Running in the air. Shimanto River zip line with spectacular views

In June 2020, Shimanto River Zip Line, the first zip line facility in Kochi Prefecture, opened in roadside rest area Shimanto Towa, Shimanto-cho, Takaoka-gun. Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, who was visiting for a Kochi camp, experienced an attraction where you can enjoy the superb view of the clear stream Shimanto River. Students who learn about economic development and regional revitalization through sports at universities will experience activities that make use of local environmental resources.

What is Shimanto River Zip Line?

About 2 hours by car from Kochi Station, the Shimanto River Zip Line, which is attached to roadside rest area Shimanto and Owa in Shimanto Town, slide down the wire rope over the Shimanto River using a pulley called a pulley.

Koinobori Park is located about 3 km west of roadside rest area Shimanto and Owa, where you can swim 500 carp streamers on a wire stretched over Shimanto River. Many tourists visit from spring to early summer. At this place where many people gather, he thought, "Is there any attraction that can attract people throughout the year?"

The zip line that allows you to slide on a first-class river is rare in Japan, and it is the first in Kochi. Since its opening, it has become a popular spot that attracts more than 100 people a day from inside and outside the prefecture during busy season.

8 students experience zipline

Visit the General Information Center of Shimanto River Zip Line on the premises of roadside rest area Shimanto and Owa. On the day of the experience, 8 students arrived by driving their own rental car.

"Because it is located at a roadside station along the national highway, it is a place that is easy to visit by car. There seems to be a lot of delicious food, "As soon as we arrive, some students immediately shouted their specialty curry bread. There is also a direct sales place for local specialty products, a dining room, an ice shop, and a cafe, where you can also enjoy shopping such as meals and souvenirs in addition to experience.

You can also experience the zip line by jumping in if there is space on the day, but if it is crowded or there are many people, reservation is required. Let's accept at the General Information Center 15 minutes before the reservation time.

Once you have written the pledge required for the experience and have paid the experience fee, the staff will be equipped with a device called harness.

Put your valuables in a free rental pouch, watch the video on how to use the safety equipment, the pulley, for about 10 minutes, and move to the starting point. At the starting point on the opposite shore, we cross the river by a rowing river boat full of taste, but since the amount of water in the river is low in winter when there is little rain, we decided to move by car this time.

Ahead of the experience, “Good! I'm nervous, "I'm a little scared ..." the students who are a little anxious.

When you move to the start deck, the flight starts!

When you arrive on the other side, you will go up the stairs to the start deck. The forest with the start deck is called the "Marriage Forest" because local people planted trees and maintained them in commemoration of the marriage of the current Emperor.

Since two wire ropes spanning from the marriage forest can be paralleled and the goal can be reached together, the benefits can be expected, and it seems that there are many uses by couples and couples.

In the vicinity of the start, the staff will give a lecture on how to ride and precautions again using actual equipment. Once you have mastered the procedure, you are finally on the starting point.

You'll be nervous about your first experience.
Prepare for the start position at the same time. The charm of this zip line is that you can fly by two people.

With the staff countdown, you finally take your feet off the deck and start the zip line.

"Car! The students, who were scared at first, shouted and enjoyed the slide. A man who was distorted by the fear of the starting position, which was in high places, smiled when he started.

Enjoy the scenery of Shimanto River in the exhilaration of sliding in the air hanging on a wire is special. The height from the river surface is about 20m and the length is about 220m, and the aerial walk is about 30 seconds flight.

It seems that it is difficult to land until even a physical education college student gets used to it, but wood chips are laid on the arrival deck, which protects you from the impact of the landing.

Even after the end, he seemed to be excited and cooled for a while and said, "It was really fun! I'm not good at roller coasters, so I was scared at first, but I want to do this again," said Rinko Kawakami.

"Slower than I expected, I could afford to see the scenery. The wind was pleasant,” said Mutsumi Okumura and Kanon Kozaki, who showed a smile.

Yoshinari Katsuoka, who smiles, and Junsuke Uchida, who is afraid of heights, said, "I was worried at first, but it was more fun than scary! It is very beautiful to see the river through. I thought it was a place where I could only enjoy it,” he said.

Dai Murata and Yuto Inoue seemed to be easy while working as a photographer. I firmly captured the image of everyone integrated with the scenery in the video.

Daiki Higuchi said, "I've experienced a zip line in the forest before, but there's nothing to block the scenery around here, and the feeling of openness was different. Kochi is the fourth time, but whenever you come, you will be healed by the scenery and delicious food. This time it was cleansed well!” he concluded like a team leader.

It is also a great privilege to transfer photos taken and videos during the slide to your smartphone on the spot.

The experience of thrill and excitement that you can enjoy in the wilderness ends with regrets. Shimanto River zip line that can be enjoyed by children (over 120 cm tall) and elderly people because it can be enjoyed without using power. The oldest so far is 93 years old!　At the time of the interview, parents and children in their 20s and 50s also participated, and I realized that it was an activity that many people could enjoy.

Enjoy Shimanto River Basin Gourmet at Toowa Shokudo

Students who enjoyed the zip line had lunch at "Towa Shokudo" in roadside rest area.

"Pork cutlet curry", which is topped with Shimanto pork roast cutlet and local seasonal vegetables, soup stock taken with chicken gala, Soda gatsuo powder, bonito, local vegetables, etc. Enjoy the "Shimanto Yuzu Salt Ramen (winter only)" with a fragrant and light soup.

In addition, it is a dining room where you can enjoy the taste of natural sweetfish, natural eels, delicious rice "Towanishiki", which is rare in Kochi Prefecture, and ingredients from the Shimanto River basin.

The road to roadside rest area Shimanto and Owa is driven by car along the Shimanto River, so you can feel the changing seasons such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves while watching the clear stream. Please feel the charm of Shimanto River throughout your body.

At present, you can experience zip line at two locations in Kochi Prefecture. Zip line with the exhilarating feeling that makes you want to repeat. Please enjoy it!

Facility information