Flying over the Shimanto River Zipline’s location, reservation, prices, and sightseeing in the area.
A zip line that flies over the Shimanto River has been built.
It will be in open for business from Saturday, June 27th, 2020.
It’s only a 20 to 30-second flight, but it’s a rare experience to fly over the Shimanto River.
I think it makes me feel like a musasabi ( a giant flying squirrel ), a ninja, or a rescue worker.
In this article, I’ll show you where the zipline is, how to get there, how much it costs, and what to see in the area.
Overview of the Shimanto River Zipline
Zipping is an activity in which participants slide down a wire rope stretched between trees using a pulley.
Shimanto Town is the first town in Kochi Prefecture to install this activity.
First of all, please watch the movie “Shimanto River Zipline” on Shimanto Town’s official website.
The Shimanto River Zipline has a parallel wire rope so that you can enjoy zipline together with your family and friends.
If you’re scared, it’s okay because you can start with your friend at the same time.
Length and Height
| Length of wire rope | 195m (start to finish pillar) |
| Height | Approximately 25m from the river and 11m from the town road |
| Difference in elevation | About 10 meters |
The wire rope crossing the Shimanto River reminds me of the Koinobori river crossing in May.
It takes about 20 seconds to slide down the 195m (start to finish).
It’s about 25m above the river, so it’s quite a thrill.
The height difference is about 10m, so it doesn’t look so steep.
The speed is about the speed of a bicycle.
If your weight is too light, you might stop in the middle.
Even if you stop, the instructor will come to pick you up and pull you out of the spot, so it’s okay.
Location & Access
It is located on the premises of Roadside Station Shimanto Towa in Shimanto Town, Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture.
There is the Zipline information center.
| Place | 43-3 Towakawaguchi, Shimaunto-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi-ken |
| It takes about 2 hours from Kochi City by car. | Kochi I.C. ⇒ Shima-cho I.C. ⇒ Route 381 ⇒ Towakawaguchi. |
| It takes about 2 hours from Matsuyama City by car. | Matsuyama IC ⇒ Mima IC ⇒ Prefectural Road 57/Route 381 ⇒ Towa Kawaguchi |
| Nearest station | JR Yodo Line Tokawa Station (2 km from the station to the Zipline) |
(Google map)
Reservations and Applications
[Shimanto River Zipline Information Center]
| Phone number | 0880-28-5554 |
| 40010zip@shimanto.tv | |
| Payment Time | 9:00～16:30 |
| Regular holiday | Thursday (Open daily in August) |
The phone number is a dedicated number for zipline inquiries.
For more information about zipline, please refer to the “40010riverzipline” Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/40010riverzipline
Please note that the calls cannot be accepted by calling Roadside Station Shimanto Towa.
Price
Fees (including insurance premiums and consumption tax)
| Adult | 2,500yen |
| Children (high school students are charged as children) | 1,800yen |
Cash and cashless payment (e-money, QR payment, etc.)
10% off for groups of 20 or more
Note
Utilization conditions
You must be at least 120cm tall and under 130kg.
There are no age restrictions.
Those under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or guardian. (There is a consent box on the application form.
Middle school students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. (In other words, you must ride side by side.
However, even if the conditions of use are met, depending on weather conditions and other factors, use may be denied.
Please note that this service is not available if you are under the influence of alcohol or ill health.
Clothing
To use the zipline you must wear;
- Movable clothing
- Closed toe and closed heel shoes
Sandals, high heels and skirts are not permitted.
You will slide off your feet into a pile of wood chips on the landing.
Please make sure you are dressed appropriately and have proper shoes to avoid injury.
If you don’t have the right equipment, rental shoes and pants are available for a fee.
Rental shoes (athletic shoes) 300 yen
Transparent phone pouches are available for a rental fee of 100 yen.
If you wear glasses, you can borrow a free eyeglass strap.
If you have car keys, wallets, or other items that you would like to keep on your person, you may borrow a waist bag.
Cancellation and cancellation notice
[About Cancellation]
If you need to cancel your appointment due to your circumstances, please give them at least one day’s notice.
If you cancel on the same day, you will be charged 100% of the fee.
【Cancellationed due to weather 】
In the case of light rain, the zipline will run as usual, but the tour may be closed due to severe weather conditions.
We reserve the right to cancel the tour at any time.
