Looking for a great day trip this time of year? Head to Nagatoro river rafting and grape picking in Saitama! If you are looking for a fun one day get away to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful mountain and river scenery do visit Nagatoro River and surrounding area of Chichibu in Saitama. I traveled their with a group on a rented bus, but it is about a 2.5 hour drive. Nagatoro means long slow river.
Here are other great places to visit in Saitama with kids
If you can’t get to Nagatoro to raft by yourself, you can join this fun half day Fuji River Rafting Trip which is offered through Voyagin
Nagatoro River Rafting and Grape Picking
We left Tokyo at 8:00 am on a rented bus and traveled for two hours to the river of Nagatoro. We were greeted at the river by two boatmen who took our group of giggling middle age women down the river for 30 mins. You can choose 30 min or 60 min ride. The boat held all of us and was well equipped with life preservers for all. It was a leisurely ride with some ups and downs. A couple of the ladies got splashed a bit but not enough to need new clothes. Definitely want to do it again with my kids! Beautiful early autumn colors, cliffs and some waterfalls along the way. The cost was 2,700 yen per adult. The two boatmen were quite the characters; one talking the entire way narrating the ride, and other silent with a mysterious grin. A great adventure for our morning activity.
Prices
| Course | Adults (Junior High School & Above) |
Children (3yrs & above) |
|---|---|---|
| A) Oyahana Course (Approx. 3kms/20mins) | 1,600 yen | 800 yen |
| B) Takasago Course (Approx. 3kms/20mins) | 1,600 yen | 800 yen |
| A+B) Iwadatami Course (Approx. 6kms/40mins) | 3,000 yen | 1,400 yen |
Nagatoro River Rafting Information
Name of company: Nagatoro Line Kudari
Address: 489-2 Nagatoro Cho, Chichibu, Saitama-ken 369-1305
Tel: 0494 -66-0950
The bus then took us to the local Japan Agriculture store were we all enjoyed shopping for in season vegetable that were 30% the price of what we typically pay in Tokyo. I think the bus home was filled with squash, pumpkins and persimmons. Happy moms with yummy food for the kids and husbands back in Tokyo!
After a busy morning of boating and shopping, we relaxed for a leisurely lunch at the Kagemori Kankou Fruits Farm and Restaurant. The entire group enjoyed grilling beef, pork and vegetables (sweet potato, carrots, onions and cabbage) on a hot stone accompanied with warm miso soup and rice. Our organizing miracle mom, Wakae, had brilliantly brought some wine from home which we were allowed to unbottle and enjoy. A very accommodating restaurant. After lunch we were escorted 100 meters down the main road to the grape farm which is part of the restaurant company. Cost of lunch per person (beef or pork) and grape picking (one bunch per person) was 3,100 yen. You are allowed to each eat and take home your one bunch, but if you want more to take home there is extra cost. The grape picking was very controlled and rule based (cut one bunch and eat sitting in chairs), but the grapes were delicious and we all had fun!
For other autumn fruit picking options around Tokyo you can check out this list.
Restaurant and Grape Picking Information
Kagemori Kankou Chichibu Fruits Farm
877-1 Kagemori, Chichi-shi, Saitama-ken 369-1871
Tel: 0494-23-2711
Website: www.fruit-farm.jp
We all boarded the bus at 3:00 and arrived back in Tokyo, Shibuya area at 5:05 ready to cook dinner for our families. Wonderful day with 20 wonderful women. Thank you all very much!
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Nagatoro River Rafting and Grape Picking
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