The tour begins at Tenryukyo Station at 12:30, where your guide will meet the guests and head straight to rafting centre. You’ll first change into the gear provided to you – including water boots, life jacket, helmet along with spray jacket and wetsuit (should you wish to wear them) – before receiving a detailed safety briefing from your instructor. Once ready, you’ll be driven to the launching point and then it’s onto the river!

Over the next 1.5 hours, you’ll make your way along the river through whitewater rapids that thrill and gentler stretches that you can rest and take in atmosphere of the riverlands while your instructor keeps you entertained setting you challenges and activities to try for yourself. Great fun for guests of all ages, your rafting instructor will steer you along the river back to the rafting centre.

tenryu-rafting

Once done you’ll be transport to your accommodation where you can unpack and enjoy an ‘onsen’ (hot spring) before heading to dinner. The region is famous for its fantastic ‘yakiniku’ (grilled beef) restaurants, and with that in mind, you’ll enjoy a local BBQ dinner nearby your accommodation – an ideal meal to recharge and indulge after the excitement of rafting, before retiring to your hotel for the one (and perhaps one last dip in the hot spring before bed).

RYUKYOUTEI

Overlooking Tenryu Gorge, ‘Ryukyoutei’ is ‘onsen’ (natural hot spring) hotel with great views of the river. The larger hotel offers Japanese-style rooms featuring ‘tatami’ matting and on-floor ‘futon’ bedding. All rooms include Japanese furnishings such as low tables and chairs along with a private bathroom. The hotel’s restaurant overlooks the gorge and serves a traditional menu for dinner and breakfast. Ryukyoutei’s natural hot spring is also available for use by guests and though showing its age, the baths offer a sense of relaxation at the end of the day.

Day 2

The second day begins at 10:00, when your guide collects you from your guesthouse and leads you on a leisurely walk around Tenryu Gorge before heading onto the launching point for your day’s exploration of the river. Running all the way to the Pacific Coast, the Tenryu River was traditionally an alternate route for trade and people into the mountainous interior of Central Japan. As such, the region and people forged their identity around the river, a tradition you will experience by first taking a traditional boat along through Tenryu Gorge and along the river for around 50-minutes.

Disembarking at Karakasa dock, your guide will accompany to the small riverside platform of Karakasa Station to take a local train onto Nakaisamurai. Following the river, this scenic rail route is largely undiscovered by international visitors and an experience in its own right. You’ll ride the train as far as Nakaisamurai – around 35-minutes down the line – and into one of Nagano’s most picturesque landscapes.

tenryu-river

The tea plantations of Nakaisamurai line the steep mountainsides ascending above the river. This formation limits the amount of sunlight and imbues the leaves with a sweetness along with a subtle bitterness, while also dictating that farmers must pick the tea by hand – as modern machinery cannot access the fields. Nakaisamurai tea is a ‘first flush tea’ only and as such, no pesticides are used. Upon arrival at Nakaisamurai, you’ll be greeted by a tea farmer and first enjoy a locally-made ‘bento’ lunchbox outside before you guided through the fields to pick tea for yourself and then brew your own pot of Nakaisamurai green tea.

Around 16:17 you’ll board the returning train and follow the river back along to Tenryukyo Station where you can choose to end the tour at 17:16 or onto Iida Station where the tour concludes at 17:44 (or for guests wanting to head south toward Toyohashi and onto Tokyo or Nagoya, we can switch train at Hiraoka Station and transfer to the express service).

