Traditional Boat Tour
Tour/Activity
4.62
Kumano-gawa River Boat Tour
Kumano-gawa River
Captain
River scenery
Happy passengers
Kumano River Boat Tour Center Exterior
River guide
Kumano River Boat Tour Center Interior
Waterfall
Kumano Hayatama Taisha
Description
River Pilgrimage Experience
Experience Kumano on the river! For over 1000 years pilgrims have been making the journey to Kumano.
The Kumano-gawa River was a vital section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route between Kumano Hongu Taisha in Hongu, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingu. Visitors are able to journey in traditional wooden flat-bottom boats (with modern motor) as pilgrims have been doing for centuries. This is a unique and fun way to get a river view perspective of Kumano’s spiritual landscape.
Boat Tour Schedule
● March 1st to November 30th departures (90 minutes tour)
Morning 10:00 ~ 11:30
Afternoon 14:30 ~ 16:00
◆ IMPORTANT NOTICE ◆
Sorry, closed from December 1 to February 28.
| Full Name |
Traditional Boat Tour
熊野川川舟センター |
|---|---|
| Area | Shingu |
| Type | River, Experience |
| Map Code | 246 422 417*76 |
Rating & Reviews
4.62
Date: Mar/2026
Germany (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Very nice experience
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
United States (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Breathtaking and beautiful
I would plan this boat trip again. Our host played a wooden flute towards the end. Lots of native wildlife
Date: Mar/2026
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
Australia (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Very informative and beautiful!
Would recommend. It was so surreal to travel down the river through the valleys and mountains. Kyoko-san our tour guide was very whimsical and playful. Thanks so much!
Date: Mar/2026
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing boat tour!
We were lucky with great weather on the day of our boat tour. The staff was helpful and organized. We enjoyed learning more about the Kumano area and the areas on the river.
Date: Mar/2026
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jan/2026
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
A unique experience
It was a cool but clear day for a ride down the river. The tour guide was friendly and informative. Really enjoyed this experience.
Date: Dec/2025
Singapore (Female, age **)
5.00
Second Time Kumano Kodo
This is our Second time doing Kumano Kodo. We did Nakahechi route in April and found out about Ohechi route. We decided to explore Ohechi route in autumn and take the traditional boat rides. The Boat tour is almost fully booked out but we managed to find a slot which we have to make adjustment to our schedule. So glad that we made it for this boat tour! The guide actually waited at the public bus stop which I didn’t expected it since we never mentioned at all how we are going to the meeting point. Throughout the tour, the guide gives good explanation about the area. The scenery around it is so serene and beatiful. Definitely worth it!
Date: Dec/2025
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Scenic and calm boat ride with an awesome guide!
I appreciate that the boat ride was a relatively small group, only 7 people plus the guide and 1 crew. It was a very serene boat ride and lasted about 1.5 hours. Our guide spoke very good English and played the flute during part of the ride! Overall, a very lovely and memorable experience!
Date: Dec/2025
Sweden (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Great guide and beautiful views
The guide was very frindly and had great knowledge. Nice and calm ride down the river with beautiful nature around. Could be a bit hard if you have a sore back since there is no backrest, otherwise very good!
Date: Nov/2025
United States (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
I absolutely loved this boat tour. The scenery was beautiful and I appreciated the chance to learn a bit about the history and nature in the area. It also ended right at Hayatama Taisha which was very convenient. A lovely, scenic way to travel to Shingu.
Date: Nov/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2025
Taiwan (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2025
Denmark (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Very nice boat tour.
The staff was very very friendly and we were very happy to get this experience as well. Very nice.
Date: Nov/2025
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Wonderful
I loved the boat tour and I am so glad I booked it. Being on the water was a really wonderful experience, seeing the birdlife and the mountains rise on the sides of the river. Particularly loved the moment the flute was played with the outboard motor switched off. Very special. The arrival at Shingu, so close to the Hayatama shrine was very special too. Highly recommended.
Date: Oct/2025
Italy (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
France (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
Traditional boat trip
A fun trip downriver enjoying the scenery as a relaxing alternative to walking. The 2.30 trip gave us enough time to visit the local shrine in Shingu before catching a bus to Kaatsuura. Note the train would be a faster option if going to Katsuura for the night.
Date: Oct/2025
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Beautiful Trip
It was a beautiful trip with great scenery. The guide was very helpful from the moment we stepped into the meeting area. The trip was very informative and the guide's English explanations were clear and easy to understand.
Date: Oct/2025
Germany (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
See the Kumano area from a different perspective
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
英語で説明するときは、よりわかりやすい言葉を使う方が良いでしょう
Date: Oct/2025
Israel (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Travel feeling
The reception staff explained everything clearly, and the safety measures were complete. The weather was pleasant on the day we cruised the Kumano River, and it was a very relaxing experience. The guides on the boat were also very attentive, explaining the characteristics of the river. They even played a flute, which was very special!
Date: Oct/2025
United States (Female, age **)
3.00
Pleasant trip on the river but not a must do experience
The boat tour was not a must see/do experience for us. It was a nice trip down the river, and we saw some nice rock formations but definitely not a highlight, for us, of our Kumano Kodo trek experience
Date: Oct/2025
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Was an amazing experience
The boat trip was great and well coordinated
Date: Sep/2025
Germany (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2025
Netherlands (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Boat tour
Friendly staff! Little bit rain.
Date: Sep/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
The tour guide was very attentive It was a great experience
Date: Sep/2025
Germany (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2025
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
5.00
Excellent - despite the weather
When they say the trip will go ahead if it is raining, they definitely mean it! We set off in torrential rain, halfway through it stopped raining and by the end it was baking hot sun! The guides were informative and very friendly. A very enjoyable experience (even in the rain). Recommend.
Date: Sep/2025
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
The guide was the star of the show
A nice little ride by boat along the Kumano river. Our guide was amazing, spoke in easy to understand English and explained everything to us in a very entertaining way. She even played the flute for us in a lovely and quiet spot of the river. I
Date: Sep/2025
Germany (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2025
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Cannot miss this experience
I was torn between walking from Yunomine Onsen to Nachisan (via Koguchi) and taking the boat. But I am very happy to have chosen the boat ride. We had a very knowledgeable guide on the boat. The scenery was beautiful and different from the walks the days before. The boat captain was very skilled and managed the boat through rapids and shallows. We will be back to the walk another day.
Date: Sep/2025
Singapore (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2025
Hong Kong (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Not easy to hear from the guide voice on boat. Please provide a pamphlet for visitor to read.
Date: Aug/2025
Germany (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2025
Germany (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
for those who hike with children
After all the hiking, our daughter really enjoyed the boat tour. The guides were very nice and everything was well organized. However, the scenery wasn't that great—next time, I'd rather hike the route!
Date: Aug/2025
Germany (Female, age **)
4.00
Great experience
Very friendly staff! Great scenery! Despite the light rain I enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere on the river when the guide played the flute.
Date: Aug/2025
China (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
非常满意且非常晒的行程
本次船游给我的感觉，细心周到，导游小姐姐日文讲解后，专门为我这个外国人安排了英文解说。路线方便，下船直接就在速玉大社门口。安全，全程船都开的很稳当，安全感十足。景色非常优美，就是有点晒。
Date: Aug/2025
Italy (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Stunning and enthusiastic staff
A beautiful way to end the Nakahechi route of Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. The scenery was amazing: the river and the mountains are really stunning. The staff and our guide were very kind and enthusiastic. They made sure we had a great time by pointing out all the interest sites we passed and stopping for a break.
Date: Aug/2025
Romania (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Wonderful experience on the river!
Every moment from these 2 hours worth every penny! Very nice people, beautiful landscape, amazing adventure by boat on the river plus a traditional musical episode took us back in the past!
Date: Aug/2025
Spain (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
A great way to cool down from the Kumano
After a few days walking this tour was the perfect way to cool down. It was relaxing to sit in the boat, listen to the interesting explanation of the guide and even her little performance on the flute was great eventhough not flawless. we had a big backpack and asked what would be the best way to store it in Shingu, their response: bringing us with their van to the information center that offers storage space. What a gerat extra service. We loved it 100%!
Date: Aug/2025
Sweden (Male, age 20-29)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2025
Netherlands (Female, age **)
5.00
Beautiful
Wonderful traditional boat trip. Spectacular scenery. Well organized. Funny tour guide and the flute was a nice touch
Date: Aug/2025
France (Male, age **)
4.00
Great views
The tour is really a must to do. The primary forrest is outstanding, along the mountains view. Maybe to have some documents to read while the guide talks in english would help to understand (for non english speakers I mean)
Date: Aug/2025
Malaysia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2025
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Wonderful experience!
My son and I loved including the boat tour as part of our trek. Our guide was informative and entertaining and the views were spectacular. Do this if you have the opportunity!
Date: Jul/2025
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
A wonderful trip!
The boat takes you down the sacred river, pointing out waterfalls along the way. It's the nicest way to travel from the Hongu area to Shingu.
Date: Jul/2025
Spain (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing experience!
We enjoy a lovely trip, surrounded by stunning and awesome landscape. The guide was such a good explainer and so nice. Highly recommended
Date: Jul/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Exciting
The introduction of the member was so good. the view of the river was also wonderful, Our family like it so much
Date: Jul/2025
United Kingdom (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
nice experience. highly recommended. The guide very friendly and welcoming. It was very pleasant. Courtesy and kindness
Date: Jun/2025
Singapore (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Super good! strongly recommend
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2025
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
Well Worth Doing
A great experience and well run tour. Good to see the area from the river and hear local stories.
Date: Jun/2025
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2025
Germany (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Wonderfull & perfect
Very beautiful & we had goose bumps when she played the flute
Date: Jun/2025
Australia (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Once in a life time experience. Amazing. Informative.
Despite the rain, the tour still went on with accommodations to make sure we were protected from the weather. Our guide was knowledgeable on all the sites along the river which really enhanced our experience on the Kumano Kodo trail. She spoke English well and interacted with the boat frequently - the traditional flute performance in the boat was the cherry on top!
Date: Jun/2025
Canada (Male, age 80-89)
2.00
Fourth day on Kumano Kodo
Although the boat tour might have been more interesting if the weather was decent, it was not, It was pouring and I think everyone who took the tour was more than happy we we arrived in Shingu. To be honest I was extremely disappointed that the tour was not cancelled due to the downpour. Even with the tarps given in an attempt to "protect" us it was a futile endeavour. we all arrived pretty well soaked. In retrospect I would have gladly missed the tour. It would be nice though given the cost if a 50% reimbursement would have been offered. That way the tour company gets something and the guest as well, Though e should have just skipped the tour and write off the cost. Much better to take a bus to the shrine given the weather
Date: Jun/2025
Romania (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Beautiful experience
I loved the experience and that the guide played the flute. I only wish we would have spent more time without the engine on. It was magical when it was stopped. Overall, beautiful and unique experience!
Date: Jun/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
A very enjoyable boat ride!
We booked the afternoon boat tour and took the no.51 bus to the boat tour center. Once we got off the bus, we were greeted by the staff of the company and guided us to the shop and provided us with the orientation. The weather was nice, and our guide Kyoko San was so fun and welcoming that we laughed several times during the tour. We love how she presented the history and the anecdotes of Kumano River, it was lively and interactive. We had a lot of fun and highly recommend this boat tour to anyone who wants to explore this area!
Date: Jun/2025
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Traditional Boat Tour
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The your guide very friendly & profesional.
Date: Jun/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 20-29)
2.00
Unpleasant experience due to bad weather conditions
Even though the tour guide was kind and did her best to explain all the sights across the river, the heavy rain made it really difficult to see anything—let alone take photos. By the end of the tour, we were soaked from head to toe. There was a note before booking that said no refunds would be given if we cancelled due to bad weather, so unfortunately we had no choice but to go. Just bad luck for us, I guess.
Date: Jun/2025
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2025
Thailand (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
What a wonderful experience
I love the way of cruising , not too fast and not to slow Happy with excellent environment and information from the leader
Date: Jun/2025
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
A very well organised trip
I found the service provided by Kumano Travel to be very effective in ensuring a smooth experience throughout our trip. The website took a little while to navigate through and it did take some time to complete my reservation request and to get it confirmed, but once the reservation was confirmed, everything went smoothly. The quality of the accommodation and luggage services were very good. The resources on the website providing advice and recommendations for our hike were also very useful.
Date: May/2025
Singapore (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
United States (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Excellent boat tour
Lovely tour on the river with guide who could play the flute and tell us about the area. It was relaxing and beautiful albeit a bit short
Date: May/2025
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
Excellent end to the Kumano Kodo
We loved the boat trip at the end of the Kumano Kodo. The scenery was so beautiful every direction you looked. The guide was informative and spoke very good english. It was well organised and they took our bags to the end point so that we didn't need to bring it on the boat Would highly recommend!
Date: Jun/2025
China (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
とても印象的な、しかも特別な体験でした。
Date: May/2025
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
Fabulous traditional boat tour
Great trip down the Kumano River with a very knowledgeable guide with great English. 😁
Date: May/2025
Malaysia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
A memorable experience.
Date: May/2025
Spain (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
Un remate inolvidable
La guía, el barquero, el idílico paisaje, ...todo estuvo muy bien. Un precioso remate a las duras caminatas
Date: May/2025
France (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
川の熊野古道
川の熊野古道を体験させていただきました。 ガイドさんによる、途中の奇岩や滝などの名所についての日本語英語両方の説明も分かりやすく、また船頭さんの竿裁きも素晴らしく、川下りを楽しく堪能させていただきました。 終点の熊野速玉大社でも時間を融通していただいて乗船場まで送っていただき、感謝します。 強いて言うなら、川下りのルートマップなどの配布があれば、もっと分かりやすかったと思います。
Date: May/2025
Taiwan (Female, age **)
5.00
很棒的木舟體驗
木舟與民宿服務人員都很親切 盡責 遺憾這回沒訂到小口住宿 但我們回學校去探望老友們 期待下回有機會再來
Date: May/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
The service staff is very friendly
Although it rained heavily that day, we stayed on the boat for an hour. The boatman was very enthusiastic and shortened the trip for us to avoid getting wet. Thank you.
Date: May/2025
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Great boat ride
We had terrible weather but really enjoyed the boat ride. The staff was very friendly and informative. The boat ride complemented the trek by foot well. We would definitely recommend this boat ride to anyone walking the Kumano Kodo.
