Please understand the risks involved.
KAMUY-WAKKA Hot Falls is a place for adventure activities where visitors can climb a pristine river under their own power.
It is not a tourist destination with safety facilities and assistance items such as ropes,handrails or chains.
As with mountaineering and stream climbing, there are various dangers and precautions to be taken.
Please be sure that you understand the risks and confirm the following points in advance.
1: This is a backcountry area to use at your own risk, with no facilities or equipment and no assistance!
2: There is a risk of falls, slips and injuries!
3: Cell phone reception is poor in this area, which is essentially a signal “dead zone”!
4: If an emergency occurs, it will take more than 40 minutes from the time you call for help to arrive!
5: This is a habitat for dangerous brown bears!
6: Watch out for falling rocks!
7: There are other dangers that are difficult to predict!
1: This is a backcountry area to use at your own risk, with no facilities or equipment and no assistance!
The Kamuiwakka River has several waterfalls several meters high, with no facilities or accessories (stairs, ropes, chains, etc.) to assist in ascending or descending.
As with mountain climbing, you will ascend and descend only by your own strength.
This is a backcountry area where you are responsible for all your actions.
2: There is a risk of falls, slips and injuries!
→The Kamuiwakka River is a relatively non-slippery river due to its strong sulfur content and strong acidity.
However, if you are not careful, you could fall or slip down a waterfall, either by yourself or due to the actions of others nearby.
As a result, accidents resulting in serious injury or death may occur.
(※ No fatal accidents have occurred so far, but there is no guarantee that they will not occur in the future.)
3: Cell phone reception is poor in this “dead zone” area!
→The Kamuiwakka area has an extremely weak cell phone signal.
It is difficult to get information and contact inhabited areas.
4: If an emergency occurs, it will take more than 40 minutes from the time you call for help to arrive!
→In an emergency situation when an ambulance is needed, the local aide will use the radio to request an ambulance.
Moreover, it takes more than 40 minutes from the time of the emergency call until the time the ambulance arrives at the activity site.
The assistants dispatched to the activity site by the organizers, while assisting with rescue request communications, are not trained in first aid and can only provide limited assistance.
5: This is a habitat for dangerous brown bears!
The Kamuiwakka area is often frequented by brown bears, and there is a high risk of encountering bears along the Kamuiwakka River and on nearby roads.
In the event of an encounter, one must take appropriate action to protect oneself, or in the worst case, a brown bear may attack and cause bodily harm to a person.
For basic information on how to deal with brown bears, please visit this website.
How to Avoid Encountering Brown Bears
How to Avoid Encountering Brown Bears (
Shiretoko Foundation website, shiretoko.or.jp/higumanokoto/bear/bear1/)
When you encounter a brown bear
What to do if you encounter a brown bear (
How to deal with brown bears) (Shiretoko Foundation website, shiretoko.or.jp/higumanokoto/bear/bear2/)
6: Watch out for falling rocks!
→Along the Kamuiwakka River, rocks can fall from the slopes on both sides of the river on rare occasions.
There are no protective fences to prevent falling rocks, so you must use all your senses and be constantly aware of your surroundings.
If you actually encounter a falling rock, you must take appropriate evasive and defensive actions to protect yourself.
In the worst case, you may be hit by a rock and suffer bodily harm.
7: This is an acidic sulfate hot spring!
・This is an acidic sulfate hot spring, often found in Japan, having a high acidity level of about pH 1.6. This type of hot spring can be beneficial for skin diseases and diabetes.
・The water can be highly stimulative, and thus may be unsuitable for those with sensitive skin or mucous membranes. Moreover,prolonged exposure may result in skin rashes or a burning sensation.
・Children and the elderly in particular may experience itching or irritated skin after exposure. Please prepare fresh water to rinse off after bathing.
・This natural river water has not been treated or sterilized. It is not suitable for drinking.
8: There are other dangers that are difficult to predict!
Other events specific to natural areas, such as rising rivers, earthquakes, lightning, falling trees, and volcanic eruptions, may also occur and could affect you.
In the case of a rising river, the river will be closed at the discretion of the local assistants, but other events are difficult to predict.
Constant attention to the surrounding conditions is required.
With the above caveats in mind...
・If you feel uneasy, it is wise to refrain from using the activity site.
・It is also important to turn back if you are uncertain, even after actually entering the river.
・Remember, especially, that the descent down the river falls is more difficult than the ascent.
Please be sure to watch the KAMUY-WAKKA Hot Falls Climbing lecture videos (English videos are at the bottom of the linked page).
「カムイワッカ湯ノ滝のぼり」予約サイト