“I’ve always wanted to try it, but I just haven’t been able to take that first step…”
The more I talk to people, the clearer it becomes: there are far more people interested in packraft river paddling than I ever would have guessed. They want to do it. They just haven’t started yet. And the reasons vary.
No prior experience with river paddling. Not sure what gear to buy or where to begin. No paddling partners to go with. Concerns about safety. No clear starting point.
Every one of those is a completely valid reason.
For the 2025 Season: I Want to Help People Take That First Step
Starting in the 2025 season, Packraft Hokkaido is going to actively work on supporting people who are in exactly that position — interested in packraft river paddling, but not yet started — to take their first step safely and enjoyably.
The goal is to help someone get from zero river experience to actually completing something like a packraft river trip on the Kushiro River. Working through that process together — sharing information, thinking through the steps, and when needed, providing support in the field.
Packrafts are genuinely accessible compared to other paddle sports. They’re light, compact, and packable. Starting on a gentle river keeps the technical barrier low. But even so, that first step can feel far away when you don’t have the information, the community, or any connection to people who’ve done it. That’s the gap I’d like to help close, even a little.
Trip Reports — Including the Kushiro River — Coming Steadily
Past trip reports, including the Kushiro River, will be published on an ongoing basis. Whether you’re trying to visualize what a river looks like before going, or figuring out what gear you’d need, I hope these reports become useful references.
Building a river paddling culture, one packraft at a time. The dispatches will keep coming.
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