Date: May/2025
Argentina (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Singapore (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
A must-do! Have to book early like at least 5-6 months in advance as slots are very limited. This is part of Kumano Kudo trail so don’t forget to get the stamp at the ferry terminal
Date: May/2025
United States (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Fabulous boat trip
Glad we took this boat ride down the Kumanogawa to Shingu. The river and views are beautiful. The guide provided us lots of information about the history, geology and religions of the area. And she played the flute so beautifully at a quiet spot where we had stopped. A great pilgrimage experience
Date: May/2025
Canada (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
beautiful scenery on a clear blue-sky day
The ride down the river was a great way to experience the journey between Hongu Taisha and Hayatama Taisha. The boat captain was very experienced at moving through very shallow waters and the guide was friendly and concise. A great experience and balance to hiking the full trail.
Date: May/2025
China (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
great activity
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Hong Kong (Female, age **)
5.00
Great Boat Ride
The boat ride to Shingu was beautiful. I loved the scenery. The guide was very knowledgeable and gave us information on the history of the pilgrimages; rock formations and festivals amongst other things. The boat was small and only takes around 8 passengers. I would definitely recommend it. It was a lovely way to travel.
Date: May/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
wonderful experience
熊野川の風景は本当に美しく、川沿いの自然に癒されました。ガイドの説明も丁寧でわかりやすく、案内パネルは中国語だけでなく英語にも対応しているので、言葉の心配がある外国人旅行者でも安心して楽しめます。舟に乗っての川下りはとても楽しく、非日常的な体験ができて大満足です。熊野を訪れるなら、ぜひおすすめしたいアクティビティの一つです。
Date: Apr/2025
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Moving experience
I felt blessed spending 3 days in Kumano Kodo. What a great Japanese countryside including its hospitable people, beautiful nature and enormously rich culture. I would definitely love to come back!
Date: Apr/2025
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Loved the boat trip
Beautiful trip. Staff was waiting for us when the bus arrived, very organised and professional. Highly recommended
Date: May/2025
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
Lithuania (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
Pleasant view from the water.
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age **)
4.00
A Little Hokey but Worthwhile
I loved this little boat ride. It is a bit hokey at times, but that adds some flavor. The scenery is stunning and a definitely complement to walking high in the mountains.
Date: Apr/2025
United Kingdom (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Cool!
Very nice way to access Hayatama from near Hongu. It's all motorized, with about 3 minutes of traditional oaring/paddling.
Date: Apr/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
KUMANO boat
service is good and all plan on schedule
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Boats
This was a lot of fun and so beautiful. Our sweet guide told us a lot about the area and some of the history and even played the flute for us. It was really nice way to experience the Kumano Kodo.
Date: Apr/2025
Philippines (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing Scenery
The boat ride with Kumano Travel was such a peaceful and memorable experience. The scenery along the river was absolutely stunning—lush, serene, and rich with history. But the best part? A beautiful flute performance right in the middle of the ride. It added such a magical, almost spiritual touch to the journey. Truly one of the highlights of my trip!
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
We enjoyed the boat tour
The guides were nice and it was great to see things from a different perspective. Also, we love birding and this was a fun opportunity to see a variety of birds.
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
New Zealand (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Nice way to end the route
This river ride was a lot nicer and more interesting than taking the bus! We had to start part way down river due to low water levels, so I think we missed out on some of historical items, however the guide was friendly and played the flute which was neat.
Date: Apr/2025
Austria (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
easy way to Kumano Hayatama Taisha
It is a nice way to visit the 3rd main temple.
Date: Apr/2025
China (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2025
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Amazing tour
I really enjoyed this gorgeous tour - it was
Date: Mar/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2025
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
川の道
五日間のうち、唯一歩かない川の道で、 語り部さんのお話を聞きながら、熊野のことを色々知れました。 1時間半の川下りですが、天気の良い日でしたので、とても心地が良い旅になりました。 また、川から見える雄大な自然に、とても美しい景色が見れました。
Date: Mar/2025
Taiwan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
とても楽しい
今回の熊野川の船に乗る体験が本当に楽しかったです。とても面白く、地元の文化を深く体験でき、感動しました。熊野古道の途中で、いつもとは違った風景を見ることができました。
Date: Mar/2025
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Nice boat ride
The ride was well managed and the tour information interesting. The river, unfortunately, was low in water.
Date: Mar/2025
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Great way to Shingu
Book the boat. It's so different to see it from the river. The guide is entertaining (not corny) and informational. We took the afternoon boat and it was perfect. We even saw a monkey. They drop you at the shrine in Shingu.
Date: Jan/2025
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazingly informative and beautiful tour!
This tour exceeded our expectations. The group was small, and our tour guide was super nice and informative! An amazing amount of history was shared, and the views were incredible. A very nice alternative way to get to Shingu.
Date: Dec/2024
Philippines (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Very good service
The boat service was very good except due to the strong wind, we couldn't hear the guides very well and the ride was too cold for us. The 2 guides tried their best though and the lute playing was beautiful and special.
Date: Dec/2024
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
Rest day adventure
Our group of 4 did this on a rest day. A very relaxing day to enjoy the river after walking for a few days. Welcoming and very organised staff. Beautiful river cruise and very informative guide. the guide played music during a period where the skipped turned off the motor which was lovely. Enjoyed the shrine in Shingu afterwards before getting the bus back to accommodation.
Date: Dec/2024
Canada (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Such fun!
Adored this trip - so well organized and our boat host was quirky and knowledgable. Beautiful scenery! Well worth the time and cost. Definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a different perspective of the region.
Date: Dec/2024
Hong Kong (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Excellent trip. Guide was very informative.
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Definitely a must do! We learned so much and the views are amazing.
Date: Nov/2024
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2024
Canada (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing
Absolutely magical! I thoroughly recommend this tour!
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Beautiful tour! It was raining very hard the day that I went, but the rain lightened up by the time we were on the boat. The operators are very professional, and the narrated tour gave interesting context to what we were seeing.
Date: Nov/2024
Germany (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
Fun, Beautiful
Pretty standard boat ride, beautiful sites, and decent narration. Our guide was a little difficult to understand, but she still communicated the general facts. The boat captain did an outstanding job navigating the river. We had a terrific time, I recommend taking this tour. They even gave us a ride back to our accommodations after the tour.
Date: Nov/2024
Malaysia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional Boat Tour
Tour guide is so friendly & helpful, she is entertainer with her flute and sharing the history of the journey.
Date: Nov/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Lovely experience
I was worried this might be a bit touristy but was surprised that there were only 2 boats with 6 people each. The experience was really enjoyable with lots of bird spotting on route including an osprey.
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
- No subject -
Nice. Guide. It will be good if there is a description about lagguge transport.
Date: Oct/2024
United States (Female, age 70-79)
4.00
Lovely river boat trip.
Our group of six really enjoyed the boat ride. It was a nice ending to our Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. I only wish I could have understood our guide better.
Date: Oct/2024
Germany (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Fun trip, nice way to end Nakahechi
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2024
Switzerland (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
Stunning river but the boat still has a motor
The river is absolutely beautiful and the forest around is lovely! The colour of the water is breathtaking. It was probably mentioned somewhere, and we probably should have expected it, but we somehow thought that the traditional boat would not have a motor. Considering the distance, it's absolutely necessary to do it in 90min, but I would still have loved to experience the natural sounds a bit more. Definitely still worth it though :) the guides were very friendly and helpful.
Date: Oct/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
特別的體驗
風景真的很美，但總時間大概60分鐘左右而已，不是90分鐘
Date: Oct/2024
Thailand (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
Good Tour
Tour was impacted by constant rain
Date: Oct/2024
Taiwan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Language diversity
The tour guide can guide in Japanese and English. He is also very friendly and coordinates well with the captain's tour pace. It is a great experience
Date: Oct/2024
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
川下り
熊野川からの眺めは素晴らしく、貴重な体験でした。 ガイドさんの説明も良かった。
Date: Oct/2024
Thailand (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Pleasure ride
We were lucky that the rain stop just before we board the boat. So the whole trip was very cool and pleasant.
Date: Oct/2024
United States (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
Good for what it is
I wanted to break up our hike with a rest day the river. The tour was not my cup of tea. They did a good job at what it was. The tour guide did her best to speak in English and it was ok. They were very polite and tried really hard. If you are looking for an exciting time this is not it. If you want to take a break and and cruise down the river then it's for you.
Date: Oct/2024
Singapore (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Boat tour, a relaxing way down the river.
The boat tour was well organised and staff are all very helpful. The commentary was clear and pleasant. Enjoy and appreciate a bit of stop at the 'spine rock' to take pictures.
Date: Oct/2024
Hong Kong (Female, age **)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2024
Philippines (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Very organized
The entire process from arrival in the ticket office, to boarding the boats, to the tour itself and disembarkation was very organized.
Date: Oct/2024
Hong Kong (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
Relaxing Boat Tour
The pros: Finding the raft pier was easy to find via bus. The safety info session was clear and quick by the boat company. The seats were comfortable and the plastic cover was kind and thoughtful. I found the information to be rather basic in details and the tour guide playing the instrument was interesting and peaceful. The cons: I though the information during the rafting experience to be very basic and topical. I would have liked to learn more about the rafts, the types of rafts that were used, and more information about the people that used the river to get from one point to another. The reservation process wasn't very easy and at times confusing.
Date: Oct/2024
Singapore (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2024
China (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
It is more than just taking a boat to float on the river. The tour guide will explain to you the scenery, history and legends on both sides of the river, ensuring that you will not miss any beautiful scenery worthy of careful appreciation. The crew of the boat will also cooperate to travel at different speeds in different places, and will also stop at an island in the middle to experience the island. The moment when we finally reach the Pacific Ocean is very exciting! The tour guide will also perform an Easter egg during the process, which I won’t tell you, hahahahaha!
Date: Oct/2024
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
- No subject -
ガイドさんの説明が日本人は私たちだけでしたが、丁寧に日本語でもしていただき、感謝致します。
Date: Oct/2024
China (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
十分推薦
很值得的一次體驗，工作人員十分友好，會提前說明任何注意事項，在遊玩過程中會注重細節，下船後得知我要到新宮站前，工作人員還問我順路要不要一起，當時我想先去參拜神社就婉拒了。整體來說沿途風景十分優美怡人，我是認為此次旅程遠超於所付款項，希望熊野古道能夠長久經營得這麼好！再次祝大家來古道的世界友人們旅行快樂！請大家放心把自己交給沿途上的店家、民宿老板、遊玩經營者等，他們是一群努力工作、待人親切、無微不至的人們，體現了和歌山縣人們背山靠海的廣闊心胸！
Date: Oct/2024
China (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
The landscape along the route is truly breathtaking
The overall service experience was excellent, starting from the moment you step off the bus. The staff were patient in informing you of the necessary precautions. The guide was friendly and always smiling, actively assisting with taking photos and being fully engaged and dedicated in the presentations. During the trip, we experienced the beautiful scenery under the hot sun, as well as a short period of rain, allowing us to appreciate the difficulties that people faced in the past with the ever-changing weather. This experience is definitely worth trying.
Date: Oct/2024
Germany (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Great experience!
Great experience, we learned much about the history there!
Date: Oct/2024
China (Male, age **)
5.00
Great boat tour
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2024
Mexico (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
I couldn't hear the guide...
But in her defense, it was a very rainy day... It was a very enjoyable tour, even when no place of my body was dry after the ride. It was definitely and adventure!
Date: Oct/2024
Switzerland (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
Great fun way to travel from Hongu to Shingu.
The boat tour from Michi-No Eki Kumanogawa, is a great way to continue the Kumano Kodo from Hongu to Hayatama Taisha, Shingu. In September, we did not have the cherry blossoms of Spring or the coulours of Autumn, but the countryside was wonderful to see at the pace of a flat boat. Our guide animated the trip with stories of the region and even played the flute for us on a quiet stretch of the river. She was also very kind to book taxis for us at the Hayatama Taisha so we could get to the JR station ( which is a bit too far to walk to, if you are carrying all your baggage).
Date: Sep/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
A fun way to travel the Kumano Kodo
We loved the traditional boat tour. A great way to see the landscape from a different perspective and get some information from guidesat the same time.
Date: Sep/2024
New Zealand (Female, age 70-79)
5.00
Relaxing informative experience
Enjoyable well organised trip - with good formation about the area as we floated down the river. Safety well considered & implemented. Highly recommend.
Date: Sep/2024
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
We had a great boat tour
Date: Sep/2024
China (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
China (Female, age **)
0.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
China (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
体験価値の高いアクティビティプロジェクト
まず、京子さんの紹介に感謝します。生き生きしていて、とても面白かったです。河川の両岸の風景もとても美しいです。さらに、当日の天気は晴れで、清々しい風が心地よく吹いていた。そのせいか、この旅があまりにも短く感じられました。サービス、品質ともに非常に高い旅で、良い評価です！
Date: Sep/2024
Taiwan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
2.00
No sufficient backup plan in bad weather
We experienced this traditional boat tour under the shower, which is clearly foreseeable before started. Good Point is that we got some basic rainy equipments and finally shorten the tour, while the tour experience is not as good as good weather day. We spent the same Cost but experienced less.
Date: Sep/2024
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
楽しかったです
想像以上楽しかったです。 天気がいいので、日やきもすごかったです。ですが、移動の途中に風が向いて気持ちよかったです。ガイドさんの解説も良かったです。
Date: Sep/2024
Canada (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Relaxing & serene
We loved the boat tour & really appreciated all the local knowledge. It was cool & serene on the river, with really pretty scenery. We found it to be a moving end to our pilgrimage when they turned off the engine & played the traditional flute.
Date: Sep/2024
United Kingdom (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2024
Spain (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2024
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
One of the highlights of my trip!
The boat trip was a much appreciated relief from the heat and humidity of my trek. Our guides gave a friendly and informative. The beauty of the river and surrounding mountains cannot be overstated. Also, the traditional hats are very good at shading from the intense summer sun.
Date: Aug/2024
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Great
Was a fantastic boat tour with very authentic local guide
Date: Aug/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2024
Netherlands (Female, age **)
5.00
Perfectly arranged boat tour
We were greeted by the boat team from arrival with the bus and they took care of us until we arrived at the end of the tour. The guides were very professional and the captains very skilled.
Date: Aug/2024
France (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional boat trip
Very interesting comments, very energetic guide, beautiful landscape. A very enjoyable trip. Very well orginized, easy to find.
Date: Aug/2024
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Lovely Boat Ride
It was a beautiful boat ride on Kumanogawa River early in the morning. It was a lovely experience in addition to the trek of the Kumano Kodo- Nakahechi Trail.
