Feel Refreshed in Kumamoto with an Electrifying Water Ride, Idventure!

Have you ever heard of “Ideventure?” It is an activity taking a thrilling and peaceful ride with kayak down the rice farming agricultural canals of Kikuchi, Kumamoto. This unique, wondrous activity has begun since 2014 and has been attracting many tourists from both inside and outside of Japan. Read the article to get the idea of Ideventure, and get ready for one of the best things to do in summer.

Summary

Have you ever heard of “Ideventure?” It is an activity taking a thrilling and peaceful ride with kayak down the rice farming agricultural canals of Kikuchi, Kumamoto. This unique, wondrous activity has begun since 2014 and has been attracting many tourists from both inside and outside of Japan. Read the article to get the idea of Ideventure, and get ready for one of the best things to do in summer.

Rich Water Sources in Kikuchi City: the Mother of "Ideventure"

Located in the north of Kumamoto, Kikuchi city is known as a “village with the limpid stream.” As represented by Kikuchi Valley, Kikuchi city has rich nature and water resources, and many people here have experiences of playing in irrigation channel, known as “ide” in Japanese, in their childhoods. Missing the memory of playing in ide, one of the Kumamoto residents, also a beginner of a kayak, thought up a unique idea, “Ideventure,” for helping revitalize his rural community.

What Exactly Ideventure is?

Ideventure is a great summer activity, begun since 2014, taking an inflatable kayak down a narrow and fast flowing irrigation channel. The water flowing through the ide is from the same crystal clear underground water source of Kikuchi Valley.

With the permission of the local farmers, a route called “Shin-Mabu Course” takes you on a 30 minute (approx. 2km) ride through the beautiful Kikuchi countryside, under some low barriers, and through some very thrilling dark tunnels. There is also a shorter course for kids (approx. 700m) having fewer obstacles so that anyone can safely experience the unusual outdoor activity. But be aware that kids under four years old cannot take part.

All you have to know before Enjoying Ideventure

The activity is open only from July to the end of September, basically taking place on weekends and holidays. There are four rounds per day: from 10:30, 13:00, 14:30, and 16:00, allowing up to 14 people to take part in one round (maximum two people per boat).

The cost is 3,000 yen for ages 13 and over and 2,000 yen for under age 12, and if you are joining the shorter course, it’ll cost 1,000 yen. If you are participating from 10:30 or 13:00, you can have lunch costing 800yen as an option. They serve you cooked rice grown with the water from a side and “Dago-Jiru,” a local dish with fresh seasonal veggies and meat seasoned with soy sauce or miso, and so on.

Also, it needs booking in advance at “Kikuchi Furusato Water Source Exchange Hall”(even a meeting point of the activity) via e-mail, or if you speak Japanese, you can directly make a call between 8:30 and 17:15 for booking. Due to its popularity, it is highly recommended to book as early as possible. However, you can book only from a month in advance.

What you need to bring is swimwear or clothes and footwear you don’t mind getting wet and a change of clothes. There is a place for changing clothes in the hall so you don’t have to worry that you might be changing clothes in public.

Official Movie

How to visit?

Once you get to Aso Kumamoto Airport, you can get to Kikuchi city by Airport Liner, going through Higootsu station, and by local bus (approx. 45 minutes in total). Also, you can take a cab or rent a car, which will be a 30-minute drive from Aso Kumamoto Airport.

Address: 1600 Hara, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto 861-1441
Phone: +81-968-27-0102

Reference list

https://www.suigen.org/page0129.html
https://www.city.kikuchi.lg.jp/kankou/en/
https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/taiken/k005.html