University Student Support Campaign ／ Why not make some memories with your friends on the Shimanto River? We will support you in doing things like rafting, SUP, camping, etc. In September, we will offer a 1,000 yen discount per group to groups of university students.
Natural Groove plans rafting and SUP in Mishima, an island in the Shimanto River surrounded by nature. Based in the midstream of the Shimanto River, there are rapids and gentle currents scattered throughout the area, and we can offer courses that can be enjoyed by beginners, families, and advanced riders alike. Spending time relaxing in nature will help you feel one with nature and refresh yourself. Come experience the nature of the Shimanto River and create unforgettable memories together. Natural Groove is located on the grounds of Mishima Campsite and is affiliated with the campsite. Tour participants can use these facilities. The campsite will reopen in the spring of 2024, with new facilities and a more comfortable stay.
Natural Groove's rafting and SUP activity courses are located in the middle reaches of the Shimanto River. There are rapids and gentle currents scattered throughout the area, and we can offer courses that can be enjoyed by beginners, families, and advanced enthusiasts alike. In addition, during our rafting tours, you can also enjoy SUP (stand-up paddle boarding)! This is the only place where you can enjoy both!
Natural Groove is located in the Mishima Campground, an island on the Shimanto River surrounded by nature. The facility was renovated and reopened in April 2024, making it even more comfortable. Tour participants can use the showers and toilets at the campground. Surrounded by the river, you can feel like you're on a deserted island. Just walking along the riverside and the lush green space will refresh you. Another thing we want you to experience here is a bonfire. Time spent around a fire, which has become difficult in the city. Make coffee, enjoy cooking over a fire, and talk with family and friends around a bonfire at night. We can propose tours that include accommodation, so please stay in Mishima and experience nature to the fullest.
Rafting and SUP tours are accompanied by guides who have Rescue 3 water rescue qualifications, first aid qualifications, practical and applied qualifications in flowing water, and tour experience. Since 2011, we have conducted over 1,000 tours, and by gaining experience in water levels and weather on the course, we always provide the best tours with safety as our number one priority.
I became a rafting guide here in Mishima in 2010. Seeing the faces of people who came from the city to visit and their expressions change to a more lively one after rafting made me realize the importance of this job and decided to go independent. Compared to the past, there are fewer opportunities to play in nature now, so I aim to provide a place where children in particular can play to their heart's content in nature. Qualifications held: Water rescue qualification/Swift Water Technician Level 1/First Aid Course/Completed Advanced First Aid Course/Qualified SUP Instructor/SUPA Certified Basic Instructor/SIJ Japan SUP Instructors Association Instructor Level 1
Originally from Osaka. From 2013 to 2016, he worked as a rafting guide on the Yoshino River, famous for its rapids. After living in Cameroon for five years, he returned to Japan and will return to work as a river guide at Natural Groove in 2023. Recently, he has been into growing rice and vegetables with his daughter Hana. Qualifications held: Rescue 3, Swift Water Technician Level 1, and Basic First Aid Training
Originally from the Kanto region. After a honeymoon searching for a place to move to as a DIY camper in a light truck, he and his wife moved to Shimanto Town in 2022. He gained experience as a rafting guide and is currently working as a river guide. He is also involved in forestry and sells firewood. Qualifications held: Rescue 3 Swiftwater Technician Level 1 / Standard first aid training
Originally from Osaka Prefecture. After retiring from an IT company in Tokyo, he moved to Shimanto Town in 2021. Since 2022, he has been working as an IT manager and river guide at Natural Groove. In Shimanto Town, he established his own project "Terakurasu Earth Symbiosis School" that focuses on "living" and started his own retreat tour. Qualifications: Rescue 3, Swiftwater Technician Level 1/Standard First Aid Training
Originally from Tokyo. Moved to Shimanto Town in 2022. After working at Natural Groove for one season as a receptionist, he was appointed as the head of Mishima Campsite as a local revitalization volunteer. Currently, he is involved in the management and operation planning of the campsite with local residents, and also serves as a guide for SUP experiences. In addition to running his own business, he hand-makes and sells environmentally friendly, additive-free soap. Qualifications: Rescue 3 Swift Water Technician Level 1/Normal Rest First Aid Course
Born in Tokyo. Moved to Shimanto Town in 2020 as a local revitalization volunteer. He has a strong spirit of adventure, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and the Everest Trail as a hobby. Currently, he is involved in various tourism businesses in the prefecture, and is a guide for SUP experiences at Natural Groove.
She is mainly in charge of reservations at Natural Groove. She is a mother of five children. She learned Esalen Massage and Lomi Lomi Massage in California, and provides body care at the facility.
Originally from Osaka, after several years of traveling abroad, he and his wife moved to Kochi, where they built a tiny house on land with an ocean view and live there. He is currently active as a traveling carpenter called "Tongari Tongari," making use of his experience in creative and playful house building. While working on the interior design of Katsuo Guesthouse in Kochi City, he is also posting on Instagram how he is building his own land and life. Qualifications: Rescue 3 Swift Water Technician Level 1 / Standard First Aid Training
Originally from Hokkaido, he has been working as a river guide for Natural Groove since 2014. After spending time on surf trips in Australia in 2011, he moved to Tosashimizu, Kochi Prefecture, attracted by its nature and waves, and worked in forestry and as a river guide while continuing his surfing lifestyle. In 2022, he moved with his family to Misato Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, and founded "KINOKANUE." He offers experiences in wood and canvas canoes, all handmade from natural materials, on dam lakes, and supports Natural Groove as a river guide in the summer.
| Insurance information | Domestic travel insurance/facility liability insurance |
|---|---|
| License and Qualifications | Swift Water Technician Level 1 (Rescue 3) Advanced First Aid Qualification, Japan RIVERSUP Association Skill Stage Basic 1, Basic 2, SUPA Certified Instructor SUP Instructor Japan Instructor Level 1 |
| Number of staff | 9persons |
| Number of instructors | 8persons |
| Selling points regarding safety | Rafting and SUP tours are accompanied by guides who have acquired Rescue 3 water rescue qualifications and first aid qualifications, as well as boat operation, first aid, application in flowing water, and tour experience. Natural Groove has conducted over 1,000 tours since 2011, and by gaining experience with water levels and weather conditions on the courses, we always provide the best tours with safety as our number one priority. We also have personal injury insurance, and have a system in place to provide compensation in the unlikely event of an accident. |
| Operating hours | 8: 00-20: 00 |
|---|---|
| Regular holidays | December to the end of February (inquiries accepted all year round) |
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