Date: Aug/2024
France (Male, age **)
2.00
Not really interesting
Motor engine on traditional boat. Ride nit interesting
Date: Jul/2024
Netherlands (Male, age **)
5.00
Wonderful
Not to be misses, exciting, stupendous scenery, great guide, just fantastic.
Date: Jul/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
China (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
Netherlands (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
China (Male, age 40-49)
3.00
it was average experince
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
Mexico (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2024
China (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2024
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
0.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
Czech Republic (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Special experience
We were worried our boat tour would be rained off, but it went ahead and was great, even in the rain! We had our waterproofs on, but it was possible to get ponchos, conical hats, and various plastic coverings to keep us as dry and clean as possible. On arrival at the centre on public bus, we were greeted by staff and shown where to go to prepare. There was a short drive to the river - my only complaint here is that I wish the staff had told everyone to fasten their seatbelts because not everyone did this. The boat ride was fantastic. The scenery was incredible and the guide pointed out lots of interesting points. It was great to learn about the history of the river for pilgrims. Life vests were mandatory and there were warnings whenever we went through a slightly choppy area. I highly recommend this tour.
Date: Jul/2024
China (Male, age **)
5.00
Traditional boat tour
The whole tour was great and the guide was professional and kind.
Date: Jun/2024
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
熊野川船中心
It's a quiet special experiend.
Date: Jun/2024
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Wonderful experience
So glad we were able to have the experience on the boat from Hongo to Shingu. Getting to Hayamata Shrine was easy from the boat docking area. Cultural relevance and a wonderful easy ride down the river. Also easy to walk to the train / bus station from the shrine. Wish I had planned more time to explore Shingu.
Date: Jun/2024
Australia (Male, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2024
Hong Kong (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional boat tour
Our guide for this tour was very good. The route was very scenic and very beautiful. I would recommend my friends to do this tour.
Date: Jun/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
Great boat trip. Definitely worth doing. Was so great to see the area from the water. Felt very safe and very warm welcoming staff
Date: Jun/2024
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2024
Spain (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Excellent trip
It was a great experience. Everything very well organized. The staff were very profesional and very kind. Very good english explanations
Date: Jun/2024
United States (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Relaxing
The guide waited for us at the bus stop based on our arrival information. The scenery is amazing. It’s 30 minutes shorter than advertised 2 hours though.
Date: Jun/2024
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
unbelievable boat ride , the guide was very informative and played the Flute.
Date: Jun/2024
New Zealand (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
an enjoyable experience
We enjoyed the experience, it was fun, but were disappointed to find it ended in Shinghu. This wasn't made clear when we booked the boat ride. We were sitting at the back of the boat and struggled to hear our lovely guide.
Date: Jun/2024
Italy (Male, age **)
3.00
Something must be done.
Nice tour done the river, nothing really to see but an experience to be done.
Date: May/2024
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
relaxing way to enjoy scenery
No guest review.
Date: May/2024
Denmark (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2024
France (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
Nice boat tour
Nice boat tour on the Kumano river. Profesional and friendly team. We had a bit of troubles hearing the guide comments as we were seating at rear of the boat.
Date: May/2024
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Even though it was a miserable day weather-wise, the trip was definitely worth it. The light rain added to the atmosphere and mystic of the mighty river and its many stories.
Date: May/2024
Taiwan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
愉快的乘船旅遊
工作人員都很熱情 服務都很周到 解說都很用心 整體體驗非常好 值得推薦
Date: May/2024
Australia (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2024
Singapore (Male, age 20-29)
4.00
Great experience for the boat and river tour
Safe and good for the whole trip
Date: May/2024
United States (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
A beautiful stroll down the river
We took the afternoon river ride. Our guide was a cheery lady who shared some interesting info about the surrounding area. It was cold and it was a little hard to enjoy the ride to the fullest because we weren't prepared. Bring windbreakers and rain gear should the weather be inclement.
Date: Apr/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Excellent
Excellent boat tour
Date: Apr/2024
Malaysia (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
A good boat tour
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Israel (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
The ride was very nice, but the guide had very poor English pronounciation, and I almost couldn't understand a word
Date: Apr/2024
Japan (Female, age 70-79)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Viet Nam (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
United States (Female, age **)
4.00
Nice, informative educational boat tour
Our boat guide Tomoko was pleasant, informative and made sure she shared a lot about the area. The view from the river gave a different perspective of our Kumano Kodo trek.
Date: Apr/2024
Switzerland (Male, age 20-29)
0.00
- No subject -
Great tour, well organized!
Date: Apr/2024
South Africa (Female, age **)
5.00
Definitely worth doing
A lovely boat trip with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. My favorite part was when she played the flute!
Date: Apr/2024
Germany (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Very pleasant experience - the staff and guides were very nice and helpful. would do again!
Date: Apr/2024
Germany (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Good tour ride
The boat tour was nice.
Date: Apr/2024
Bermuda (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Germany (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Scenic tour following the ancient pilgrim route
We have walked parts of the Kumano Kodo and the bout tour was just the perfect addition to this experience. All was well organized. The English speaking guide explained the sights along the river very well. Booking through Kumano Kodo Travel was also a big help.
Date: Apr/2024
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
Very informative and it was a great day to go down the river!
Date: Apr/2024
United States (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
A short escapade down the Kumano Kodo River
It is a unique opportunity to see the flora and fauna of the region from the river. There is a nice little melodic surprise about halfway which I won't spoil, but we really enjoyed it. It is nice even if you're not the tour group type. Not a huge commitment and gets you to your next spot in a different manner.
Date: Apr/2024
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Fun and engaging way to see the river
Great tour! Really cool boats and our guide was very nice and helpful. Fun way to see the river and understand the Kumano. Also very nice when we got to Shingu about helping us know where to go next. Thank you!
Date: Mar/2024
Switzerland (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
nice tour
The boat trip was very nice. They are smaller wooden boats and we had a very nice guide, she even played her flute once. She also told us a lot about the area and the traditions. The trip didn't take as long as indicated, but I was glad because it was a very cold windy day. It would be nice to do this tour in good weather.
Date: Mar/2024
Ireland (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Excellent, very good guide and boatman. Enjoyed the information and atmosphere
Date: Mar/2024
France (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2024
United States (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
This service was run by a very sweet staff. They speak in English for the tour. We took the only early bus service from Yunomine Onsen to get here on time, which is right by the stop. After that, check-in was easy and so was the start of the tour. The info about the pilgrimage for this stretch was really interesting, especially for us after 3 days of hiking. At the end, you walk as a group to one of the grand shrines in Shingu.
Date: Mar/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Fun guides
Fun boat trip although struggling at times to describe rocks etc, no need to as the ride itself is fun. Not sure why we had to wear bamboo hats
Date: Mar/2024
Belgium (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Austria (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
An excellent experience
We thoroughly enjoyed our traditional boat tour. It was very well organised, informative and the English speaking staff were friendly. The views were picturesque and the rapids great fun. A highlight of our Kumano walk.
Date: Apr/2024
Australia (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
Great way to see the beautiful countryside
The staff were excellent in looking after us. They made the journey enjoyable and memorable. It was very cold, windy and a little wet on the day that we went, so it wasn’t the most enjoyable from that perspective, but that was completely outside the control of the operators. On a warmer and clearer day it would be even more spectacular. I definitely recommend taking boat ride, and thanks to the delightful staff.
Date: Apr/2024
Australia (Male, age 40-49)
3.00
A nice boat ride
It was nice to take a ride on the river and see the countryside and some of the waterfalls. The traditional flute playing was nice too. It was unfortunately not very 'spectacular' scenery.
Date: Mar/2024
Singapore (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Lovely & serene boat ride
Guide was good & able to explain the historial signifance in English along with picture & music. Not to be miss if you are around the area.
Date: Mar/2024
Israel (Female, age **)
4.00
Very nice guided tour
Small boat with a nice guide along the river to t the temple in Shingu
Date: Mar/2024
Canada (Female, age **)
3.00
- No subject -
Good idea but a bit disappointing Felt too touristy with straw hats and f.ute but excellent guide with great people skills and entertaining and enthusiastic
Date: Mar/2024
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2024
United States (Female, age 30-39)
0.00
Missed it!
Make sure you plan ahead to get there on time. I went to the shrine first, which is 30 minutes away by bus or car. There was only one taxi and someone else took it, and I missed the one bus that would have gotten me there on time. There are no Go taxis. It was the only regret from my trip. Next time!
Date: Mar/2024
Spain (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Very goof
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Fun and Relaxing
We enjoyed our boat tour - mostly because the guide was interesting and very funny. Its a pretty basic boat ride down the river but very scenic.
Date: Mar/2024
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Kumano river Boat Tour
Another wonderful guide made this a memorable experience - thankyou. Lots of interesting history and sights along the river in a boat modelled on the traditional boats used by the pilgrims
Date: Dec/2023
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
From Trees to Water
After being in a forest for days, traveling down a river and seeing the forest from a new vantage point was a nice change. Plus, we were ready to not carry our backpacks! They shuttled our backpacks in a van while we and a four other guests, plus the tour-guide and the captain went down the river. The boat uses a motor so it's not quite how it was done in centuries past but apparently to do it without a motor would take 4 hours instead of 2. (I doubt I'd have minded since it was so lovely). The tour-guide gave the talk in Japanese and English and pointed out the various legends and folklore of rock features. They took us to Hayatama Temple and we resumed our journey.
Date: Nov/2023
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Beautiful boat tour
Beautiful way to travel the Kumano Kodo. Impressive to hear history along the tour
Date: Nov/2023
United States (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Don't take the wrong bus!
Be aware: you need to take the bus to Michi-no-Eki Kumanogawa, NOT Michi-no-Eki Okukumano. We took the wrong one and nearly missed the trip. We grabbed a cab in Michi-no-Eki Okukumano and called ahead to let them know we were on our way but would be late. They graciously waited for us (we were five minutes late). It's an open-air ride, so take rain gear (we needed it). Lovely tour guide who smiled the entire time!
Date: Nov/2023
United States (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Outstanding - highly recommend
Date: Oct/2023
United States (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly!
Date: Nov/2023
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Relaxing tour on the river
Kyoko was our tour guide. Very nice tour. Abundant information about the river history and fables. She played the flute on one quiet section. Beautiful!
Date: Nov/2023
United States (Male, age 80-89)
5.00
FUN BOAT TOUR
English speaking guide was superb with a well thought out presentation. The ride was smooth, made a couple of strategic interesting stops along the way, including a brief off boat adventure. Totally relaxing and enjoyable in calm waters.
Date: Dec/2023
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2023
Switzerland (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
Pilgrim Boat Trip
I really enjoyed the traditional boat tour on the Kumano River. The trip was well-organised and the guide's comments on the rock formations and other natural curiosities along the river were quite competent. I especially liked the musical interlude - the guide playing a flute during the trip. I also liked the fact theat the guide took us to the Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine at the end of the trip as part of the pilgrim's experience. The only negative point was the conical pilgrim's hat. In my case it didn't really fit and it tended to cover my eyes. But overall, the experience was delightful.
Date: Jan/2024
Ireland (Male, age **)
5.00
A wonderful experience
I really enjoyed the boat tour. The staff were very kind and our guide provided unique historical and geographical insight into the area. Highly recommended!
Date: Dec/2023
Malaysia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Fantastic !
This was a cool way of getting a different view of the landscape we had been traversing on foot for the prior 3 days. Good bird-sightings also.
Date: Dec/2023
Japan (Male, age **)
5.00
Enjoyable Tour
Everything was organized well and it was good to see the river from a different perspective. We were surprised at all the wild birds we saw, like kites and ospreys.
Date: Dec/2023
Germany (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Wonderful experience
The boat tour was amazing. The starting point can be easily reached by bus (opposite the bus stop). The ride lasted about an hour and hats and blankets are provided. Our guide explained various rock formations, birds etc. and even played the flute.
Date: Dec/2023
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
The perfect complement to Kumano Kodo trip
The boat tour was an amazing experience we’re glad that we added it our Kumano Kodo trip. We really enjoyed the tour. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They waited for us at the bus stop and guided us through the process and safety. The English-speaking guide was full of knowledge and amazing stories about the history and the area. Highly recommended!!
Date: Nov/2023
Japan (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
United Kingdom (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing boat
It's kind of difficult to book this boat. And you need to take the bus all the way into the mountains (michi no eki kumanogawa). But this boat is AMAZING. The highlight of my trip. Boat is wonderful, ride was fun, views were beautiful, the guide (Ann) is very friendly and kindly translated for my mother who didn't speak japanese. Her english is great and her hospitality is top notch. Both guide and boat captain will make your ride absolutely amazing. Also there are detailed explanations for stuff I didn't know I needed but were very informative. Coupled with the other things which was seen in other places (shrines), you can get a deeper understanding of the customs and holiness of Kumano. Easily full marks for this amazing boat experience.
Date: Nov/2023
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
Israel (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
Germany (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
Germany (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2023
Australia (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
The perfect way to arrive in Shingu
The boat trip was the perfect way to arrive in Shingu while walking Kumano Kodo. It’s easy to take the bus to the start and then you arrive at the shrine in Shingu. Fun and knowledgeable guide, expert boatman, and wonderful views.
Date: Oct/2023
Taiwan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Informative guide
The guide on this boat trip helped us understand more about the Kumano area, especially in relation to its early history.
Date: Oct/2023
United States (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
- No subject -
It was a bit boring and long despite the guide's efforts to engage with the guests. Landmarks pointed out were not very impressive.
Date: Oct/2023
Singapore (Male, age **)
5.00
Talented guide
We were surprised when our guide played the Chinese flute at the middle of the tour. The beautiful music with the soothing water sound made for beautiful memories!
Date: Oct/2023
China (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
China (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
Denmark (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
Netherlands (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
It was very nice boat tour. Especially the moment when the tour guide started playing flute :)
Date: Oct/2023
Taiwan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
A different angle to look at Kumano Kodo
A less physical demanding option to appreciate Kumano Kodo. It provided a different and pleasant way to experience the journey allowing more relaxing time to enjoy the vegetations, landscape, breeze and birds along the way. The only surprise to me was the unbelievable height of the watermark caused by the heavy rain brought by the typhoon in year 2011.
Date: Oct/2023
United States (Male, age 80-89)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
Netherlands (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
Denmark (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Such a cool experience
This was so much fun and I think a great way to reach Hayatama Taisha. Definitely recommended!
Date: Sep/2023
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
New Zealand (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Perfect end to the Kumano Kodo
This boat tour was a wonderful way to end our pilgrimage. People were divided between boats depending on which language they spoke and the guide then gave an informative commentary in English. A highlight was the bird life along the river, and when they turned the outboard off and used a traditional paddle while our guide played a beautiful song on a recorder.
