Riviera Iya Valley

My brother and I are Australians in Japan for two weeks and spent a couple days in Kagawa Prefecture. A highlight is the half a day we spent kayaking with Ryu Kinoshita.

It was end of January in winter, and a beautiful clear day. We were provided so many warm water proof layers, that you didn’t feel the cold at all and just enjoyed the peace and quiet.

The tour was well worth the price, with an amazing service. We got picked up from the train station and dropped off at our accomodation, all equipment provided, a hot shower and hot chocolate afterwards, and I haven’t even started talking about the kayaking.

We’ve done a bit of kayaking before, but it was clear the course would also be suitable for complete beginners as the guide went through the basics. But then, I think because we were speedy, we got to do some extra rapids and learn some tricky techniques. Our guides English was amazing, our Japanese not so much.

I cannot emphasise enough that this is a great experience and I’d recommend it to anyone in the Oboke area.

Ryu is an amazing teacher and I had a great time kayaking through the splendid nature of Oboke George.

I only have been kayaking once before on a very calm river and I had a very hard time paddling straight. Ryu really made the technique easy to understand, so now I can actually row in the direction I want!

We went through some beginner friendly currents (they were still very exciting for me though!) and I made it.

In the end he showed me some intermediate techniques to try out.

Even though it was December, he lent me a wetsuit and everything else necessary, so I stayed warm and cozy.

The tour had the perfect length, I was tired afterwards and I could feel my shoulders the next day, but nothing too bad.

I absolutely recommend this tour, if you want to try out kayaking on a beautiful river and try some slightly fast currents.

This was my first time kayaking, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Ryu was an exceptional guide, with a deep knowledge of Iya Valley and its history. The views were breathtaking, the atmosphere unforgettable, and I’m already looking forward to coming back.

Super après midi pour des débutants, l'ambiance était très reposante c'était très bien ! Merci !

Very good experience. Ryu is a kind, competent and professional guide. We did the morning trip in November which is best than the afternoon trip given the short days in the Fall. We loved everything about this experience.

As a group of six complete beginners (around age 30, male and female), we had a really great time during our kayak trip. The equipment was new and perfectly suited for us rather tall Europeans. To provide more individual instruction and feedback, Ryu even invited his friend to join as a co-trainer, who was just as excellent a guide and instructor as Ryu himself. He showed us around the Iya Valley, shared interesting insights, and kept us motivated the entire time. You could really feel how passionate he was about what he does - it was contagious!

A big thank-you as well to his wife for taking so many wonderful photos of us so we can cherish the memories.

We would definitely do it again!

We had a beautiful half day of kayaking in the gorge. It was our first time and the instructor adviced us very well. The gear was modern and new. We had fun, we have learned a lot and it was great fun in this beautiful nature.

We had a great time; it's a great way to discover the Oboke Gorge. Ryu, the owner, is very friendly and is a very good teacher. The tour is completely suitable for beginners!

Thanks again to Riviera Iya Valley for this great afternoon!

Ryu is a kayaking expert and a great instructor. All equipment was provided and explained, and the whole trip was safe and enjoyable. Thanks to his help, I was able to have an amazing adventure in majestic Ōboke Gorge — one of my favorite experiences I’ve had in Shikoku.

I had a really great time kayaking this morning with Ryu-san who provided very clear yet specific instructions and taught me a lot of super handy and elegant techniques, which I’m looking forward to keeping practicing during my next kayak sessions!

We had a great kayaking course for beginners with Ryu! He explained everything carefully and showed us various techniques that made us want to learn more. We had a lot of fun on the water in the beautiful Iya valley.

We had a great afternoon kayaking with Ryu of the Yoshino River. As it had rained a lot further upstream, the river was quite high and rough, so we went to a quiter part of the river, which was still very beautiful. Ryu is a good teacher, he makes you feel at ease. Well recommended!

We had the best time kayaking! I've never met someone who loves kayaking as much as much as Ryu, which made him the best instructor. He taught me loads about technique, confidence and tactics. Would highly recommend to anyone coming to the area, it just doesn't get better than that.

On this trip you have a chance see stunning landscape, crystal clear water, many birds, plants and butterflies. Ryu san is very passionate about kayaking and will guide you to have a great time and enjoy the trip no matter your level.

We had an amazing time kayaking with Ruy. The river is breathtaking and Ruy showed us every hidden treasure. I totally recommend the trip to every nature lover. 💙

Kayaking with Ryu was a great experience all around. He's a good teacher and made us feel comfortable on the entire kayaking tour inside the gorge.

We had a fantastic beginners trip and I went for an amazing intermediate trip also. I highly recommend going for a paddle with Ryu, he’s a great paddler and teacher on a beautiful river! Thank you so much for the experience!