Travel

Adventure Rafting Season Begins on Kitayama River

MIE, May 19 (News On Japan) - Rafting season has begun on the Kitayama River, which flows along the borders of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures, drawing tourists eager to experience its thrilling rapids.

The tradition of rafting in the village of Kitayama in Wakayama Prefecture traces back to the days when logs cut from the mountains were floated downstream to the city of Shingu. With the development of road infrastructure, this once practical method of timber transport has since evolved into a recreational activity.

Tourists now ride rafts built from round cedar logs and hinoki branches, navigating the river for about an hour while taking in the natural surroundings.

One tourist said, "I’m soaked!" when asked about the experience. When asked if it was intense, the reply came quickly: "Yes, it was full of thrills!"

The rafting season is scheduled to continue through the end of September.

Source: YOMIURI

Chinese National Arrested Over Fake Mobile Base Station in Tokyo

A 31-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of operating an illegal mobile phone base station that forced more than 10,000 smartphones onto a 2G network in less than two hours, allowing phishing messages to be sent to unsuspecting users in busy shopping districts including Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Typhoon No. 32 Maintains Intensity on Path to Japan Islands

As of 3 p.m. on November 9, Typhoon No. 32 was moving north-northwest over waters south of Japan while maintaining strong intensity, with forecasts indicating it could turn eastward on November 10 and approach the Ogasawara Islands through the morning of November 11, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous waves.

270-Kilogram Bear Killed in Hokkaido After Repeated Farm Attacks

A male bear weighing approximately 270 kilograms was killed by hunters in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, on November 8th after being caught in a box trap, with local hunters suspecting it was responsible for a series of attacks on a nearby poultry farm that left more than 100 chickens and ducks dead since August.

Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Shakes Central Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on November 8th, registering an upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Aichi Prefecture and injuring at least 21 people, while damaging buildings and disrupting Shinkansen and conventional railway services across the region.

Railways Reopen Following Aichi Earthquake

The Tokaido Shinkansen resumed normal-speed operations across its entire route at 8:57 a.m. on November 8th after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake disrupted rail services across central Japan, with JR Central reporting delays to 29 bullet trains affecting approximately 17,000 passengers, while Meitetsu restored services across its entire network by 9:15 a.m. following widespread morning suspensions.

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Typhoon No. 31 Accelerates Away From Japan

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