Date: Sep/2023
Canada (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Dual pilgrimage
Enjoyable. A little shorter than indicated.
Date: Sep/2023
Australia (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
Hong Kong (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2023
Denmark (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
The boat tour was a great experience but the straw hats provided were uncomfortable and gave me a headache. They did a great job at protecting from the sun though. 4/5 would recommend
Date: Sep/2023
Singapore (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
Good service.
Date: Sep/2023
Hong Kong (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Wonderful boat trip with tremendous view
I booked my boat trip with my partner and the staff was really helpful that, she ever waited me at the bus stop and asked us off the bus. The boat trip was all good and with nice view, though the staff’s introduction were not really that clear, rough round the edges, but tremendous enough.
Date: Sep/2023
Spain (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Amazing experience
It's worth a visit to take a boat like pilgrims in ancient centuries. Really fun involved in autentic atmosphere
Date: Aug/2023
Bulgaria (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Wonderful adventure
Nice tour. The lady-guide was perfect. Everything was great!
Date: Aug/2023
United Kingdom (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
A wonderful way to visit Shingu
We absolutely loved our boat trip. It was the perfect rest day between walking the Kumano Kodo. Our guide was full of amazing facts about the history and landscape we passed, we learned a lot. Many thanks
Date: Aug/2023
Israel (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Was fun and beautiful even in pouring rain
We enjoyed the tour, even in the rain. The staff was very well equipped, and the guide was full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Beautiful tour, we definitely recommend.
Date: Aug/2023
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
水量、水の色もいいタイミング
台風６号で増水する前だったのか、水量もちょうどで岩や篠笛を楽しめました。御船まつりの岩も周れて、想像できました。尾崎智子さんありがとうございました。
Date: Jul/2023
United Kingdom (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
What a great addition to the trip
Felt authentic and really added value to our trek.
Date: Jul/2023
Singapore (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
The tour guide was very cheerful and engaging, and her flute playing was great as well.
Date: Jul/2023
New Zealand (Male, age 50-59)
3.00
Traditional Boat Tour
A nice variation from walking. Pretty straightforward. Pretty views. Nice without being amazing.
Date: Jul/2023
Taiwan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
excellent boat tour
The boat tour was very well organized and lived up to, or even exceeded our expectations. The staffs including tour guide 智子 and boat captain were very experienced and well prepared to lead the trip. I wish more people know this is also part of Kumano Kodo and come to experience the tour and the hospitality of the host. We are grateful that we were allowed to share such sacred experiences that were carried down generations from ancient times.
Date: Jul/2023
Singapore (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Nice experience
Scenic ride. Friendly guide. We spotted a few different types of birds along the boat ride.
Date: Jun/2023
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Amazing, highly recommmend! A gorgeous way to experience the waterways & forest of Kumano Kodo. English-speaking guide met our bus from Kumano Hongu Taisha and was very welcoming & helpful. Their van can transport bigger bags to the tour's endpoint. At the end, we were driven to Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Wonderful experience, rain or shine!
Date: Jun/2023
United States (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
A must do boat tour for anyone near the Kumano River
The tour was extremely easy to access from Shingu via public bus, and we even had an English tour guide. It was so nice to feel the beauty of the area from the river and to hear the stories of the area in English so we could better understand the nature and people.
Date: Jun/2023
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
This is a must do.
Why take a bus to Shingu? Why not travel like the ancient pilgrims in a sandanbo boat and learn the history of the area through an English-speaking guide? The water was so blue and beautiful. We went through a few small rapids, but not big enough to get us wet. The service takes your luggage which will be waiting for you at the end of the ride in Shingu. When you get off the boat at Shingu, you are only within a short walking distance of Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Make sure you board the boat last so you end up at the front of the boat and closer to the guide to hear her. At one point, they cut the motor, and the captain will paddle the boat as they did in the olden days while the guide will play a gentle melody on a flute - a very nice touch.
Date: Jun/2023
New Zealand (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2023
Malaysia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Nice boat ride with nice hosts
It's a nice boat ride where you get to enjoy the views and cool air, while being entertained by info on several interesting highlights along the route. Our boat host was Tomoko-san and she was great, informative and entertaining, and she narrated in both Japanese and English.
Date: Jun/2023
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2023
United States (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2023
Brazil (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional Boat Trip
The traditional boat trip is a must do activity while visiting the Kumano Kodo area. The staff were very friendly and kind all the time. One thing that wasn´t clear for us is where we should get out of the bus, but the bus driver was extremely helpful. Also we were a bit worried about our packbacks (that they could get wet on the tour), but they were transfered to the the point where we got out of the boat by van. Very diferent perspective to see the river and listen to stories.
Date: Jun/2023
United Arab Emirates (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Well organised and informative river tour
A very pleasant boat tour down the river, well-organised and relaxing with a good balance of information and time to sit and enjoy the ride down the river.
Date: Jun/2023
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
A delightful cruise down the river.
Date: Jun/2023
Canada (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
Very interesting and enjoyable way to see part of the area. Tour guide had a good English script, but couldn't answer questions that weren't from the script.
Date: May/2023
Germany (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Great tour
Great tour with interesting comments also in English
Date: May/2023
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Great way to end our trip in the Kii-Peninsula
If you are taking the bus from the Hongu area to Shingu, I highly recommend to get off the bus and do this traditional boat tour down the river to Shingu. It is also part of the pilgrimage trail and we had a lovely lady tour guide pointing out all the various sights en route. A very relaxing way to finish off our travels to the Kii-Peninsula.
Date: May/2023
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
3.00
- No subject -
The tour guide was most professional and the boatman very competent. The ride down river was interesting.
Date: May/2023
Norway (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2023
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2023
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
Fabulous way to see the region
This is a great way to see see the area; adding some time on the river to your time driving/hiking in the area is wonderful. The team running the boat tour where great, effortlessly switching between Japanese and English for the group on the boat, and providing interesting facts along the route.
Date: May/2023
Netherlands (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
A fun and beautiful experience
You travel the waters of the Kumano River by speed boat. The guide was friendly and funny. You learn a lot about the nature and hear interesting stories.
Date: May/2023
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
4.00
Great way to end your time on the Kumano Kodo
We didn't have great weather, but even so, it's fun to go speeding down the river to Shingu. The day we went there were 2 boats for the guided tour -- one for those who speak Japanese and one for those who don't. Everything is very well organised. At the Shingu end, you are left a bit nowhere, but the guide is happy to provide directions and a map. The actual time on the water is about an hour, not 90 minutes. And an hour is enough.
Date: May/2023
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2023
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
Interesting
The boat was a bit smaller than I expected - you couldn't move about once on board (but I should have done my research better - all the information was available). It was great to see the landscape from the river. The commentary was not so useful - I would have preferred silence to a megaphone.
Date: Apr/2023
United States (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
Traditional boat tour
Pleasant boat ride with a friendly guide
Date: Apr/2023
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Boat trip was excellent with a delightful guide
Date: Apr/2023
Singapore (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Nice boat tour activity after 3 days of hiking
Good service and clear explanations and introduction to the various sites along the river.
Date: Apr/2023
Sweden (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2023
Denmark (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Great boat trip
I was picked up at the bus stop by the guide. We all got all information about the trip and off we went. A beautiful boat trip along the river. A lot of good information about the history, culture and nature. I can highly recommend this trip.
Date: Apr/2023
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2023
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Great boat trip
A great little side trip, lovely staff, very informative and enjoyable
Date: Apr/2023
Canada (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Excelent
Nice ride down the Kumano river, host was very informative and helpful.
Date: Apr/2023
Federated States of Micronesia (Female, age **)
3.00
Recommended in fine weather
The views of the valley and mountains were great and the service was excellent. Great because they use small open traditional boats. It provided a nice contrast to all of our walking. However it rained hard through most of it, soaking us through, really reducing our enjoyment because the boats aren’t covered. We finished early. I’d recommend it in fine weather.
Date: Apr/2023
United States (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
The boat tour added, a whole new flavor to our experience in that Kumano Kodo
Should go!
Date: Apr/2023
Singapore (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Delightful
Although it rained during the boat ride, our guide was did her very best to keep us engaged and overall it was a lovely boat ride down a historic river, and a nice way to travel to Shingu after completing the Nakahechi trail.
Date: Apr/2023
Taiwan (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
The bad weather just ruins the boat tour experience.
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2023
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
Fun boat tour on the Kumanogawa river to Shingu
This was a fun and worthwhile tour. We took the morning tour from the Hongu area down to Hayatama Taisha. It was a neat way to make the trip to our second of the three grand shrines. The staff was excellent and everything was very professional and well done. A very enjoyable morning.
Date: Apr/2023
Taiwan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
一生值得來一次的美景!
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2023
United Kingdom (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Boat tour
Serene, beautiful, expert boat handling & the guide was beautiful and knowledgeable
Date: Mar/2023
United States (Female, age 70-79)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2023
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Super cold but worth it
Kyoko greeted us at the bus. She was to be our river guide and our guide for the day. It was pouring and they were still going through with the river tour. Unfortunately it was pretty cold and a bit miserable on the tour, but we still learned a lot and were enchanted with Kyoko’s flute playing. Once out of the boat things improved as she took us to a cool pancake house for lunch and then to a shrine and castle. Kyoko always had interesting facts to add to our understanding and was able to synthesize all of our experience up to that moment. It was very special and would do it all again.
Date: Mar/2023
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2023
Italy (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
Staff was very polite.
Date: Mar/2023
Hong Kong (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Unforgettable boat trip
The scenery ia out of the world, breath taking. The boat was expertly steered. The guide is outstanding and even play a flute with the engine turned off so we can experience the tranquility as of old
Date: Mar/2023
France (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Amazing
We had a Amazing Time with pour guide. Thank you so much for your energie Claire & Alexandre
Date: Dec/2022
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
We enjoyed the riverboat ride and our guide Kyoko. Neat to get to do part of the pilgrimage by boat!
Date: Dec/2022
Japan (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
Take this tour if you can!! BEAUTIFUL landscapes and great information about the history of the Kumano Kodo. The staff were also SO helpful with making sure my trip went smoothly after we arrived in Shingu. Amazing tour!
Date: Dec/2022
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Great tour!
Was so glad I signed up for this. Beautiful informative boat tour.
Date: Dec/2022
Hong Kong (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2022
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2022
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional Boat Tour
This is an excellent experience on the river. We took the 2:30pm boat. The weather was perfect. The staff was very organized and had everything under control. We had a great lady guide who spoke both English and Japanese. She was very interesting to listen to and she pointed out interesting features and told great stories along the way. The surprise for us was the bamboo flute she played as we floated along a quiet stretch of river. A very elevated conversation by the guide kept the focus on the spiritual highway that is/was the river of Kumano. I loved this tour. When we got to the end, it was not clear to us where exactly the giant rock shrine (Kamikura) was located in relation to the Hayatama Shrine near where we landed and our guide disappeared very quickly after the landing. Perhaps a more direct distinction and finger pointing on how to get to the trail for Kamikura from the drop off point would have been helpful.
Date: Nov/2022
Singapore (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
We were glad we made the right choice for this boat tour. It gave a different experience of the pilgrimage route apart from just hiking. The guide was also very informative and surprisingly she played the flute as an entertainment to us when the boat stopped for us to enjoy the tranquility. Perfect !
Date: Nov/2022
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2022
United States (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Must have experience!
The boat ride was peaceful and magical. Absolutely recommended.
Date: Nov/2022
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
Good service
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2022
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2022
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2022
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2022
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2022
Japan (Male, age **)
5.00
大変満足
初めて和歌山県を訪れ、熊野三山を回るのを楽しみにしていました。調べてみると、熊野川は水路の参詣道として世界遺産に登録されているとのことで、その熊野川を情緒溢れる方法で下るツアーがあることを知りました。 安全にも配慮されていましたし、英語も併用しながら詳しく説明をしていただき、日本人でも外国人でも楽しめる工夫がされていました。 もし周りで和歌山旅行を計画している人がいたら、このツアーを勧めたいです。
Date: Apr/2022
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2021
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
楽しかったです！
透明度の高い川をゆっくりと下って、とても充実した時間を過ごしました。 熊野古道に行かれる方には是非体験していただきたいです。、
Date: Nov/2021
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
最高
とても気持ち良い川下りでした。 この地に訪れる人に是非おすすめしたいアトラクションです。 あっという間の一時間半でした。
Date: Dec/2021
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2021
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
問い合わせに確実に対応頂けました那智の滝
大雨で運休になるかもしれないと、問い合わせましたが、しっかりとご対応いただきありがとうございました。
Date: Aug/2021
Japan (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Very good
We were very lucky weather wise and we had the chance to have the boat just for us, so the guide totally adapted her japanese to our understanding, it was wonderful.
Date: Apr/2021
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
川船下りの女性ガイドについて
川船下りということでしたが、途中上陸、横笛、手漕ぎなど、楽しませていただきました。 女性ガイドの話が上手で、わかりやすかった。
Date: Jun/2019
Japan (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
川舟下りと語り部ツアー
1日で2つの案内を組み立ててもらいありがとうございました。本来なら、発心門王子～の語り部でしたが、時間の都合で伏拝口からのスタートに変えていただきました。発心門王子からのスタートが古道らしさをより感じられるとお宿の方のお話でした。 今回は古道に行ってきただけでしたが、次の機会があったらもう少し深めてみたいです。
Date: Nov/2020
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2021
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
What a great experience. Our tour guide was so great and enthusiastic even though it was raining a lot. Despite the rain we loved this! Beautiful scenery!!
Date: Dec/2020
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
So much fun !
The guide spoke english extremely well and was able to understand the significance of the river trip. Highly recommend this as an add on to your trip.
Date: Nov/2020
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2020
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
0.00
A different way to see the countryside
Enjoyable boat journey along the Kumano river - very friendly guide with great English
Date: Sep/2020
Japan (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
熊野川についていろいろと見分できたことはとても良い経験になったと思います．ガイドさんの説明もわかりやすく楽しい時間を過ごすことができました．
Date: Sep/2020
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
Hot but fun
My friend enjoyed the boat ride more than I did because I had heat exhaustion, but it was excellent and the guide was fun and did a great job. I only wished I had known there was no roof on the boat because it was 36 degrees that day and no shade, but the guide and boatman both had to suffer the heat as well. I'm sorry I hadn't been in better health. Next time, I'll try to smile more.
