Tourists enjoy rafting on the Shiribetsu River in Hokkaido

KUTCHAN, Hokkaido – Rubber rafting on the Shiribetsu River, which runs through the cities of Kutchan and Niseko in Hokkaido, is gaining popularity.

According to the Niseko Adventure Center in Kutchan, which organizes rafting trips, the river has less water this year because the snow melted earlier than normal, but rafting is still possible until mid-May.

On a recent day, rafting participants spent about an hour paddling along a 7.5-mile course on the river, making splashes along the way.

“It was fun going strong through the rapids,” said Yukina Araki, 13, who was visiting from Sapporo with her family.