Kochi Shimanto City Tourism Association
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Kochi Shimanto City Tourism Association

Sep. 3, 2025
[Image1][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image2][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image3][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image4][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image5][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image6][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image7][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image8][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image9][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image10][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image11][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image12][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image13][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image14][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where
[Image15][Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where

[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] “Japan’s Last Pristine River, the Shimanto River” — a river where people live alongside the water and that sustains a culturally rich landscape

☞ What is the Shimanto River?
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The Shimanto River originates on Mt. Irizuyama in Tsuno Town, Kochi Prefecture (elevation 1,336 m). It runs 196 km in total, with 35 main tributaries and 319 tributary streams overall. The river meanders through the southwestern part of Kochi Prefecture—including Yusuhara, Nakatosa, Shimanto Town, and Shimanto City—flowing without steep drops before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Shimanto City Shimoda.
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☞ Where the name “Japan’s Last Pristine River” comes from
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The Shimanto River, where residents still live close to the water, gained the symbolic label “Japan’s Last Pristine River” after a 1983 television broadcast. That description created a brand image of a clear, life-filled river running from its source to the sea.
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☞ What the Shimanto River provides.
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Nurturing abundant life, the Shimanto River and its wide estuarine areas host around 200 species of aquatic life. Even today, some fishers sustain their livelihoods using traditional methods such as late-season sweetfish (ayu) fishing, fire-fishing, long-armed shrimp fishing, goby fishing, and green seaweed harvesting. These practices preserve deep ties between people and the river and a living culture of work.
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☞ Activities on the Shimanto River.
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On the Shimanto River you can enjoy canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling, stream-walking, raft trips, sightseeing boats, camping, and many other year-round experiences.
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☞ The river’s tempestuous side.
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The Shimanto River is also famous as a wild river prone to rises in water level, flooding, and typhoons, making it susceptible to water damage throughout the year. Against this backdrop, people living along the basin have adapted their lives and landscape to nature, for example with low, railing-free bridges called chinkabashi that submerge during high water. These bridges, together with human activity, create a distinctive regional scenery.
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☞ Selected by the Environment Agency as one of Japan’s 100 Exquisite Waters and the 100 Exquisite Waters of the Heisei era.
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In July 1985, the Shimanto River was chosen as one of Japan’s 100 Exquisite Waters because of its excellent water environment and active local conservation efforts.

Later, in June 2008, the Kuroson River, a tributary of the Shimanto, was recognized as one of the 100 Exquisite Waters of the Heisei era in recognition of environmental conservation activities and local community initiatives.
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☞ The exceptionally clear Kuroson River among the tributaries.
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The Kuroson River, selected for the Heisei-era 100 Exquisite Waters, is the clearest and most beautiful tributary of the Shimanto River. The area also preserves legends and stories such as Kuroson Shrine and Okiku Falls, and in autumn the foliage colors the landscape vividly.
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☞ Designated as an Important Cultural Landscape by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
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In February 2009, the unique landscapes formed by people’s lives and activities in the Shimanto River basin were designated an Important Cultural Landscape. This is the first time such designation covered five municipalities in the basin—Tsuno, Yusuhara, Nakatosa, Shimanto Town, and Shimanto City—drawing significant attention.

※ An Important Cultural Landscape is a landscape formed by people’s lives or livelihoods and the local natural environment, and is indispensable for understanding the lives or occupations of our nation’s people (from the Cultural Properties Protection Law, Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 5).
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☞ People appear on the Shimanto River throughout the seasons.
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The Shimanto River is not only praised as the beautiful “Japan’s Last Pristine River,” it is also an environment and landscape enriched by the everyday livelihoods of local communities. This close relationship is the river’s mysterious charm that continues to draw people even now.