Date: Aug/2020
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
いにしえの雰囲気を味わいました
「川の参詣道」を体験。 語り部の方のお話と笛で熊野御幸の雰囲気を味わえました。 途中で手漕ぎの時間を設けていただいていたのも良かったです。 熊野川の清流を味わえるのでお勧めです。
Date: Aug/2020
Japan (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2020
Belgium (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2020
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Kumano from the Water - Great Experience
So pleased we experienced another aspect of Kumano. Well organised tour! The guide & "captain" were fantastic and made sure that everything was right and we were as comfortable as possible under windy conditions. The guide was very informative and made sure that everyone understood the highlights she described. Would do again! Geoff & Maria, Sydney
Date: Mar/2020
Australia (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2020
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Boat Tour
The woman who guided the boat tour was so nice and informative. It was nice to be on the water and experience the Kumano Kodo in this way. If you're more into hiking, then maybe you prefer to arrive at your destination on foot, but we thought it was a really beautiful and unique experience.
Date: Mar/2020
United States (Male, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2019
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
Boat Tour
We enjoyed the well-organised and interesting boat tour along the river. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy on the day, so it was less enjoyable than it could have been. Still, everyone was thoughtful and helpful. Our of our group was very old and he became very chilled. When we finished the trip, we asked our shuttle driver to take him and his wife to their hotel in Shingu (out of his way) before driving two of us back to pick up our car. The driver was very kind and did what we asked. It helped us a lot. Thank you.
Date: Nov/2019
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
3.00
Cut short by low water level. Didn't see very much.
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
Singapore (Female, age **)
4.00
Interesting way to see a different side of the Kumano.
Interesting way to see a different side of the Kumano. We had some trouble understanding the English of the lovely, friendly guide (if only we spoke Japanese!)
Date: Nov/2019
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
2.00
not what was expected
Sadly the river was blocked but they did transport us to shingu and we spent an hour around the mouth of the river. They did refund part of the money and tried to give us some experience of what the traditional boat trip would have been like and this was appreciated .
Date: Oct/2019
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
Enjoyable trip
We enjoyed the chance to see the scenery from the river. We were met off the bus and looked after very efficiently. Our guide took particular care of us (the only foreigners on the boat) giving a summary of each part of her commentary in English for our benefit.
Date: Nov/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Kind and Knowledgable Staff
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
Switzerland (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
China (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
France (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Crazy boatride
The day was quite cloudy, but before getting on the boats the guide women told us people called her Kyoko-sun instead of Kyoko-san cause she always brought warmth and sun to people, so we shouldn't be worried about the rain. So obviously, literally 10 seconds after the boat took off, roaring winds and torrential rain came down on us and we were all drenched instantly, I really didn't know how we could stand it for the whole ride! But I guess she was still somewhat right, cause it only last for a few minutes, and then the rest of the ride was ok, with a few more wind+rain segments that just added to the fun really! Lots of nice things to see, and stories to hear during the ride, it was a nice change to all the walking we'd done on the previous days!
Date: Nov/2019
United States (Male, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
Enjoyed boat ride inspite of rain. Well organized, well run. Good narration. Scenery nice even in the rain. Was cold and wet but crew attempted to help customers keep dry. .
Date: Nov/2019
Canada (Female, age **)
5.00
A Change from Hiking
This was a fun distraction. Well organized - we had a lovely sunny day which made it all the more enjoyable. You need to use your imagination to feel the past! The guide was charming and her flute playing superb.
Date: Oct/2019
Ireland (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2019
Hong Kong (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
very good arrangements in the rain
It rained all the time, but the tour arranged hats and even a cloth to cover our legs. Tour guide is friendly and knowledgeable of the history and attraction
Date: Jun/2019
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Beautiful scenery; friendly English-speaking guide
Great tour. The scenery was lovely. There is a luggage transportation service (free of charge) which takes your luggage to the boat drop-off point (Shingu), so that you don't have to take any large luggage pieces on the small boat. This was very helpful.
Date: Jun/2019
Thailand (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
World heritage river with world heritage experient
Sitting in small boat with chill wind make us fell very nice. With guidance and explanation of group leader full fill our experience.
Date: Jun/2019
Canada (Male, age 50-59)
3.00
Enjoyable ride. Friendly staff. Hard to hear the tour guide.
The boat trip was a nice change of pace after hiking the Kumano Kodo. The boats were very stable and of interesting construction. Staff at the welcome center was very friendly and helpful. The guide too. However, it was difficult to hear the guide's commentary. Perhaps a better microphone or speaker would help.
Date: Jun/2019
Hong Kong (Male, age **)
4.00
Nice experience on historical journey
The organizers of the traditional boat tour are very friendly and excellent guides. The ride is a bit long (close to 1.5 hours), but the guide is entertaining throughout.
Date: Jun/2019
Philippines (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2019
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2019
Germany (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2019
Ireland (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Brilliant boat trip
Loved the boat trip, so scenic and beautiful. Guide was excellent .
Date: May/2019
United States (Female, age 70-79)
5.00
Excellent service
Our tour guide was waiting for us at the bus stop when we got off the bus! That was totally unexpected but much appreciated. She was very informative during the tour. Unfortunately, I do not remember her name.
Date: May/2019
Netherlands (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
Nice boat trip
Nice boat trip through the valley of the river with some rapids.
Date: May/2019
United States Minor Outlying Islands (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
Lovely Ride
It's a lovely ride down the river. There were two boats, one guide (on the other boat) spoke good English. Our guide was very enthusiastic but we could hardly understand a word, her English was so minimal. Maybe if she gets more practice people will understand more. The other thing for clients to be aware of is that while this says traditionalboat tour, the traditional boat now has a power motor running almost the whole way.
Date: May/2019
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2019
Germany (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Great boat trip!
Beautiful nature and very welcoming friendly staff! We enjoyed it a lot!
Date: May/2019
Germany (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2019
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
Pleasant trip
Very well organised and safe trip
Date: May/2019
France (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Perfect
The women who comments the tour was extraordinary! She was so kind ! She had a text in english too wich allow a better understanding. The landscapes were amazing. Highly recommand !
Date: May/2019
Argentina (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Great trip, nice boat journey through a beautiful river.
The guides are very nice, the landscapes are wonderful, the wooden boat is small but safe and good. Very good price too. Highly recommended.
Date: May/2019
Canada (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
Wonderful day, scenery and boating expertise from the crew.
Date: May/2019
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
5.00
Very tranquil and beautiful experience
We really enjoyed the boat ride, the tranquillity and beauty of the nature. Also amazing way to have a break between hiking through the mountains. Would highly recommend
Date: May/2019
Belgium (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Tour was great!
Thank you Kumano Travel, everything was perfect !
Date: Apr/2019
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
Beautiful views
Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgable and the boat captain was masterful in steering the boat downstream.
Date: Apr/2019
Denmark (Female, age 30-39)
0.00
Fun
The boat ride was fun and our guide told lots of craxy stories combined with history of the area.
Date: Apr/2019
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
熊野古道ﾄﾚｯｷﾝｸﾞ3日目の川下り。ゆったり気分で最高でした。
Date: Apr/2019
Chile (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2019
Singapore (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Nice relaxing experience downriver to Shingu
Pleasant river experience with rolling green hills and clean river water. Ample opportunity to see local birds and interesting rock formations, as well as take in the history of the river route. Definitely a must-do as part of any Kumano Kodo trip.
Date: Apr/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2019
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
Perfect way to get to Shingu City and Hayatama Taisha after hiking to Hongu Taisha. Bus stops right in front, the company and staff were highly organised and efficient, with luggage being shuttled on to the destination. The boat ride was smooth, safe and well narrated with the on-board guide fully knowledgeable and well spoken. Well worth doing.
Date: Apr/2019
Italy (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Nice experienxe
Very nice local guide, nice travel even if I was expecting little bit more about landscape.
Date: Apr/2019
Spain (Male, age **)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2019
United States (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
Fun way to travel
It was nice to mix up our travel mode. The boat tour was worth it!
Date: Apr/2019
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2019
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Wonderful end to our Kumano experience
We hiked from Takijiri to Hongu, stopping one night in Chikatsuyu along the way, and had an incredible experience en route. To end, we took the traditional boat tour from our spot in Yunomine to Shingu-Shingu town. The boat ride was beautiful, our guide was lovey, and it was a unique and fun way to end our hike.
Date: Apr/2019
United States (Male, age 70-79)
3.00
Nice ride
Beautiful ride. They did their best to show us a good time. The guide was pleasant but not very informative about the history of the river use. She seemed more concerned with commenting on the shape of the shape of the bug rocks. Limited English.
Date: Mar/2019
New Zealand (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Boat Tour
This was a very special trip. The staff were very knowledgeable. Thank you would highly recomend
Date: Mar/2019
Malaysia (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
- No subject -
The tour guide's command of English can be improved.
Date: Mar/2019
United States (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
Despite not having an english speaking guide I still very much enjoyed the trip. the scenery was beautiful and I had site sheet printed in Engish so I knew what was going on.
Date: Mar/2019
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jan/2019
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Wonderful time down Kumano River with Hitomi
We cruised down the Kumano Rive with our guide Hitomi and we had a wonderful time learning about the area's history and nature, even though we didn't have good weather. The crew was very attentive and gave us "splash covers" in case we get splashed by the torrents along the river. It was a very enjoyable experience.
Date: Dec/2018
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2018
United States (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
Interesting and fun
This short river trip includes a magical moment when the guide plays a flute while the boatman poles with the engine turned off. This is a nice addition to a Kumano Kodo pilgrammage.
Date: Dec/2018
United Kingdom (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
Really nice guide! She gave us information about everything we could see around. And the biggest suprise was her played the flute while we drifted in the boat and listened to her and the river! That was superb!!! Also in the end they took us from the river to the Temple. That was nice as well. I really enjoyed the trip. Of course we were lucky, because of wonderful weather.
Date: Dec/2018
Canada (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2018
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
Appropriate
Great location with plenty of friendly advice.
Date: Dec/2018
Netherlands (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2018
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
Great River Cruise
Was a highlight. We had a fantastic tour guide that made the tour really fun. Great way to end the Kumano Kodo trail. Rapids on the river were mellow, beautiful scenery, definitely recommend.
Date: Dec/2018
Singapore (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Something different
The guide and boat captain went out of their way to make sure we all have a good experience. And also to give a glimpse of olden day pilgrimage where access of transportation was not as convenient as modern world.
Date: Nov/2018
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2018
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Well run, informative, good views, and happy tour guides!
They make it super easy to hop off the bus stop and get you on the boat. They'll be waiting for you and make it easy to just relax while you take in the history and views. The first part is very scenic, and if you are heading towards Shingu from Hongu, you would be missing out to skip the boat!
Date: Nov/2018
Hong Kong (Male, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age 40-49)
3.00
Fun experience
Fun experience, the organiser really help make this something nice. The river doesn’t many incredible things to see, but it’s a nice way to reach Shingu with a bit of sightseeing on the way
Date: Nov/2018
Austria (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2018
Italy (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2018
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
Great Tour, Great Boat, Great River, Great Guide
Simply a great experience in all respects.
Date: Oct/2018
Austria (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2018
United States (Male, age **)
4.00
Nice cruise
I enjoyed the boat tour. It was a nice way to see the river and complete my journey. The staff is really nice and our tour guide, Kyoko Sunshine, tried to crack jokes as much as she could. The tour has you boating over some beautiful blue water. Really enjoyed staring into the water and watching the colors shift. The boats are very steady and there was no chance it was going to flip at any time. The waterfalls on the route were a bit understanding, but the water level was at lows and there hadn’t been a lot of rain. The best part of the tour was seeing all the birds on the river. As we would approach, they would all start flying away down the river in a big group. The birds did this maybe 5 times. After the tour I wasn’t sure I would have done the tour again at first. Then I realized two things. 1) the tour is authentic, and how the imperial family approaches the shrine. So if it’s good enough for them, it’s good for me. 2) I was happy not to be walking. I enjoy hiking, but it was nice to have a break, while also keeping it authentic!
Date: Oct/2018
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2018
Spain (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Great experience
It was a very good experience, staff members were very kindly and the contents were very completly.
Date: Oct/2018
Japan (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
川舟下りそのものが面白かったです。また、川舟下りの間、説明して下さった方の話も面白かったです。集合時も終了後もすごく親切にしていただきました。全体の運営が良かったです。
Date: Aug/2018
Spain (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Great experience
It was a great idea to make this trip by boat to change a bit of walking and relaxing enjoying the views and explanations of the guides.
Date: Aug/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
A wonderful experience. Guide and pilot were first class.
Date: Jul/2018
Canada (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Excellent reception and service.
Date: Jul/2018
Denmark (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Amazingly beautiful river and friendly guide
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Wonderful experience
We had the traditional boat tour in a sunny day of April. Nice experience, I definitely recommend it if you are in the area for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. Our guide (a nice japan woman,sorry I do not remember the name) was friendly and during the trip told us lots of interesting stories about the area and Japan,in english and japanese. Loved the hats!
Date: Jul/2018
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2018
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
景色がすばらしく、ガイドさんが篠笛を演奏してくださって、時間を忘れて情感をたっぷり味わうことができました。
Date: Jul/2018
Switzerland (Female, age **)
5.00
Great experience with a very friendly and positive guide
We had a wonderful time on the traditional boat ride. It gives a different perspective and our guide was very positive and friendly.
Date: Jun/2018
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Kumano River Cruise to Kumano_Hayatama_Taisha
The cruise is a must do! The host were knowledgeable and they set relaxing tone for a cruise back into history .
Date: Jun/2018
Australia (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
Very enjoyable trip
Our guide spoke some English and we did not miss out on anything. It was a very interesting and enjoyable ride. The geology and history around here is amazing. The only concerning thing was we discovered that the starting point for the cruise had moved and we only found out by chance. The day would have been a disaster if we'd got off the bus at the embarkation point shown in our paperwork. Be careful. This should be fixed, if it has not been already.
Date: Jun/2018
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
Traditional boat tour
accommodating. very good
Date: Jun/2018
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Excellent
Friendly and efficient.
Date: Jun/2018
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2018
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Fabulous Boat Tour
This was a wonderful experience - highly recommended
Date: Jun/2018
Italy (Female, age 40-49)
0.00
5
ottima organizzaznione, comodita per il pagamento, gentilezza del personale
Date: May/2018
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
well organised boat tour with good commentary
Date: May/2018
China (Female, age 30-39)
0.00
Nice trip
This was a very pleasant boat tour along a pristine river. The tour guide was very nice and informative. It was definately worthwhile.
Date: May/2018
Thailand (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
Interesting but very hot
The tour provided the glimpse of what the pilgrimage was like in the past. The tour guide helped explain the history. But the ambient was very hot. You sit on an open-air boat for two hours. Even though the temperature was about 25 degree, the sun and the heat made me exhausted. It's good to do it once, but no more.
