Outdoor Adventure Tour

When you arrive at Jomo-Kogen Station the time is almost noon, let’s get some food before you start your adventures! Tenmaru is a soba noodle restaurant which is just in front of Jomo-Kogen Station. It is a convenient location for tourists, as well as locals. It is also a very popular local gourmet (Also known as B class gourmet, food with a reasonable price.). Instead of sitting on normal seats, how about sitting on the tatami barefooted? Tenmaru’s soba noodle is very al dente, and has a very rich flavor. Soba noodles are also served with grated yam and pickled vegetables. The meal will be quick, because of how tasty it is!

Apart from the having the soba, you should also try the Soba Beer. While you have your beer, have a look at the wall, there is a humorous notice which says “Please do not dip you tempura, green onions and seaweed into your beer!” Beside soba noodles, you can also try the Nabeyaki udon noodle. It is topped with shrimp tempura and it is very appetizing, the soup will surely warm your stomach and heart.

　

After you meet up with the staff of TAPA at Minakami Station, let’s get onto the highlight of the day - Rafting! The rafting season is April to November. Before you begin you must first sign the Declaration of Consent, change into the swimming gears (wet suits, life jacket and helmet) and TAPA will take you straight to Tone River. For your safety, you must first listen carefully to the precautions. While you pray to yourself not to fall into the river, listen to the coach’s directions. The coach will yell “1, 2, 1, 2…” to guide the raft forward. Scream when the waves strike right on your face, or intentionally crash the raft onto huge stones for excitement, enjoy yourself however you want. Whenever the raft get pass through a huge wave, the coach will hold up the paddle and shout out “Yeah~ High Five!”. After all the huge waves, you will arrive at a calmer river flow. In front of you is incredible sceneries that are hard to find in the city. The river shines bright and the forest sleeps in silence. Tourists on the bridge sometimes wave their hand at you. In summer you can get off the boat and play in the water.

This rafting tour is about 3 hours long. In this short period of time, not only can you enjoy nature, but you can also share great memories with your friends and family.

http://www.topminakami.com

TAPA will take you to Minakamikan with a shuttle bus. Step inside into the outdoor hot spring, and the spectacular view of Minakami is in front of you. Below you is the Tone River which you had your rafting experience. Locals say a cold glass of coffee-flavoured milk after hot spring is an experience like no other. Try it and you're sure to fall in love with this age-old custom!

http://minakamikan.com/

If you wish to be closer to nature, you should spend a night at TAPA Camping area. The camping area serve visitors fresh ingredients for the barbecue. All you need to do is prepare the vegetables and you will be grilling the fresh ingredients in no time. With all the ingredients left after your barbecue, why not mix it all up and create your own recipe of stir fry noodle! It is wise to tidy up the area after your barbecue, because monkeys and wild boars sometimes show up searching for food.

http://www.topminakami.com/tapacamppack.html

Wake up early the morning, TAPA camping park will prepare and serve you breakfast. After the meal you can take a walk to enjoy the blue sky and the clean air to start your exciting Day 2.

The time you arrive at Suwakyo Bridge is the time the highlight of your day begins - Bungee jump! In Japan, there are 5 bridge bungee jump sites. Within the 5 sites 2 are located in Minakami. The Suwakyo Bridge bungee jump site is 42 meters high, and the Sarugakyo bungee jump site is 62 meters high. 15,000 challengers appear every year for the Suwakyo Brige bungee jump site. Our editor visited the site was reluctant to even go close to the site. The staff were incredibly enthusiastic and they persuaded her to jump. Eventually she put on the bungee jumping equipment and stood on the 42 meters jumping platform. Her mind went blank while the count down started… “5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" and she was at the bottom of Tone River. Just like riding the roller coaster, free-falling from the sky, she could not even scream! A boat stands by at Tone River to pick up the challengers. According to the staff of the site, 5% of the visitors actually give up while they prepare to jump. Visitors that jumped will receive a certificate in honor of Bravery. A coupon that allows challengers to try again within a year will be passed onto the people who gave up. Bungee jump will change you; it will change the way you think about life!

http://www.bungyjapan.com

After the bungee jump, let’s cool down with a relaxing walk. Walking along the promenade by Tone River with flowers and trees. Sakura(cherry blossom) blooms in spring, nature grows even greener in summer, maple leaves fall in autumn, wood dries and decay in winter. Every season has offers a different scene. Close your eyes and press the shutter, all the photos you take here are a postcard. While you take your walk you might be able to spot a passing train, a train called “Pumpkin train” because of its color. A walk by yourself, with your pet, with your family, this is the first place locals think of when they feel like taking a stroll. You will see different breeds of dogs, you will hear the laughter of children. Looking at the clear river water rushing against the rocks and all the beautiful sceneries here, you might begin to admire the locals in this place, how they breathe such clean air and how calm their body must be.

After the walk, the next spot is Mizukikoukan. This is a small service station. There is a foot-bath outside and a small aquarium inside. There are five Dams in total in Minakami. Every May, a lot of people tend to visit this dam because of its fascinating water discharge. The gimmick in Mizukikoukan is curry rice - Water Dam Curry. Konjaks that are cut into fish shapes swim in the curry. Please finish it before broke the curry level drops like water level in a dam!

http://www9.wind.ne.jp/mizukikou