ITINERARY

Day1/12:30Meetup with your guide at Tenryukyo Station and head to the rafting centre. Upon arrival you will be given time to change into the rafting gear and then listen to a safety briefing before being drive to the launching point for your 1.5 hour rafting course. Once done, you will be drive to your accommodation.
16:15Check-in at your accommodation with time to unpack and have a quick ‘onsen’ (hot spring) / refresh after rafting.
18:00Enjoy a BBQ dinner nearby your hotel.
20:00Return to your accommodation to enjoy its 'onsen' (hot spring) facilities - a great way to relax and unwind.
Day2/10:00Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation before your guide collects you at 10:00 to lead you on a short walk around Tenryu Gorge before heading to the launching point of your Rhine Kudari River Boat.
11:45Depart the dock and enjoy a 50 minute river boat experience along Tenryu River to Karakasa dock. Once there you will board the local train at 13:00 for the scenic journey along the river to Nakaisamurai,
13:35Arrive at Nakaisamurai Station where you will be met by a local tea farmer and led immediately to the tea fields where you will first enjoy a local ‘bento’ lunch before picking tea and brewing it yourself.
16:17Depart Nakaisamurai Station and take the train back to Tenryukyo Station, where the tour concludes at 17:16 or onto Iida Station at 17:44.

17:20*Tour concludes at Tenryukyo Station with the option of staying on the train onto Iida Station to end at 17:44.

*Should you prefer to head toward Tokyo or Nagoya rather than return to Tenryukyo, you can do so by disembarking the train at Hiraoka Station and taking the connecting service onto Toyohashi Station and onto either of those cities. For more information, see our 'FAQ' below.

MEETUP POINT

This tour operates from the following meetup point:

1 / TENRYUKYO STATION @ 12:30

The meetup point is at the entrance of Tenryukyo Station. It is a small station with only one entrance / exit so you should have no problem finding it. Please be there in advance of the tour departure time of 12:30.

NOTES

Included

  • Accommodation at Ryukyoutei inc. Standard Japanese Room inc. on-floor ‘futon’ bedding inc. breakfast on Day 2
  • Transport to / from all listed destinations
  • English-speaking guide on both days
  • Guided 1.5 hour river-rafting & evening BBQ on Day 1
  • Tenryu Rhine-Kudari river cruise & tea-picking experience on Day 2
  • Lunch – locally-made ‘bento’ box – on Day 2

Excluded

  • Transport costs before or after the tour
  • Alcohol & optional drinks at your accommodation
  • Additional food, snacks & drinks

Other Information

  • The minimum age for participation in this tour is 6 years. This is a group tour, meaning that other guests may be joining on the day.
  • This tour involves limited walking and is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness. River-rafting also requires a reasonable level of fitness as the activity takes approximately 1.5 hours and follows at 13km course while tea-picking requires guests to walk through a working farm including steep inclines of a terraced farm. Should you have any concerns about your ability to undertake these activities, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
  • Due to the nature of this tour, it is not wheelchair accessible and may not be appropriate for mobility-impaired guests. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake, please contact us prior to booking to discuss.
  • This tour uses public transport to move between destinations. All transport costs from the start of the tour until the end are included in the tour price.
  • This tour includes accommodation at ‘Ryukyoutei’, a mid-range hot spring hotel in Tenryukyo. You will be allocated a Standard Japanese Room with on-floor ‘futon’ bedding.
  • Your guide will not stay with your overnight. They will see you to your accommodation at the end of day one, help you to check-in and then say good evening. Should you have any questions or assistance from your guide, please make sure to speak to them before they leave you for the evening.
  • This tour includes dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 at your accommodation. It also includes lunch on day 2. Should you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please tell us prior to the start of your tour. We will communicate these to your accommodation and ask that they cater to your needs. We cannot guarantee that all requests can be accommodated but we will endeavour to do so.
  • River-rafting is conducted by a local operator, ‘Runabout Rafting’. During rafting, that company is responsible for the activity. Your guide will accompany you for rafting but please listen to and follow the directions of your rafting instructor at all times.
  • Prior to rafting, you instructor will provide a detailed safety briefing. Listen to this briefing carefully and should you have any questions or concerns, please raise these with your guide and / or the rafting instructor before starting the activity.
  • For rafting, you will be provided with water boots, a life jacket and helmet. These must be worn at all times. You will also be provided the option of wearing a spray jacket or wetsuit.
  • You will get wet during rafting therefore it’s best to bring clothes you can change in and out of for the activity. There are male and female changerooms at the rafting centre, which can be used before and after the activity.
  • Should the weather be poor and we are advised that it is not safe to undertake rafting, we will contact you prior to the tour to discuss options including the possibility of an alternative activity.
  • This tour is insured however all participants are still required to have travel insurance that covers rafting. Please check to your policy to confirm that rafting is covered prior to booking the tour.
  • The Tenryu Rhine-Kudari cruise takes approximately 50-minutes. The boat is open to the public and can be crowded at certain times of year, especially October and November during the autumn leaves season. All guests are provided with a life jacket that must be worn at all times. We recommend also bringing a hat and sunscreen, especially when booking in summer i.e. from July until the end of September.
  • Tea-picking in Nakaisamurai will be led by a local farmer and include the chance to pick your own leaves and brew them on site. The exact location at which tea-picking is conducted can vary depending on season. At the end of the activity, you will also receive a pack of Nakaisamurai tea to take with you.
  • Lunch on day 2 is a ‘bento’ (premade lunch box) that will take provided upon arrival at the Nakaisamurai tea fields. Due to the remote location of the tea fields and lack of restaurants, lunch will be eaten outside. The bento is locally-made and of high-quality. We are confident you will enjoy it.