Date: May/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age **)
5.00
Very enjoyable
Found the boat tour very interesting and enjoyable. Everyone was really helpful and kind.
Date: May/2018
Switzerland (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Fun
Very well run and friendly tour, good value for money.
Date: May/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Amazing experience....make the effort to go you will not be dissapointed!
I travelled through Japan for three weeks and this was certainly the most "out of the way" places we travelled to but honestly it was the best part of my entire trip and I went all over Japan!
Date: May/2018
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Kumano traditional boat tour
It was a very relaxing and scenic boat ride. The guide was bilingual, speaking both English and Japanese and was able to answer questions posted.
Date: May/2018
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Great way to complete the pilgrimage. Thank you
Date: May/2018
United States (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
- No subject -
Interesting. Even in pouring rain.
Date: May/2018
United States (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
Traditional Boat Tour
It was over pretty fast, but they may have run it faster due to the steady rain. Guide spoke good English (easily understood), but the sound was hard to hear at times - this also could have been due to the rain. A little challenging to get to the boat terminal due to limited bus service.
Date: May/2018
United States (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
Ok but could be missed
We could not understand the explanations very well because although the guy who spoke in Japanese had a mike the translator did not. The rest stop was silly and a waste of time.if they want to continue it they should serve tea and sweets there
Date: May/2018
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2018
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
受付や、バスの案内等、色々気を配って頂きました。 説明して下さる方の案内も丁寧で、曇り空がとても幻想的で、ああ、神々がいるなぁと、感じたツアーでした。 とても、良かったです。
Date: May/2018
Malaysia (Female, age **)
5.00
Enjoyable ride down the river to experience an alternative pilgrimage route
Very well planned and executed guided tour. It started with the guides greeting us at the bus stop so that we didn't have to figure out where to go after we arrived. Good safety briefings and life vests provided. Enough time for everyone to take a brief toilet break before going on the boat ride. Nice, slow ride with explanation and reference along the way. Loved the part where the captain stopped the engine and just rowed; the guide played a bamboo flute as we passed through an ancient mountain forest to give us a feel of what it was like in olden days. After the journey, we gained more insight into the Kumano Kodo heritage and ancient traditions of the area.
Date: May/2018
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2018
Canada (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
The boat ride was a very pleasant way to travel to Shingu, less herky-jerky than the bus, I imagine. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly and informative. Without giving anything away, it was a treat to enjoy a "musical interlude" towards the end of the trip.
Date: May/2018
United Kingdom (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
Very good tour with good guide and captain. Very enjoyable!
Date: Apr/2018
Hong Kong (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2018
France (Female, age 50-59)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2018
Spain (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
Good trip! Need improve english guide.
The tour was nice with super good weather. Our guide was super nice but we missed more english explanations 'cause 90% were in japanese and we don't get much of the histories.
Date: Apr/2018
France (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
Very nice!
Date: Apr/2018
Netherlands (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
An exciting and at the same time relaxing ride with a journey into the history
This boat ride is a must for all those visiting the Kumano area for the first time. We were personally greeted by our boat guide (Kyoko) at the arrival of our bus. Our guide was very kind and enthusiastic, and spoke good English. The boat moved through a quiet and occasionally rapid water in a wonderful mountain setting. Kyoko described the history of the pilgrimage along the river shore and some historical landmarks (rocks) as we descended the river. The best highlight was Kyoko playing the traditional flute as the boat moved with slow strokes of the row. It is a pity that they do not offer any upstream ride due to technical difficulties (too long ride with the loaded boat).
Date: Apr/2018
Finland (Male, age 70-79)
0.00
Great experience
We spent three days in Kawayu Onsen in the Hongu area. Activities included accommodation in a traditional high-standard ryokan with comprehensive Japanes dinner and breakfast, bathing outdoors and semi-indoors, kayaking on a uninhabited river between mountains, visit to one of the holy temples, and a ride on the traditional river boat tour. Some of these were booked through Kumano Travel, and the agency provided very friendly and interactive advice in email communication in details of a wide range of activities plus the transportation logistics, also beyond the services for which they act as a booking agent.
Date: Apr/2018
Belgium (Male, age 30-39)
2.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2018
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
A wonderful boat trip
This was a really nice way to end our Kumano Kodo trip. Our boat captain and guide were skilled and informative.
Date: Mar/2018
Argentina (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Beautiful experience
Tourist guides were the best guides ever.
Date: Mar/2018
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Pleasant historical trip on the river
The booking was straightforward and all information supplied was correct and easy to follow. The service provided by the tour operator before, during and after the tour was faultless. A great experience and highly recommended.
Date: Mar/2018
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Boat tour
tour guide met us at bus stop which was much appreciated - very pleasant guide during boat tour - loved the flute playing
Date: Mar/2018
Singapore (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
great tour
Date: Jan/2018
United States (Female, age 40-49)
3.00
It was okay
The tour was well organized and our guide was very friendly. She told folk tales and named some of the rock formations we saw. The boat ride was pleasant, our little group was friendly, but we were not wowed by what we saw.
Date: Dec/2017
Italy (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2017
United Kingdom (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Calm and peaceful
We saw lots of hawks, egrets and herons. We particularly enjoyed our guide playing the simple wooden flute. It was very beautiful and evocative.
Date: Nov/2017
Spain (Male, age 50-59)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2017
United Kingdom (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Not to be missed!
That was a great way to end our walks on the Kumano Kodo. The boat tour offered a different point of view of the area and we really enjoyed the relaxed and laid back strolling of the boat on the water. Fun and relax ad the same time!
Date: Nov/2017
Singapore (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2017
Germany (Female, age 50-59)
1.00
- No subject -
very poor. The guide was very friendly but honestly it is not worth to stop at several stones and to tell a "history" about the stones.
Date: Nov/2017
France (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
It is a particularly wonderful experience to see all those beauties from the boat. And special thanks to our excellent pilot !
Date: Nov/2017
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Traditional boat tour
We were on the first boat tour after the typhoon. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area along the Kumanogawa river. Riding a boat down the river was a nice change from walking the Kumano trails. We enjoyed the beautiful music along the river.
Date: Oct/2017
Australia (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Beautiful and informative
We loved our river trip. Kiyoko and the other staff members were very kind and well-organised, and they made sure we had a great time. Kiyoko was a very fun and entertaining guide! She told us lots of interesting information about the area that we never would've known without taking the tour. The scenery was beautiful. Thanks so much!
Date: Oct/2017
United Kingdom (Male, age **)
4.00
Great boat tour
A great way to see all the different shrines and break up the walking. Informative and nice guides.
Date: Oct/2017
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Very good fun
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2017
United States (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
enjoyable afternoon
The river cruise was scenic and relaxing. It was fun to have the traditional hats. We arrived early and we're taken to the river early which was nice. Our guides were entertaining.
Date: Oct/2017
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
Fun boat tour
This is the best way to get from the Hongu area to Shingu.Friendly staff and guide,who points out items of interest.River itself is the star, and interesting to think this is he way many pilgrims made he journey.terminates in Shingu at the major shrine.Company takes your luggage ( by their bus).Recommended.
Date: Sep/2017
France (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Amazing Kumano Gawa River
Very good day trip, The young guide was very professional and a good musician
Date: Sep/2017
Spain (Female, age 40-49)
3.00
BEAUTIFUL BUT A LITTLE BORING
THE BOAT GOES SLOWLY AND THE EXPLANATION IN ENGLISH IS VERY POUR
Date: Sep/2017
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
well organised.
Date: Aug/2017
France (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2017
Hong Kong (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
beautiful landscape
Nice pick up service at the bus stop on guest arrival. The tour guide is knowledgeable with detailed explanation on different view points.
Date: Jul/2017
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Great fun, gave a sense of what the traditional pilgrimage could be like
Great service, always very clear what we were doing and what we were seeing. Highly recommended.
Date: Jul/2017
Thailand (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
great experience
i love everything from reserved website to management for Traditional Boat Tour although it's quite hot for that day it's will be better if you can provide a cool bottle of water for customer
Date: Jul/2017
Taiwan (Female, age 30-39)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2017
Hong Kong (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
Traditional Boat Tour
The tour guide of Traditional Boat is very professional. She is very nice & helpful. English level is very goods. She let me know more about the river and Kumano
Date: Jun/2017
Philippines (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2017
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Enjoyable boat tour
I really enjoyed this boat tour - everything worked well, the tour guide was friendly and informative and it was a nice change from all the walking. I would definitely recommend this boat tour.
Date: Jun/2017
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Boat trip
We were greeted by our guide as we got off the public bus from Hongu, she spoke very good English and explained everything to us. My mother and I were the only non Japanese tourists. We were driven to the river bank and were given sun hats and life jackets to wear. The trip down the river was beautiful, relaxing and informative, our guide even played her flute! Highly recommend this trip. utterly lovely!
Date: Jun/2017
Canada (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Tour Boat
Interesting boat tour with beautiful scenery along the river. Very friendly staff and guide. The luggage shuttle to Shingu was highly appreciate.
Date: May/2017
Philippines (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Very interesting!
Really enjoyed the boat tour. The guides gave excellent information and were very helpful.
Date: May/2017
United States (Male, age 70-79)
4.00
- No subject -
Although not particularly exciting, the boat trip was a nice break from walking; we were lucky to have a bright, sunny day, but wouldn't have been as happy in the rain. The ""sights"" going downriver were somewhat repetitive, as were the explanations. At one point there was a brief interlude when the engine was cut and we drifted with the current while the guide played the flute. That was wonderful, and I wish there had been more time for similar peaceful experiences on the river. The option of a shuttle back upriver was not mentioned at the end, and there were no signs to the nearest bus stop for transport back to Yunomine Onsen. It's a good idea to have the map of Shingu from the Kumano website to navigate this section of the trip.
Date: May/2017
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
An unmissable experience
For an authentic travel experience and fascinating points of interest, you have to go on this tour. The staff was very friendly in coming to the bus stop to greet us. We were then led to a traditional Japanese boat, where we learnt about different points of interest along the river. I was sad that the tour wasn't longer. A very enjoyable experience.
Date: May/2017
Singapore (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
a pleasant boat ride
we were greeted at the bus stop, and taken care of very well to the end of the journey. the boat trip was very pleasant, with wonderful views with an informative guide. It could have been too much of a tourist "tour" though. It would have been more pleasurable to sit quietly and just enjoy the panorama, and the boat ride down the river, but that could be just a personal preference.
Date: May/2017
Australia (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2017
Belgium (Female, age 70-79)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2017
Singapore (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Very Enjoyable River Boat Tour
The guide and boatman is helpful and patient. Very skillful in navigating through the river and the guide is knowledgeable about interesting points along the river. Very satisfied and happy with the boat tour.
Date: Apr/2017
Singapore (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
Traditional boat tour
It was good that the tour was not cancelled even though it was raining. Poncho can be bought at the office so there was no problem. There is also a small grocery/mini mart at the office building. Plastic bags was provided to cover our legs so the shoes will not be wet at the end of the trip. Scenery was breathtaking. The guide also make the effort to meet us at the public bus stop and bring us to the office building. Highly recommended.
Date: Apr/2017
United Kingdom (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Lovely Guide and worth doing
Our lovely guide (whose name I have sadly forgotten) was so helpful and smiley! She played us some flute during a quiet stretch which was perfect. If the weather is good I would recommend this trip.
Date: Apr/2017
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Great way to spend a rest day
Great way to get from Hongu to Shingu after a long hike the day before. Gives a different perspective to the scenery we were walking though. We were met by the guide as the bus pulled in to the drop off point, taken to the registration office for bathroom stops then driven to the boat launching place. All efficient, friendly and timely. The boat tour included a stop to get off on to the river bank, a glide while she played the flute for us and information about things we were seeing along the way. Then after a short stop at the Taisha we were driven to a rendezvous spot and met with our accommodation shuttle. All very efficient.
Date: Apr/2017
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
The boat trip exceeded my expectations. Beautiful scenery, great staff, guides provide and entertaining and informative experience.
Date: Mar/2017
United States (Male, age 50-59)
3.00
boat cruise
It was a nice boating experience. We hiked in those mountain forest but was only able to appreciate the beautiful scenery when we were far away.
Date: Mar/2017
Singapore (Female, age **)
5.00
Lovely boat ride
Lovely scenic boat ride through the Kumano river - they provide hats and life jackets. We were there in March - was still very cold and our faces got pretty windburnt. A definite would do if you don't have motion sickness.
Date: Mar/2017
Singapore (Female, age **)
5.00
Good guide
Guide was entertaining and informative! It was also very good that she could speak English!
Date: Mar/2017
Italy (Female, age 50-59)
3.00
- No subject -
Even though we were very well looked after and everybody was very helpful it was a real shame that our guide couldn't speak english a little better. She did try hard to tell us about our trip but we felt we only got some of the information.
Date: Mar/2017
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
0.00
Beautiful boat tour
I had a great time on this boat tour, it was well organised and had amazing views, highly recommended.
Date: Jun/2016
Japan (Female, age 70-79)
5.00
熊野川舟下り
６月１６日（木）雨の中を舟下りして貰った４人です。楽しかったです。 先ず、感謝。雨の舟下り。船頭さん、ガイドの語り部さん、マイクロの運転手さん、みなさん本当に有難うございました。 暑からず寒からずで、周りの景色も十分に楽しめました。水の美しさ、岩の荘厳さ、激しくそして優しく千変万化する大河の流れ。千年の昔の追体験、大自然の猛威の爪痕、日本画の朦朧体を彷彿とさせる山と霧との織り成す景色、ガイドさんの篠笛、川皐月の朱色、淵の深い緑、みんなみんな心に残っています。 その上、速玉大社でお詣りの間を待っていて下さり、新宮駅まで送って頂いて、雨の中で途方に暮れることもなく、楽しく過ごすことが出来ました。本当に有難うございました。ご親切に感じ入っています。 係の方々の対応については、全く満足です。ＨＰの説明文は、やや不足のように思われます。行くまで不安で、２回程電話しましたが、それは受付時間間際にしかバスは着かないので、遅れて迷惑を掛けないかという心配でした。せめて「バス停で係員が待っていて、マイクロバスで、受付場所まで移動。安全のためのベストを羽織る」とか、書いてあれば心配しないで済んだのではないかと思われます。
Date: Oct/2016
China (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
熊野川は美しい、スタッフもとても親切です。
Date: Sep/2016
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
川舟下り
午前中、発心門王子から熊野本宮大社まで歩き、とても暑かったのですが、舟は風がとても気持ちよかったです。台風直後で増水していて結構水が掛かりましたが、事前に用意してもらえていたシートを足元に巻いていたため、服などは無事でした。川の上に霧が発生していて、幻想的で心が洗われました。乗船人数が少なかったこともあってか、大変優雅な気持ちになれました
Date: Dec/2016
Switzerland (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
Cool experience
Super friendly guide and the whole organization worked very well! They dropped us off at the train station which was super helpful!
