Recently inaugurated on March 16th of 2018, Forest Adventure Shinshiro is, as its name suggests, an aerial adventure facility installed at the forest rim inside the expansive Shinshiro General Park, a large green area in the city of Shinshiro. One of the only 25 facilities of its kind in the country, Forest Adventure Shinshiro uses the native woods of the park at a spot where the terrain is particularly irregular, making it "challenging and entertaining", as one of the park's staff told us. Which is, in our humble opinion, just exciting and great!

Forest Adventure Shinshiro uses about 8,000 square meters of the land, and the native trees provide their canopies for the wooden platforms, anchorage for the wires and suspended obstacles. A total of 36 activities, spread across 5 courses and comprising about 700 meters of adventure make the whole of the facility. So off we went for the thrilling experience!

First, we fill and sign the waiver and have the harness equipped. To comply with safety rules, guests are not allowed to equip the harness by themselves, instead the staff must do it so to confirm that it has been properly fit. Once you have them equipped, you are not allowed to go to the bathroom, nor smoke while wearing them, so make sure you are ready to wear them.

Before starting the adventure, the staff will instruct the participants about the equipment and safety procedures. Of course, at a safe and non-scary height on the ground.

The tallest platforms and activities are at about 10 meters from the ground, so if you're not used to it, it can get a bit scary, even wearing the safely line. The words "Self-Responsibility", which the instructors said time and again at the instruction session, finally sink in our heads.

Well, here goes nothing. Take a deep breath and here we go!

Eeyahhh!!!

"That's scary!" is the exclamation followed by laughter, upon stumbling on the receiving rope net. This activity has a brief free-fall part that makes even the guys to go "Whoooa!". However, "It's amazingly fun! Let's go again!" is the general consensus!

The zip lines are the final attractions at the end of each course and provide the fulfilling reward for the climbing effort. Spanning over 100 meters in length and fixed at high points at the mountain slopes, they cross a rather high open space that is just exhilarating!

Look at the smile! After the climbing effort, a liberating experience that provides spectacular sights of the surrounding nature.

A pile of wooden chips absorbs any landing impact, so it's perfectly safe. But be prepared to take home some of those chips in your pockets, inside the shoes, etc. Well, think them as souvenirs and you'll be ok!

This crossing is one of the trickiest obstacles, as it is built intentionally twisted. Lots of screams and sighs and other funny interjections kept coming from this place!

A perfect modern ninja. Cool!

An average person may take about 2 to 2.5 hours to traverse all courses, so planning to spend half a day would be the safest bet. Having an athletic body is not a requirement, as many of the activities are light and, after all, the safety line is always there to support your weight - although the real thrill of the obstacles is to depend the less possible on it. Some friends of our team complained about it being hard, but finished all courses laughing and having an overall good time!

The fees are the same for adults and kids (at least ages 10 and height 140cm, maximum weight 130kg) at 3,600 yen per guest. The park is just 7min by car from the Shinshiro I.C. of the Shin-Tomei Expressway, so access is easy and quick. This spring, how about go for a dynamic and thrilling ride around the treetops of Okumikawa Area?