FAQs

I’d like to join this tour from Tokyo. Which train service should I use to arrive on time?
The start time of this tour is arranged according to train schedule to Tenryukyo Station. To get there in time from Tokyo, you can use the following services:Departing Tokyo Station / Arriving Tenryukyo StationTokyo: 08:33 – Toyohashi: 09:53 – Tokaido Shinkansen ‘Hikari’ serviceToyohashi: 10:08 – Tenryukyo: 12:24 – Limited Express ‘Inaji’ service
I’d like to join this tour from Nagoya. Which train service should I use to arrive on time?
The start time of this tour is arranged according to train schedule to Tenryukyo Station. To get there in time from Tokyo, you can use the following services:Departing Nagoya Station / Arriving Tenryukyo StationNagoya: 09:08 – Toyohashi: 09:36 – Tokaido Shinkansen ‘Kodama’ serviceToyohashi: 10:08 – Tenryukyo: 12:24 – Limited Express ‘Inaji’ service
Instead of returning to Tenryukyo at the end of the tour, I’d like to head to Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, etc. Is that possible?
Yes. If you would like to head to Tokyo or Nagoya – including those headed onto Kyoto and Osaka – you can do so by taking the same train from Nakaisamurai Station and then transferring services at Hiraoka Station:Departing Nakaisamurai Station / Arriving Toyohashi StationNakaisamurai: 16:17 – Hiraoka: 16:27 – Local Iida Line serviceHiraoka: 16:42 – Toyohashi: 18:31 – Limited Express ‘Inaji’ serviceThere are regular Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ services running from Toyohashi to Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and other major cities. Please note that should you wish to do this, your guide will say their goodbyes when you disembark at Hiraoka Station.
What is the minimum age for joining this tour?
To join this tour guests must be a minimum of 6 years of age. This requirement is due to the inclusion of river rafting on the first day.
How difficult / dangerous is the rafting?
The safety and comfort of our guests is our main priority. Upon arrival at the rafting centre, once you have changed your clothing and been allocated your safety gear, your instructor will provide a 10 to 15-minute safety briefing. The briefing is very thorough and covers all aspects of the activity. Should you have any questions or concerns following the briefing, please speak to your guide and / or rafting instructor. The rafting itself is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness and can be enjoyed by guests with no experience of rafting. The strongest whitewater you will go over is Grade 2, depending on water conditions at the time of your tour (whitewater is rated from Grade 1 to Grade 5 i.e. smallest to largest).
Rafting for 1.5 hours / 13kms sounds long. Will I enjoy it?
Yes. We are confident you will enjoy the entire experience and the time will pass quickly. The course is designed to first build the confidence of guests as your instructor teaches you the correct technique and then gradually builds-up with some fun whitewater. In between stretches of whitewater, the river is calm and your instructor will give you time to relax, have a drink and entertain you with activities on the raft. While 1.5 hours / 13km might sound a lot, believe us when we say that the time will go quickly and you’ll have great fun.
Do I need to bring my own gear for rafting?
During rafting you will get wet therefore it’s a good idea to bring a change of clothes. There are men’s and women’s changerooms at the rafting centre. During rafting, you will be provided with water boots, a life jacket and helmet. These must be worn at all times. You will also be provided with the option of wearing a spray jacket and wetsuit (please note that wetsuit sizes cannot be guaranteed).