Date: Nov/2016
Australia (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Even better then i expected!!
The staff were extremely friendly, helpful and informative from the very start right ip until the end of the tour. The captain was very professional and the director/host was so lovely with a wealth of information and was happy to take a photos for you if you needed and encouraged as much particiation where she could. Although she said her English wasn't good, which it was fine, she tried very hard to answer any questions you had along the way. Points of interest are pointed out along the way in both Japanese and English. Once the tour was over staff were ready with maps of the area and advice as to how to get around. They really went that extra mile! Can't recommend high enough!! A must do if you are in the area and you have the option!!
Date: Nov/2016
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
We had a very friendly and informative guide. The boatman was a skilled operater. The views going down river are lovely.
Date: Nov/2016
Singapore (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2016
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2016
Australia (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2016
Canada (Female, age **)
4.00
Very nice cruise despite the rain
Very nice guide and captain, very cheerful and helpful. They came to get us at the bus stop and left us at Shingun shrine to take pictures. We loved the flute melody on the river. However, it was a little bit difficult to understand the english accent of the guide.
Date: Oct/2016
Israel (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Great experience!
Really enjoyed this! We had a rainy day, but the staff made sure we are comfortable and prepared! The boat ride was enjoyable, and the scenery beautiful and special with mist-clouded forests and the tranquil river. The guide had understandable English, and above all was charming and interesting! This was also a welcomed change from trekking, giving us time to rest but still enjoy nature at its best! The hats are awesome. Thanks!
Date: Oct/2016
United States (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
- No subject -
Outstaning!
Date: Oct/2016
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Everything was Perfect
We recently finished 3 nights and 4 days doing a section of the Kumano Kodo, from Takijiri to Shingu, including the traditional boat tour at the end. Everything went perfectly. We met our fantastic guide, Kennis Wong from Kumano TREK, at the bus stop at Takijiri, and she and her support guide, Meiko, guided us for the first two days. They were friendly, informative, helpful and so welcoming. We were very lucky to have their support. We stayed at Kiri=no-Sato, Minshuku Tsugizakura, and Pension Ashitanomori. Everything was booked as planned. We finished with a delightful traditional boat tour for our family, and we were met as we alighted from the bus by such a lovely and friendly guide but I'm afraid that I did not write down her name! (13 October 10am English speaking guide). Everything was perfect, and we're so glad that we booked through Kumano Travel. We will certainly be recommending this company to our friends. Finally, I booked most of this trip with the help of Yumiko, who answered all my questions so well. Thank you Yumiko!
Date: Oct/2016
Australia (Female, age **)
4.00
Very enjoyable and entertaining
This was a lovely way to see the river, with a delightful guide. The hats that were provided were much appreciated. It was a well organised and well performed tour.
Date: Oct/2016
Japan (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2016
Greece (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
charming view
amazing landscape.
Date: Oct/2016
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
3.00
Wet, Wet, Wet
If it is raining don't go!! We were sopping wet for the rest of the day until we could get our luggage at 5:00pm!! Even though we were provided with plastic bags it couldn't keep the rain out.
Date: Oct/2016
United Kingdom (Male, age 50-59)
0.00
Must do trip
Very well organised with excellent guides who went the extra mile
Date: Sep/2016
United States (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
Quick and not so traditional
Our guide was great! Scenery was so so - the river goes by the highway the whole time so not too much nature. It was a motorboat but still in a traditional shape. 1.4 hours long. A bit pricey for such a quick trip.
Date: Sep/2016
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
0.00
Perfect end to Kumano Kodo adventure
Definitely put this trip on your itinerary. Note that the meeting point is not in Shingu. We got confused and would have missed the beautiful boat trip if we hadn't run into an officer from the tourism bureau who gave us a lift to the meeting spot.
Date: Sep/2016
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Kyoko!
She is a national treasure! :) Such a lovely lady, I will never forget. I really felt connected to your country while with her. Very knowledgeable and fun to be around.
Date: Aug/2016
United States (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Beautiful tour
Lovely boat tour down the Shingu river. Our guide was extremely nice and spoke both English and Japanese, although some of the information was maybe lost in translation. Especially after two days of hiking, this was a great way to get to Shingu.
Date: Aug/2016
Netherlands (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Lovely boat trip
Nice english guide. Lovely boat and a beatifull sceanery. You get off once half way on the trip wich is also nice.
Date: Jul/2016
Netherlands (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Relaxing
It was a relaxing tour. The people running the tour were prompt and professional and also friendly. It is a scenic and relaxing boat ride.
Date: Jul/2016
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Lovely Trip
We enjoyed the trip very much. Our guide made everything very easy for us. He met us off the bus and spoke good English. The tour group even dropped us off at Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingu at the end of the tour.
Date: Jul/2016
Canada (Male, age 40-49)
3.00
Nice trip
The guide and boatman were both very nice and professional. Pleasant trip along the river.
Date: Jul/2016
Philippines (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Wonderful Boat Tour
The English-speaking guide fetched us at the bus stop so we wouldn't get lost. Then we riode in their van up to the boat itself. They gave us traditional hats to shield us from the sun, and life vests for protection. Our guide was really great, he played the flute at one point, and thoroughly explained all the sights to us. We got off at a small island which contained some giants rocks that were supposed to be the bones of a giant demon! When the tour ended, our guide showed us where the bus stop was and also suggested nearby restaurants for lunch. The river waters were so clean and clear, really a privilege to see it in this state.
Date: Jun/2016
Netherlands (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2016
Netherlands (Male, age 30-39)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2016
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2016
Canada (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Excellent activities
Well organise, safe, the guide was very nice and helpfull. We would do it again.
Date: May/2016
Singapore (Male, age **)
4.00
Beautiful Boat Ride
Service was great, the guide spoke English and picked us up from the Bus Stop. The ride was made as seamless as possible for us, and the English guide helped explain landmarks along the way. The ride wasn't as traditional as I thought since it used a motor instead of rowing. But I guess rowing would've taken a much longer period of time. The timings of the boat tour could be changed to better suit the timings of trains leaving from Shingu, as the boat ride left me at a time when there were no trains leaving within the next 1.5 hours.
Date: May/2016
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
Favorite activity!
Our guide Fukada-san was sooooooo perfect! Very friendly and taught us not just about the main sights but about the spirit of the Kumano Kodo. Thanks to his lovely flute performance my dad has decided to start playing himself and bought a shinobue before going home. Thank you for such a special memory, our highlight of the trip!
Date: Apr/2016
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
0.00
Great waytoytavel to Shingu!
This was a very relaxing and informative way to travel to Shingu after 3 days walking the Kumano trail. We learnt a lot about the pilgrimage history and geology of this area and our guide was very interesting and humorous. We particularly loved the playful sense of time travel and the cultural inclusion of the bamboo flute. The break stop at the Demon bones was a highlight. We were amazed at the skill & age of our excellent captain, and the greatorganisationfrom our pick up point from agitation bus stop, and would recommend this tour highly.
Date: Apr/2016
United States (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Beautiful ride, very informative
Boat ride was beautiful, definitely a great option over a bus ride. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared information in Japanese and English. It was a bit cold for us, so I recommend bringing a few layers if it looks like it could get cold!
Date: Apr/2016
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
Excellent!!!
This traditional boat ride is superb. The staff is lovely, friendly and knowledgeable. Thanks so much for everything!
Date: Apr/2016
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
Fabulous Experience
Thoroughly enjoyed this experience. There were only four of us on the tour which made it more fun. Our guide, Tamaki (?) was very knowledgeable and did a great job narrating in English for us. We especially loved her flute playing. It was so easy to arrange in advance on the Internet and communication was excellent. Being met at the bus stop was helpful too. Thank you for an excellent tour.
Date: Apr/2016
United States (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2016
United States (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Excellent experience. Guild and all staff were accommodating and helpful.
Date: Apr/2016
Singapore (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
Interesting boat tour
Interesting 1.5 hour boat tour that took us from Yunomine onsen to Kumano Hayatama Taisha. It was a relaxing boat ride and a good break from the hiking. The English-speaking guide was very informative, showing and explaining to us the important landmarks along our ride.
Date: Mar/2016
Hong Kong (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
We really enjoyed our boat trip on Sunday. Kyoko made the trip informative, enjoyable and magical. We learned a lot about the region, its geology and history, and feel like we got a glimpse of life there a long time ago. We will recommend this trip to our friends. Arigatou gozaimashita. Penny and David
Date: Mar/2016
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Beautiful scenery, well organised
An English speaking guide met us at Hitari bus stop and escorted us all the way. She was an excellent guide. You are driven the short distance from the business centre to the departure point and then given a life vest and straw hat. It's windy on the river so do your hat up tight. Take a warm top as it can also be cold on the boat although you are given use of a blanket to keep you warm and a plastic sheet to protect you from splashes. This tour is well worth doing as the river scenery is glorious and the commentary very interesting and informative. At the end of the tour the guide will walk you over to the shrine in Shingu but from there you need to look for the maps of the town so you can find the station, or else take a taxi.
Date: Mar/2016
Australia (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2015
Singapore (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
KUMANO TRAVEL ウェブサイト
川舟下りはのんびりと安全で良かったです、特に73歳の母親と一緒でしたので。水が少なかったそうですが、ガイドさんと船頭さんの地元感(?)がとても心地よかったです。// 話変わりますが、貴ウェブサイトには大変お世話になりました。熊野古道訪問には3泊4日でも時間がたっぷりあるとは言えず、モデルコースや名所紹介、リンクがとても役に立ちました。英語版もかなりしっかりしており（だから多くの外国人も呼べるのですね）、家内に説明するのにも役立ちました。これは★5つです。// いつの日か古道踏破を主目的に（一度行った）高野山からずっと歩いてみたいです。。。
Date: Nov/2015
Netherlands (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Beautiful enviroment you feel like a pilgrim
The weather did not help. But the trip was exceptional. The guide made music on a traditional flute and we loved it. The water, the music and the silence of the boat dit feel you as in the time pilgrims walked the kumano kodo.
Date: Nov/2015
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
Pleasant Boat Trip
We had spent the previous 2 days on the river so this was more an addition to our experience.
Date: Nov/2015
Spain (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
Great tour but a bit difficult to understand the English of the guide
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2015
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Loved our guide. Very patient and knowledgable. Answered all our questions.
Date: Oct/2015
United Kingdom (Female, age **)
5.00
Beautiful scenery & friendly staff
The boat ride was a lovely way to end our stay in komano. Tanaka-San was very helpful & explained everything in English. We were lucky to arrive in Shingu on the day of the festival
Date: Oct/2015
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Boat tour
We did not understand the instructions for the bus stop and thought we had to go to shingu. Shingu tourist agency were fabulous and booked us into the afternoon tour which we really enjoyed. tHe boat staff were excellent and helpful
Date: Oct/2015
Taiwan (Male, age **)
5.00
Interesting experience
The tour is interesting and relaxing. It happened to be the birthday of our tour guide, so we were lucky to watch a special bamboo flute performance.
Date: Oct/2015
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Lovely
Great way to finish the Kumano Kodu. Stunning scenery. Well taken care of by the host. Must experience this yourself.
Date: Sep/2015
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2015
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
雨だったので雨に対する対応
雨の日は舟から降りたときの対応をもう少し考えておくと良いと思います。
Date: Sep/2015
Japan (Male, age **)
5.00
平安時代にタイムスリップしたかのよう
大雨の中でしたが、とても素敵な体験をさせて頂きました。屋根がある大型の遊覧船ではなく、船頭さんに漕いで頂けるボートのような形式の船だった点が、熊野詣の時代を彷彿とさせてすばらしかったです。とくに終盤で、語り部の方が横笛を奏で始めると、船頭さんも船のモーターを止めて下さり、川の流れとオールの力だけで下っていきましたが、平安時代の時間の流れを肌で感じられた至福の時間でした。船頭さん、語り部さん、雨の中、本当に素晴らしい体験をさせて頂き、ありがとうございました。
Date: Oct/2015
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Fantastic Trip
Amazing trip. Perfectly arranged and lovely experience. Highly recomended.
Date: Sep/2015
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2015
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
川風が気持ちよいです
夏は水の上はとても涼しくて、気持ちが良いです。 この日は図らずも私たちしかいなくて、舟も川も貸し切りで、私たちにとってはラッキーでした。 ガイドさんの横笛を静かな川の上で聞いて、昔の人たちの熊野詣でに思いをはせました。
Date: Aug/2015
Switzerland (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
pleasant boat ride
It was great that we were guided to the boat ride directly from the bus stop and that after the ride we were driven to the shrine for a visit and afterwards driven to the train station. This was very practical and Time-efficient. The boat ride was very nice and perfectly organized and guided.
Date: Aug/2015
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
川が澄んでいるときにまた行きたい
雨で合羽を着ての川下りとなってしまいましたが、台風１１号のあとで、前日まで運行自体がわからない状態だったので、乗ることができてよかったです。川は台風の後でにごっていましたが、それでもいろいろ感じることのできるツアーでした。
Date: Jun/2015
Norway (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2015
United States (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
They meet you at the bus!
Their main office was taken out by a typhoon in 2001, so to make sure their customers find them, they are waiting at the bus stop when you arrive. Very convenient! Nice river tour and explanations as you're travelling down river. Note: You can leave your belongings in the bus. They drive it to the pick-up point and are always with it, so your backpack, etc., are safe (and stay dry that way!).
Date: Jun/2015
United States (Female, age 40-49)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2015
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
A delightful tour
We were provided with an English speaking guide, Kyoko-san, who was very good. The trip itself is a beautiful journey down the river and gives the traveler a genuine feel for the history and importance of the river. We were extremely happy with this tour.
Date: May/2015
Spain (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Very well
Very nice. And in Shingu they bring us to the train station!!
Date: May/2015
Japan (Female, age **)
4.00
Nice experience
We really enjoyed the traditionnal boat tour. The landscape is beautiful, the tour is very well organised and we had an English speaking guide. The only negative point is that even though the weather was great, we did not go on Hirujima Island as stated in the event description. It did not really matter though as we still had a nice time.