If the tour is cancelled, the staff will contact you. Please be sure to give your phone number when you make a reservation.
Starting time
[Start time] (Please register at least 15 minutes before)
9:30 10:30 11:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00
Duration and the flow of the day
Location and finish line of the first briefing
From (start) to (end), the zipline tour takes approximately 40 minutes.
- 15 minutes before registration, fill out the application form and pay
- Harness fitting
- First Briefing (Start)
- Move to the other side of the river by riverboat (or by car in case of rain)
- Second briefing on the opposite starting deck
- Zipline flight
- Get off the finish deck and take off your harness (end)
We will use a riverboat to get to the other side of the river.
If the river is flooded or otherwise unusable, you will be transported to the other side of the river by a car provided.
The fee is the same for a car.
Other points to note
From the first briefing (start) to the second briefing on the other side of the river, we will travel by riverboat (in case of high water, by car) and on foot.
The stair on the other side of the river has many steps, and the walk is quite strenuous.
During the hot summer months, please drink plenty of water to avoid heatstroke.
You can bring in a selfie stick or phone pouch for filming, but you are responsible for your own equipment.
If you happen to drop it, well, you won’t be able to pick it up (probably).
There are no toilets on the other side of the river.
Please use the restroom at the roadside station before putting on the harness.
For more information, please refer to the “Roadside Station Towa” Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/toowa.Ltd/
My experience
Harnesses on
I’ve actually experienced it myself.
There were eight people in my group that started at the same time.
We had never met before, but we got to know each other somewhat well.
Instructor: “Who would like to go first?”
A man: “Okay, okay, I’ll go.”
A man: “It’s like… it’s like hanging gallows.”
Instructor: “No, no, no, don’t hang yourself, just slide down!”
Everyone laughed and said, “Go!”
Location of the second briefing and flight start point
the instructor is flying.
A pile of fluffy Wood chips at the finish line
It was a quick flight, so it’s okay even for people in their 50s and 60s.
I borrowed a transparent pouch for my phone and took a video, but I didn’t expect to get the camera backwards…
Everyone be careful not to turn the camera over.
I felt like I was desperately grabbing at the loop during the flight, and my arms were sore afterward.
And just before I landed, my body turned sideways and slid from my waist.
Ouch！
I felt a sense of accomplishment when I finished the zipline flight.
Alright, let’s have some ice cream!
The soft ice cream serves at the roadside station at the finish line was delicious.
As a matter of fact, there is a blueberry farm in Towa.
Soft ice cream with blueberry sauce
Recommended Sightseeing Destinations
Koinobori no Sato Blueberry picking
At Koi Noborino-Sato Blueberry Farm in Ono, located on the opposite shore of Roadside Station, you can enjoy picking blueberries bathed in the clean air and the bounty of the sun, which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
This is limited to the early summer months.
In 2020, you can start picking blueberries on the first Sunday in July.
Please refer to Blueberry picking／Koinobori no Sato Blueberry Farm
Rafting
I definitely recommend the rafting experience at Furusato Exchange Center, a 10-minute drive from Shimanto Towa.
This is a 6-person boat with a guide.
You can enjoy safe rafting in the middle Shimanto River basin because the current is not too steep and not too slow.
The whole family, from elementary school students to people in their 60s, can ride.
Related Article Safe and super fun activity a Rafting boat on the Shimanto River!
Lunch
Buffet-style for lunch is a great way to get a taste of the local produce.
The Towa Komachi Buffet is held every Sunday at Roadside Station Shimanto Towa.
https://www.facebook.com/toowa.Ltd/
A 10-minute drive from the Zipline, Okamisan-ichi Market offers a Wednesday buffet and boxed lunches that are cheap and popular.
In Shimanto Town, there are “Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto” and “Kaiyodo Kappakan” which collaborated with famous figure maker KAIYODO.
It takes about 40 minutes from Roadside Station Shimanto Towa by car.
Related Article Kaiyodo Hobby Museum – Access to the Shimanto area is a bit of a pain in the ass, but it’s a holy place for figurines
The Yodo Line Shimanto Trolley, which we are guiding, will also allow you to enjoy the Shimanto River.
We hope you will take a ride.
Related Article Local guide will introduce you to the Yodo Line Shimanto Trolley’s timings, dates of operation, how to make reservations, and what to see!