White water rafting in Japan

community:
One of our key goals is to employ and refine sustainable tourism practices that will benefit all of our outdoor adventure experiences in Japan such as our white water rafting trips. We have made a strong commitment to the local communities around our three base locations in Japan. We have created both direct and indirect benefits for the local communities by employing local staff, using local suppliers, supporting other local businesses and implementing various social projects.

Staff: We currently employ over 16 staff in 3 locations in Japan, 60% of whom are from the local area (the same village or town). It is our goal to increase the percentage of local staff to 80% over the next 3 years. We have all ready implemented training systems for locals to become guides in each area.

Suppliers: We utilize local suppliers for all available equipment, food and utilities in Japan. This policy applies not only for our operations but our staff as well.

Local business: It is our policy to include local businesses in the economic benefits of outdoor adventure tourism. We use local accommodation in each area and give them special discount rates. The result is a value package for customers which encourages them to stay in the local area. We also introduce customers to many local restaurants, hot springs and other tourism activities such as local craft workshops.

Social Projects: We have been involved in various social projects in Japan such as free outdoor days with the local primary schools in each area, constructing local children's playground, supporting the local festivals and providing volunteers for aid work after natural disasters (earthquakes, floods).

Environment:
We are committed to protecting our natural environment and increasing customers' and locals' environmental awareness and responsibility. We have been working with the Japan national forest office (erinsho) over the past 5 years to introduce restrictions on environmentally sensitive areas and tour operator restrictions.

We also organise regular river cleaning days and events with other tour operators, local government staff, and our customers. 6 years ago we organised a major event to promote keeping rivers clean which involved a 7 day white water rafting tour from Minakami (river source in the mountains) to Tokyo (ocean), collecting water samples on the way.

On all our white water rafting trips customers are briefed about the importance of our ecosystem, the environment they are in on the tour and how they can make a difference. We also encourage customers to participate on our river cleaning days by offering discounted tours and free BBQ’s. Our operations include the following policies:

Carbon emissions offset practices (planting 3 trees per year per vehicle)

Use of only laser printing to eradicate printer cartridges

Low paper usage by mainly internet advertising (printed materials are on recycled paper)

Rubbish separation and recycling (plastic = plastic decking)