Date: May/2015
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2015
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Great guide
Wonderful boat trip with very friendly and informative guide. Even some flute playing to get us properly in the mood. Would highly recommend it as an alternative to walking.
Date: Apr/2015
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
One of the highlights of the trip!
It was such a pleasant break to our time in the Kumano area. It was one fo the nicest days we had and it was such a beautiful ride down the river. The tour guide was also very nice!
Date: Apr/2015
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Waterfalls and scenery
Tamaki welcomed us at the bus-stop and took us up to the information centre before the van took us to the river. She spoke very good English and played the traditional flute very well. Captain Nishi made sure we were comfortable with cushions and also protective mats to prevent any inadvertent splashes. Lovely scenery and as it was cherry blossom season, the hills were dotted with cherry trees.
Date: Apr/2015
Netherlands (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
The lady translate for us in english. Beautiful boat trip in beautiful surrounding.
Date: Apr/2015
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Fantastic!
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the boat tour. We loved the personal attention to make sure we were comfortable - hot water bottles and blankets to keep us warm, hat to protect from the sun, tarp to keep us dry. Our guide was very personable and we enjoyed her many stories about the history of area. The scenery, of course, was spectacular!
Date: Dec/2014
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Great Traditional Boat Tour
Wonderful boat tour, beautiful scene, happy guides, lots of explanations, interesting stops, very nice to see Shugendo people, clothing, and musical instruments.
Date: Dec/2014
Finland (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
A splendid trip on the Kumano river
Great experience and a lovely guiding lady (she just got her license as an English speaking guide a few days ago). Learned a lot and enjoyed the trip. Also very impressed by the nice older gentleman steering the boat.
Date: Nov/2014
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
Lovely way to see the river Excellent and friendly guide who even met us at the bus
Date: Nov/2014
United States (Female, age **)
0.00
Boat Tour
We arrived at Hitari bus stop and there was our guide waiting for us. Everything went very smoothly, the guide was very helpful and friendly, our boat captain a professional and at the end of the tour they then took us by car to Kumano Hayatama before dropping us at the station. It was well organized and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Date: Nov/2014
Portugal (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2014
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Great pilgrim experience!
Excellent trip - we were met at the bus stop, taken to the boat centre, luggage taken care of, fitted out with life jackets and traditional pilgrim hats, ferried safely down the river by outboard motor and wooden pole, English and Japanese commentary, pointing out main sights en route. The visit to Hayatama Taisha was a bit short but we were able to be dropped off with our luggage at Shingu Station. Great trip + service.
Date: Oct/2014
France (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Superbes paysages
La descente de la Kumano river en bateau traditionnel (mais a moteur tout de meme) est un tres bon moment. On apprecie un autre point de vue sur les montagnes parcourues a pied sur les chemins du Kumano Kodo. Comme souvent au Japon, l'accueil est impeccable. Les horaires sont pratiques, le point de depart est bien deservi par les bus et l'arrivee est tout proche de Hayatama Taisha et a 15 minutes a pieds de la gare de Shingu. La duree de la descente, 1h30, est parfaite.
Date: Oct/2014
Spain (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
I highly recommend this activity!
Date: Sep/2014
Switzerland (Male, age 20-29)
3.00
Nice experience, but not very special
+ very nice guide with English skills + the guide played a flute for a while + the boat seems to be authentic - the sights are not very special (some rocks and little waterfalls) - climbing a rock is exaggerated, it's more a stop by a rock
Date: Sep/2014
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Wonderful!
My son and I took the traditional boat tour to Shingu after completing our 3 day hike on the Nakahechi Route from Takajiri to Yunomine Onsen. We had visited the grand shrine of Kumano Hongu Taisha but we also wanted to see the other 2 grand shrines of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route - Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha, as well as the Kamikura Shrine in Shingu. We had originally tried to take the 10 a.m. boat tour but it was full - so we signed up for the 14:30 tour. As it turned out, this was an excellent decision - since we had the morning free, we returned to Kumano Hongu Taisha and spent the morning there. We were able to see many things that we had missed the previous afternoon when we had arrived tired from our hike and still had to hike over the mountain to Yunomine. We were going to take the local bus from Yunomine to Hongu, but a local man stopped and gave us a ride - so nice! I have never in my life experienced such hospitality. From Hongu, we took another local bus that left from directly in front of the visitors center. When the bus stopped, our tour guide was waiting for us. Amazing! We took our tour with about 15 other people. I would say that was actually the highlight of the trip for us. All the others on the boat were Japanese, and we almost immediately made friends with a little 5 year old girl and her mom. We all took pictures of each other and even exchanged addresses at the end of the trip. Our tour guide was extraordinarily nice. She did her best to explain things in English, and also provided us with a very nice handout in English that explained in great detail each stop along the way. It was a rainy but warm day and we were provided with rain gear and tarps free of charge. The trip itself was very interesting. We all wore traditional hats on the boat and life jackets. Various shrines and other significant places were pointed out. We got to see a large variety of birds including herons and eagles. While there was a lot of construction going on, it was actually quite interesting - our guide explained that roads had been washed out by a huge typhoon a few years earlier and pointed out debris that was caught 20 or 30 feet up in trees and under bridges. When we got to Shingu, we said good bye to everyone and went in search on the shrines. Imagine our surprise when we found our tour guide had followed us in her car to make sure we were ok and that we knew the way both to the Kamikura Shrine and to the JR railway station. Just amazingly kind and nice people. In summary, I would highly recommend the boat tour, especially if you plan on seeing the other 2 grand shrines on your trip. I highly recommend it. Transportation is easy and the boat tour was one of the highlights of our 5 day trip on the Kumano Kodo.
Date: Sep/2014
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2014
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
細かな心配り安心して乗船できました。ただ、ガイド内容をもう少し歴史に踏み込んで解説して頂くとよかったと思いました。
Date: Aug/2014
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
An excellent trip. Very informative and beautiful.
Date: Jul/2014
Hong Kong (Male, age 60-69)
3.00
- No subject -
Interesting experience to flow down the Kumano River and to imagine what the royalty has done many hundred years ago. Scenery was somewhat disappointing because of the many construction work going on along the banks. Many repairs were still in progress after the Typhoon devastation 3 years ago.
Date: Jun/2014
Hong Kong (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
Very interesting boat tour. A very special experience if one going to Kodo the first time. Beautiful scenery along the river valley and good explanation from the guide.
Date: Jun/2014
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
丁寧なガイドが印象的。 滝の名前など説明を受け写真を撮るが後で見ると？状態。パンフレットなど充実していただけるとありがたい。
Date: May/2014
New Caledonia (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Traditional boat tour
Warm welcome and english information during the tour. Helpfully and nice staff.
Date: May/2014
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Fun Boat Trip
Staff were extremely accommodating. We were met off the bus from Kawayu and everything went smoothly from there. Beautiful scenery.
Date: May/2014
United States (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
A beautiful boat trip!
This was an essential part of our pilgrimage on the Kumano Kodo. The river is beautiful, and the guides were friendly, informative, and had a great sense of humor. I only wish that there might have been a warning that there would be no bathrooms for two hours! I wouldn't have had so much tea beforehand!! If there could be a bathroom stop it would be VERY helpful.
Date: May/2014
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2014
Germany (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Do it!
This was a wonderfull experience, the people very very friendly, our guide did translate everything for me into english, played a bamboo-flute for us, the river so beautifull .... don't miss it.
Date: Apr/2014
France (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2014
Sweden (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2014
Australia (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2014
United States (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
LOVE IT!
Beautiful trip through the river, very talented and generous guides, great service.
Date: Apr/2014
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
5.00
- No subject -
乗船した妻の話ですが、熊野川が３年前の台風被害の被害個所が川面から見ると凄まじく驚いたそうです。その中で、貴社が運営する川下りを最近再開できた事は喜ばしいことです。 一緒に乗船した中にドイツからお見えになったご夫婦がおられたとか。最近ではインターネットの普及でか、旅行中に海外からの観光客が多くみられました。是非、海外の方々にも日本の良さ、おもてなしの心を伝えられる案内やパンフレット、英語での紹介をされると宜しいかと思います。川船の船頭さんガイドさん、アシスタントの方々が川船の手順を優しくご説明されていた事が記憶に残りました。夫婦のうち、私だけ車で伺ったので、川舟センターの場所がわかりづらかったのですが、道端まで出向いて先導されて頂きました。ご親切に感謝いたします。お世話になりました。
Date: Mar/2014
Singapore (Male, age 20-29)
0.00
- No subject -
Fantastic guides and boatsman who made my day. Very knowledgeable about the Shingu river. Although they know little English, they tried their very best to make this trip a memorable one. Thank you so much.
Date: Mar/2014
United States (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Awesome way to wrap up the trek
The boat tour was awesome. We lucked out and had a guide who spoke english so that was a big bonus. View was stunning. Guides were very friendly and helpful. This is a must for anyone passing through the area.
Date: Dec/2013
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Worh every penny!
What a wonderful experience! When it looked like I might be the only passenger and therefore miss out, I contemplated paying two fares - two girls booked later so I did not need to but it definitely would have been worth it. It rained but that only added to the adventure and we were provided with wet-weather gear. We were so well looked after - driven to Hayatama Taisha, etc. and then delivered to the station in time for our train to Kii-Katsuura and the bus to Nachi. Our hostess was interesting and fun, and the "captain" was exactly right.
Date: Nov/2013
Australia (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2013
Japan (Female, age **)
5.00
同じ新宮へ移動するなら
この川舟を使うのが絶対おススメです。 穏やかで綺麗な熊野川をバックに語り部さんから、熊野本宮を始めとするその周辺の町の歴史、風土、民俗といろんな話が聞けるので、旅行がより興味深いものになります。 車だと一瞬で通り過ぎてしまう川沿いの風景もゆっくりと見ることができて、本当に楽しかったです。また乗りたいです。
Date: Oct/2013
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
雨の中でも親切に対応いただきました。ただやはり雨が寒くて…★-1とさせてください。帰りは駅まで送っていただくなど、親切丁寧で素敵なサービスでした。ありがとうございます。また晴れの日に利用したいです。
Date: Oct/2013
Singapore (Female, age **)
5.00
amazing experience!
Tour was interesting even though most of it was in Japanese and the rain made everything hauntingly beautiful. Staff especially our English-speaking guide were all very nice.
Date: Oct/2013
Japan (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Enjoyable even in the rain
Unfortunately it rained the day we took this tour, but the boat staff gave everyone rainwear and plastic sheets to keep relatively dry. Beautiful views of the mist covered mountains and wild birds from the boat more than made up for the bad weather.
Date: Sep/2013
Australia (Female, age **)
2.00
- No subject -
Not so exciting or beautiful.......(photo very misleading)......but the guide comentator was absolutely delightful !
Date: Jun/2013
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Beautiful excursion
We enjoyed the kind and friendly people who helped us before and during our traditional boat tour of the Kumano-gawa.
Date: May/2013
Hong Kong (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2013
Japan (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
川下りで熊野詣完了
大峯奥駈逆峯で熊野まで到着し折角なので熊野三山を回ることにし舟下りを選択しました。台風での被害を心配していましたが従業員1名がなくなり皆さんシニアで被災したなか頑張って復興している姿に美しい熊野川の景観とともに感動しました。江戸時代の舟下りの絵画を見せながらの説明も興しろくゆったりした川下りをたのしむことができました。
Date: May/2013
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.00
熊野川川下り
休憩時に席を入れ換わるようような細かい心配りがありました。またコースも見どころ満載で楽しめました。難点は一番後ろの席だとモータの音があって語り部の方の声が聞きづらかったことです。
Date: May/2013
Spain (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2013
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2013
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
5.00
熊野川川舟下り 14:30便
熊野川の雄大さを満喫しました。
Date: Dec/2012
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Loved this!
I can't say enough about the tour. The day we went the weather was perfect. My wife and I were the only English speaking people on the tour and they made us feel right at home. Our guide spoke great english and did the tour in both Japanese and English for us. That was so great. Such friendly warm people. Taking the boat down the Kumano River was super beautiful and was really cool to finish out the Kumano Kodo this way.
Date: Nov/2012
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
早期の復興をお祈りします
熊野古道歩きの最終日に、川の参詣路ということで利用させていただきました。天気にも恵まれ、青天の下で素晴らしい景色と楽しいお話しを満喫しました。舟外動力機を切って、いにしえの人々も味わったであろう川音や鳶の声に身を任せていると、日頃の疲れやストレスがほどけていくのが分かりました。圧巻は、ガイドさんの笛の演奏で、まるで時代劇の一場面に入り込んだかのような気分になりました。すばらしい音色をありがとうございました。 それにしても、ところどころで目にした水害の爪痕に、報じられていたよりも被害が大きかったことを改めて思い知りました。震災の影に隠れてしまって、あまり気にかけていなかったことを反省いたしました。 貴重な日本の伝統や風物を守る御地の一日も早い復興をお祈りいたしております。
Date: Oct/2012
Spain (Male, age 30-39)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2012
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
熊野川下り
この度はお世話になりました。初めて訪ねるエリアでしたので事前に問い合わせをさせて頂いたところ、本当に懇切丁寧な応対、行程のご提案など、ありがとうございました。熊野川下り、素晴らしかったです。川からしか見ることの出来ない景色、船頭さんの解説、アドベンチャー的楽しさ、最高でした。スタッフの方の応対も親切で、乗船時の笠の貸し出しも思い切り気分が出ますね。極め付きは下流での横笛、しばし古えの時にワープしてしまいました。ありがとうございました!!
Date: Sep/2012
Portugal (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Traditional Boat Tour
Although we came to realise that the Kumano Gawa was completely changed by the 2011 earthquake/typhoon it was immensely satisfying to see how the local inhabitants are working to promote, preserve and rebuild such a beloved river. The boat crew and guides were fantastic. They went to great lenghts to give us the best possible experience and memories.
Date: May/2012
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
An asset to foreign travelers
One of the tour guides spoke English and in addition, an English handout of the features of the river was provided. It's pretty obvious what feature is being talked about, even though the tour guide could not repeat everything in English to foreigners on the tour. Tour staff were very friendly, and they can drop you off at the train station or bus center after the trip, for those without rental cars.
Date: May/2012
Denmark (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
Boat Tour
We enjoyed our boattrip a lot. The landscape was fascinating.
Date: Jun/2011
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
3.00
- No subject -
It would have been interesting if there was an English speaking guide explaining the tour on the river.
Price Plan(s)
Sorry, "Reservation Requests" are not available at this time.
Set booking times: 7:00–9:30 and 19:00–22:00 daily, Japan Standard Time.
Please check this Article for more information.