Enjoy outdoor activities in Kiho Town!
Discovering sacred and spiritual sites, being astonished by the marvels of Japanese cuisine, or enjoying the peacefulness of the countryside make a trip to Japan such a unique experience. But what about adding some thrills to your next journey? Mie Prefecture has got you covered. Located about three hours by car from Nagoya or Osaka, Kiho Town in the southernmost reaches of Mie Prefecture is blessed with magnificent mountains, lush forests, and amazing rivers and waterfalls. The perfect place for adventure!
Written by Julien Legrand
Canyons Kiho
Today we started our adventure at Canyons Kiho. Opened in July 2022, this facility is a 20-minute drive from JR Shingu Station. There is also a free pickup service if you come by train. Canyons Kiho offers a wide range of tours that can accommodate first-timers as well as experienced canyoners. This time we decided to go for the level 3 “Kiri Canyon” tour
After a quick check-in with Nana, the facility manager, we met with our two guides: Fergus from the UK and Toshi from Japan. During the security briefing, they went over the main safety points so that we could enjoy the experience safely.
Now it’s time to suit up! Changing into the wetsuits is probably the trickiest part of the tour, but at least you don’t have to worry about getting cold in the water. Once everybody was ready, we hopped in the van and headed to the canyon on the winding country roads.
The first thing that wowed us after descending into the canyon was the lush nature: steep slopes, round river rocks, a lot of moss, and crystal-clear water!
After walking a bit along the stream, we started with a few natural slides. Easy-peasy and good fun. But quickly came our first challenge, a ten-meter waterfall!
For this one, our guides set up a zipline. We hooked our harness to the zipline, went near the edge of the waterfall, and quickly slid into the creek below.
It was exciting. After that, we could cool down in the natural pool and enjoy the view of the waterfall.
The tour continued with some slides before reaching its climax. This time we were going to challenge a 15-meter waterfall! No ziplining here, we were going to slide along it. As always, safety first! Fergus hooked us onto the safety rope, and after lowering us with his steady hands, here we go!
This one was crazy! But we couldn’t resist and went for a second dip. We ended the tour with a final zipline from the small dam, then headed back to the van. Back at the station, Nana welcomed us with some hot coffee and tea. A nice way to relax after all those adventures.
Note that, during the tour, the guides are taking pictures that will be shared with you on the account created automatically upon check-in. A great service that allows you to fully enjoy your experience.
Kiho Town Hisetsu Falls Camp Site
The next step of our journey was Hisetsu Falls Camp Site, located 30 minutes by car from Canyons Kiho or 25 minutes from JR Shingu Station. This camping facility offers a tent site, cottages, and many activities. This time we decided to try the tent sauna!
We could choose between three options: the Finnish sauna tent SAVOTTA, the Russian sauna tent EX-PRO, or the triple-layer Russian sauna tent MORZH. We chose the last one since it was the closest to the campsite’s main attraction, the 30-meter-high falls.
Even if it’s your first time, using a sauna tent is very easy. You just get changed and go inside the tent. There you will find a stove with stones on top of it and a basket of firewood. Just make sure to regularly add wood to keep the fire alive. And if you want to increase the temperature, pour some water on the hot stones.