For a unique and memorable way to explore more wonders of Kyoto, take a Hozugawa River Boat Ride. The two-hour, 16-kilometre long adventure lets you explore the incredible scenery of the Tanba-Kameoka/Arashiyama area.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take a 20-minute train ride to JR Kameoka Station. Then, you can either take a short bus ride (ticket cost is 160 yen) or a 10-minute walk to the Hozugawa River Boat Ride boarding site.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at the link below. A regular boat ticket costs 4,100 yen for adults and 2,700 yen for children between the ages of 4 and 12. However, if your party has 10 or more people, you need to make a reservation.
A private charter ride costs 82,000 yen per boat and has a capacity of up to 17 passengers.
If travelling with a group consisting of 35 to 99 adults, you can get a 5% discount of the regular ticket price. For groups of more than 100 adults, there is a discount of 10%.
The Route
The boat ride lets you witness and experience the beauty of the following historical and natural attractions:
- Sweetfish Falls (Koayu no Taki) – a two-metre high waterfall
- Lord’s Fishing Bank (Tono no Ryoba) – said to have been the favourite fishing spot of the Lords of Tanba-Kameyama
- Asahi Rapid – offers an amazing view of the sunrise
- Marks of the Poles (Sao no Ato) – 400-year-old marks created by boatmen using their poles
- Marks of the Ropes (Tsuna no Ato) – 350-year-old rock marks from the ropes that were used for pulling up the boats
- Cormorant Fishing Beach (Ukai no Hama) – site where the 9th century Seiwa Emperor engaged in cormorant fishing
- Book Rock (Shomotsu-iwa) – rock formation that looks like a pile of books
- Frog Rock (Kajika-iwa) – home to many Kajika frogs
- Daihikaku Senko-ji Temple – a Buddhist temple that was moved to this location in 1614 to make way for the construction of the canal
The tour ends at the Hozugawa-kudari landing site, which is located not too far from Togetsukyo Bridge.
When to go
The best times to go are in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom or autumn when the autumn foliage is at its peak.
If combined with the Sagano Scenic Railway tour
The Sagano Scenic Railway is a sightseeing rail line that offers the opportunity to see the mountains, forests and other natural treasures of Kyoto aboard an old-fashioned train that runs from Arashiyama to Kameoka (or the other way) along the Hozugawa River.
Each trip consists of four enclosed train cars with windows that you can open if you want to and one open car, all with wooden benches for passengers to sit on.
The seven-kilometre, 25-minute long journey is best done during the spring and autumn seasons, if you want to marvel at the bright pink cherry blossoms or the vibrant, colourful leaves of the thriving woodlands in this part of the city.
A one-way ticket costs 620 yen, and can be purchased at any JR ticketing offices in the Kansai area or at the Torokko Saga Station.
If you boarded the train at either Torokko Saga Station or Torokko Arashiyama Station, and disembarked at the terminal station, Torokko Kameoka Station, you can then enjoy the Hozugawa River Boat Ride. Just take a 15-minute bus ride (fare is 310 yen) from Torokko Kameoka Station to the Hozugawa River boarding site.
Reminders
During the two-hour boat ride, it’s possible you will get wet at some stage. You are advised to keep your phones and other electronic devices in waterproof bags to prevent damage and a vinyl cover is available on the boat to protect your clothes.
When it is raining, roofs will be installed on the boats for the safety and protection of passengers. However, if more serious weather conditions are being experienced, tours may be cancelled.
Food and drinks are allowed to be brought and consumed on the boat. You can also purchase snacks, bento and other refreshments from a floating conbini boat that will pull up close to your boat once you reach the Arashiyama area. While drinking alcohol is permitted, smoking is prohibited.
If you are travelling with children aged three years or less, you do not need to buy tickets for them and they must be seated on your lap. Please talk to the boatmen in advance if you will be bringing large items such as luggage or a stroller aboard.
The boats are made of fibreglass, undergo regular maintenance and all have life jackets available for emergency use.
