It’s a Shikoku story, well outside Hokkaido, but worth noting anyway. HLC Shikoku, part of the ultralight hiking community Yamatomichi, is taking registrations for an overnight bikerafting program on the Shimanto River, one of Japan’s three great clear-water rivers.
The Shimanto is prime river-trip territory, and there’s likely a real appetite among packrafters for pairing it with a bike. Beyond that, an influential hiking community building a program around packrafting is a genuine tailwind for the sport in Japan. Packrafters nearby, or anyone curious about HLC’s hiking community, can find the link at the bottom of this post.
Schedule and Route
The program runs from 8:00 AM on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to 5:00 PM on Sunday, September 6. Meeting and dismissal point is Michi-no-Eki Nijinomori Koen Matsuno in Kochi Prefecture. Day one includes lunch at “Yotte Nishitosa,” then a 12:00 PM start paddling down the Shimanto River by packraft, reaching camp by 4:00 PM. Day two continues down the river before heading back via Shimanto River Memorial Park.
Who It’s For, and What to Bring
The program is aimed at ultralight hikers experienced with tent camping who also have both packraft and sport-bike experience going in. Capacity is 7, with a minimum of 3 needed to run. Cost is ¥5,000 (tax included). Participants bring their own packraft and a full set of bikepacking gear for the overnight, plus food and a water filter. A bike helmet doubles as the required helmet.
The guide is Satoshi Sugano, an HLC Shikoku ambassador who runs the gear shop T-mountain at the foot of Matsuyama Castle.
Registration closes August 20.
Related Link
→ HLC Shikoku program details https://www.yamatomichi.com/program/2026-hlc-7-5
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