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The Sagano Romantic Train is especially popular during Sakura Cherry Blossom (March/ April) and autumn foliage season (November). A wealthy merchant, Ryoi Suminokura, also called the “River Lord”, opened up the Hozu-kyo Ravine for boat transports in 1606. Huge rocks had to be removed, and the whole process not only cost a lot of money but also cost quite a few lives. Boats leave from Kameoka and take curious visitors on a journey of about two hours to Arashiyama. Following a route once taken by the rice and timber merchants, the three men, driving each boat with the sheer force of their arms, safely through rapids and stretches of calm water. The cruise ends in front of Togetsukyo bridge in Arashiyama, an ideal landing place to easily continue the exploration of Kyoto’s western suburb.
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The boats are heated in winter and operate during light rain (they will be covered in a plastic tent), but service is canceled in case of heavy rain or large changes in the water level. Feel the forces of nature at work in this glorious area of rural Kyoto. Get a good look at Tenryuji Temple, the head temple of a major branch of Zen Buddhism. Enjoy your free time in Arashiyama, and find a local spot for some lunch before heading back to the bus. Many prominent personalities, such as United Kingdom’s Princess Margaret and Emperor Showa, have enjoyed the ride on Hozugawa River. It was however famous writer Natsume Soseki who best described in his novel "Gubijinso" this picturesque getaway amidst the touristic turmoil and fresh winds reminding of history.
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On the other hand, in winter the boats are heated, and the crowds are noticeably absent, allowing you to take in the crisp silence of the colder months. In spring you may see cherry blossoms, and in summer the verdant green scenery and river breezes are a perfect anecdote to the heat of Kyoto City. After the rainy period in June, the river levels are a little higher, though the chances of being drenched are pretty low. If it does rain heavily or there is a typhoon, the cruises will be canceled. There you have it, everything you need to know about the Hozugawa River Boat Ride. You should consider putting the Hozugawa River Boat Ride on your to-do list if you are heading to Kyoto.
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At the times, the river was a transportation route for building materials from "Tanba", the mountain range from which the river originates. Over time, the type of products varied thanks to the "lord of the river" Ryoi Suminokura, a wealthy merchant who specialized in ship transportation of rice, wheat, firewood, and coal from 1606. You can reach the cruise jump-off spot by JR train then shuttle bus.
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The boat trip covers 16 km of the Hozu-Gawa River, which is mostly broad and calm, but in some places the river narrows, and you can experience some choppy water. But don’t worry, it is not dangerous, and you are in good hands with the experienced boatsmen. The Hozugawa River Boat Tour is a fantastic way to experience Kyoto’s nature. While Kyoto is most famous for its beautiful temples and well-preserved historic neighborhoods, surrounding it is some truly spectacular nature with mountains, rivers, and forests. One of these green lungs is the western mountains surrounding the Hozugawa River. Relish the feeling of being surrounded by nature as the cruise makes its way through some rapids, flanked by lush foliage.
When we were on Hozugawa River Boat in the morning, more birds and turtles appeared on the right-hand side. Because the side of the river was under the sun, it is possible that they flocked over to seek warmth on a cold autumn day. In addition, Arashiyama’s traditional buildings are also located on the right-hand side of the river. The Sagano Romantic Train runs in the same area as the Hozugawa River Boat Ride, between Saga-Arashiyama and Kameoka in Kyoto, along the Hozugawa River. So you will see the same landscape, although warm, comfortable, and dry from a train car instead of a boat. Of course, you miss out on the excitement of the rafting experience.
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You will see massive rock formations, lots of different trees like cherry trees and maple trees, birds, fish, bridges, and trains passing by on the hillsides. There is a kiosk at the ticket office center/ waiting room selling bento boxes and other kinds of food and snacks. You are even allowed to bring alcohol on board, but smoking is prohibited. To get there take the JR Sagano/ San-in Line from Kyoto Station to Kameoka Station (a 27-minute train ride). The 2-hour Hozugawa River Cruise starts in Kameoka in west Kyoto, 30 km west of Kyoto Station.