Is the tour / rafting insured?
Yes. All of our tours are insured however guests are still required to have their own travel insurance that covers all activities including rafting. Please check that your policy covers rafting prior to the day of your tour.
What accommodation does this tour include?
The tour includes an overnight stay at ‘Ryukyoutei’, a mid-range hot spring hotel overlooking Tenryu Gorge. Your will be allocated a Standard Japanese Room with on-floor ‘futon’ bedding, ‘tatami’ matting and low furniture, and private bathroom including toilet and shower.
Will the guide stay with us overnight?
No. In order to allow our guests time to relax and enjoy their evening by themselves, your guide will not stay at the same accommodation. They will however accompany you to your chosen accommodation, help you to check-in and meet you there again in the morning. Should you have any questions or concerns, simply speak with your guide before they wish you good evening and they will assist you.
Will my room have its own bathroom including toilet and shower?
Yes. All rooms booked at Ryokyoutei have their own bathroom and shower however we cannot guarantee that your room will have a bath.
Am I required to use the ‘onsen’ (hot spring) / shared bathing facilities at my accommodation?
No. While the accommodation has a hot spring that can be used by any guest, there is no requirement to do so. Rooms included in this tour package at Ryukyoutei include a private bathroom therefore if you are not comfortable using the hot spring, you still have the option of using the shower in your room. Please note, we cannot guarantee all rooms have their own bath.
I have a specific dietary requirement / allergy. Can this be accommodated?
If you have a dietary requirement and/or allergy, please tell us at time of booking and we will communicate with your accommodation regarding breakfast. If your accommodation cannot cater to your needs, we will let you know prior to booking. Dinner on the first day includes a local BBQ. We will also discuss whether your needs can be catered to prior to booking. Lunch on the second day will be a pre-made ‘bento’ (lunchbox). It may not be possible to alter the contents of this.
Is the river boat a private cruise?
No. The Tenryu Rhine-Kudari is open to the public and popular with Japanese. Boats can carry up to 40 passengers at one time however such numbers are very unlikely. Cruises are at their most popular in autumn through October and November. Private boats can be arranged however the cost is high.
What does tea-picking involve?
Tea-picking on the second day takes place a Nakaisamurai. The area is remote and remarkably beautiful with the combination of terraced tea fields and river views being particularly photogenic. Upon arrival you will be met by a local farmer who will introduce you to the area and its tradition of growing organic tea. You will be guided in tea picking and then brew your own tea together. While there you will also enjoy a locally-made ‘bento’ (lunchbox) – believe us, it’s good! – and given a tea Nakasamurai tea pack to take with you. This is a rare chance to enjoy tea-picking in one of Nagano’s most beautiful yet least known landscapes. Please note that the exact location of the farm can vary depending on the season.

(Travel Agency License No: Nagano 2-562)
Snow Monkey Resorts Tours
2159 Kurita, Nagano City, Nagano, 380-0921 Japan
Tel: (+81)26-219-6256
Member of All Nippon Travel Agents Association
Travel Service Supervisor: Azusa Fukuhara