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Sep. 12, 2025
[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] Feel secure with this! A Directory of Shimanto River River Activity Operators! ★The Appeal of River Activities★ You can enjoy the Shimanto River with your whole body in 360°, and nothing captures that feeling better than river activities! The Shimanto River has a gentle current, so beginners and children can take part. On canoe tours you can sometimes go where no man-made structures are visible, offering a true escape from everyday life. Shimanto City is home to many river activity operators, with a variety of options that let everyone from small children to seniors enjoy themselves with peace of mind. Take this chance to find an operator that interests you♪ 1. Shimanto Canoe and Camp Village Kawaracco Shimanto Canoe and Camp Village Kawaracco sits beside the Shimanto River, surrounded by rich natural scenery. In addition to campsite facilities, the site includes well-equipped bungalows and a Shimanto hinoki cypress house. It also serves as a terminal for the Rinrin Cycle rental service. Operating season: Year-round Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a public holiday, closed Tuesday) *Open during the period around Golden Week and from July 1 to September 30 Pets allowed to ride together (tandem kayaks). *Please bring a life jacket for your pet. Depending on size, joint riding may be unavailable. 2. withRIVER withRIVER is located at the foot of a Shimanto River chinkabashi (submersible bridge). The current is gentle here, so beginners and small children can feel safe. At the end of the tour you can even try jumping from the chinkabashi. In addition to canoe and SUP experiences, withRIVER offers horseback riding. Besides ordinary rides, there is a course that lets you ride within the Shimanto River. Because the horse stands where you can touch the bottom, children and non-swimmers can participate safely. Operating season: March to mid-November Dogs may ride along (on SUP or two-person canoe). Dog life jackets are available to rent (500 yen per jacket). Free photo sharing available 3. Shimanto River Lodge Yuubetei Shimanto River Lodge Yuubetei is a rented villa-style accommodation on a hill overlooking the Shimanto River, available to one group per day. Families, groups, and couples can relax here. Rooms include a terrace where you can barbecue while watching the sunset. River SUP experiences are available from Yuubetei. The owner customizes courses to match guests. SUP board rentals are also offered. Please request when booking your stay. *SUP experiences operate only in the summer season. 4. Okera Adventures Shimanto Okera Adventures Shimanto centers on “bikerafting,” a combination of cycling and packraft (inflatable boat) river descent. They are the only operator in Japan to run regular guided bikerafting tours. (*Survey by Okera Adventures, March 2022) They operate by private-group bookings only, so you and your group enjoy the tour alone. One appeal is that guides tailor the tour to participants, weather, and conditions. Operating season: Year-round Dogs may ride along (dog life jackets available for rent). Free photo sharing available 5. Shimanto – River Station Canoe Center Shimanto – River Station Canoe Center is known for the spectacular natural scenery in the latter part of its tours. The attached Shimanto Hiroba Auto Campsite offers toilets and barbecue sites so you can camp beside the Shimanto River. (Advance reservation required) There is a beginner-friendly canoe school where instructors lead basic half-day and full-day courses. You can paddle an 8 km canoe touring course to the famous Iwama Chinkabashi Bridge featured on TV and in magazines; the latter 4 km of the course shows almost no man-made structures, letting you fully enjoy the Shimanto River’s wilderness. The Canoe Center also serves as a river station exhibiting canoes from around the world and as a terminal for the Shimanto River Rinrin Cycle rental service. Operating season: Year-round Free photo sharing available 6. Shimanto Rakusha Shimanto Rakusha is a former school repurposed into a place where you can stay and play. The lodging uses spaces such as the school infirmary as bedrooms, and classrooms have bunk beds. You can even stay in the broadcasting room that still runs the school PA system or in the principal’s office. Because canoe experiences here do not involve long downstream runs, you can set your own experience time. Families can take turns, play in the river, and enjoy canoeing freely. In addition to canoeing, you can try stream trekking (shower climbing), raft play, and relaxed fishing in the Shimanto River. Closed: Every Wednesday *Open daily in July, August, and September Free photo sharing available 7. Canoe Shimanto Base Canoe Shimanto Base runs tours using sit-on-top canoes that you sit on the deck rather than inside. You can choose a half-day course with a 3 km downstream stretch (morning or afternoon) or a shorter course without downstream paddling. All canoes are single-person, and two sizes are available so you can pick the right fit. The half-day course is available from third grade elementary school and up; the short course is available from first grade elementary school and up. The short course is a private booking for groups of 1–10 people. Operating season: March to November Dogs may ride along. *Please be sure to bring a life jacket that fits your dog’s body size. Free photo sharing available 8. Good River Shimanto At Good River Shimanto you can enjoy a full Shimanto River canoe tour. They instruct you from canoe boarding and paddle technique to how to enjoy canoeing. The downriver course follows the river current and reveals little in the way of man-made structures, letting you relax in expansive nature. You can take commemorative photos at the popular Iwama Chinkabashi Bridge. They also run rafting tours, letting you drift downstream in a raft boat on the gentle Shimanto River in relaxed comfort. Guests from age three through seniors can participate. Operating season: Mid-March to early November Children and dogs may ride along Free photo sharing available How was it? Try experiencing Shimanto City’s river activities!
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Aug. 8, 2025
Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan videos, nice to meet you! We are the Shimanto City Tourism Association in Kochi Prefecture. Shimanto City lies in the southwest of Kochi Prefecture, bounded to the north by mountains around 1,100 meters high and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, making it a city rich in nature. The city was formed in 2005 by the merger of the former Nakamura City and Nishitosa Village, and its name comes from the Shimanto River that runs through the city. On this account, we will deliver the many charms of Shimanto City to you. We look forward to sharing them with you! ■How to access Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture About a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Kochi Ryoma Airport About 1 hour by limited express from JR Kochi Station ■Basic information about Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture The population is about 30,000 people (as of June 2025), making it the third most populous city in Kochi Prefecture. Forests cover about 91% of the city area, and the Shimanto River, which flows through the city, stretches 196 km without dams on its main stream. Known as “Japan’s last clear stream,” the city’s catchphrase is “a town that lives with the river.” ■History of Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture The former Nakamura area of Shimanto City is called “Tosa’s Little Kyoto.” About 550 years ago, Ichijo Norifusa moved south following the Onin War and laid out streets in a grid pattern modeled on Kyoto, and that urban design remains today. The town’s blend of culture, history, and nature creates a picturesque setting perfect for strolling. ■Recommended sightseeing spots in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture Chinkabashi (low-water crossing bridges) ・There are nine chinkabashi on the main stream, including Sada Chinkabashi and Iwama Chinkabashi Activities ・Shimanto River sightseeing boats ・Canoeing and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) ・Shimanto river barbecue ・Cycling History ・Ichijo Shrine ・Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine ・Shimanto City Local Museum ・Hanka Tenmangu Shrine ・Kurosongu Shrine Food ・Shio tataki (salt-seared fish) ・Biri katsuo (local skipjack tuna specialty) ・Bushukan chu-hai (citrus shochu highball) ・Ayu (sweetfish) ・Unagi (eel) ・River shrimp ・Gori (gori fish) ■Visit Shimanto City, where nature and culture live on Shimanto City, where vast nature and historical culture come together, is an ideal destination to refresh both body and mind. Come and seek the landscapes and experiences you can only find here. We will continue to share the attractions of Shimanto City, so please follow us!

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