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Please wait until your number is called before heading down to the pier. The big screen next to the ticket counter also shows the numbers that have been called out. You can see a monument of the waterway founder Ryoi when your riverboat approaches its end stop at Saga-Arashiyama.
Hozugawa River Boat Ride｜保津川下り
Ryoi made good money on the river all up to 1895 when the current JR Sanin Railway Line opened and effectively put a stop to the Hozugawa River being the main transport vein into Kyoto. The Emperor moved to Heian Palace in Heian-kyō/ Kyoto in 794 making Kyoto the capital city of Japan. Kyoto remained the capital until 1868 when the Emperor moved to Tokyo, where he still lives.
The wooden riverboat will take you to through the scenic Hozu-kyo Ravine and to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, home to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Going on a boat trip is a very relaxing way to see another side of Kyoto, and to enjoy the silence of nature, without even having to break a sweat. Kyoto does not only owe its popularity to its ancient temples but also to its region. Between mountains and valleys, the changes in landscape abound and the most enjoyable way to watch them go by is to be seated quietly in a boat on the Hozu River. The 16 km Hozu River Boat Trip is particularly popular in spring to see the cherry blossoms and in autumn to view Arashiyama's spectacular autumn leaves. If you can, ask them if you can sit on the right-hand side of the boat.
Go on a spectacular train ride that will take you from Saga Station to Kameoka Station—that's 7.3 kilometers of magnificent scenery! Treat your senses to a nostalgic ride through Kyoto's picture-perfect natural landscape. The boat’s pier is close to JR Kameoka Station (亀岡駅), just a 5 to 10-minute walk away. The most popular route on the Sagano Romantic Train is the 25-min train ride from Saga Torokko Station to Kameoka Torokko Station (both in western Kyoto). All the way, you will be surrounded by tall forest-covered mountains.
In spring, when the cherry trees are in blossom or autumn, when the maple trees turn red, the beautiful nature will surely win many hearts. Hozugawa Kudari is the Japanese name of the boat ride down the Hozu River, between Kameoka City and Kyoto in Japan. The cruise is operated on a safe course among the rapids and is a popular nature activity all year long, providing another point of view on the wildlife of this mountainous region.
Trains and trucks of the modern period eventually made river transport obsolete, with operations ceasing completely in 1945. However, the boats took on new life as a sightseeing attraction as early as 1895, drawing over 300,000 visitors a year, including a large number of celebrities and members of royalty. In the Edo Period 200 years ago, boats with tatami mats and a roof called Yakatabune were popular. Even today you can see the remains of the paths along the river that the boatmen once had to trek every day, hauling their vessels back upstream by rope! Sightseeing took over the route once modern transportation dominated the shipping industry, and now approximately 300,000 tourists ride the Hozugawa Kudari every year.
We had some rain at the beginning of the boat trip, but the boats have a plastic roof and detachable rain covers along the sides of the boat. Once you depart from Kameoka town, the scenery takes a dramatic turn as you encounter the steep forest gorges on either side. For bird watchers, there is plenty of wildlife here, with sightings of eagles, kingfishers, ducks and cormorants expertly spotted by the oarsmen.
They first started to use the big Hozu-gawa River to transport logs from Tanba to build the new capital city Kyoto. The woods were bound together into big rafts and then sent downstream on the river. Rinsen-ji Temple, Osaka Castle, and Fushimi Castle were all built by timber transported on the Hozugawa River.
We had a great time on our boat trip, and it was cool to see another side of Kyoto besides temples, shrines, shopping streets, and nightlife. I knew my future was destined to be with Japan the moment I flew from Sydney to experience the atmospheric laneways of Kyoto last century. I am humbled to have met many distinguished people during this time, especially the national living treasures of Japan, such as the doll maker to the Imperia... Use it to discover your destination, plan on the go, store your tickets offline and enjoy exclusive, app-user perks. The history of Kameoka City began when the capital was still in Nagaokakyo, long before Kyoto became the imperial capital.
