Hozugawa River Cruise

What to know

The Hozugawa River Cruise (保津川下り, Hozugawa Kudari) offers sightseeing boat rides down the Hozugawa River from Kameoka to Arashiyama. Traditional flat-bottomed boats, steered by skilled boatmen using oars and bamboo poles, take about two hours to leisurely navigate the river. It's a relaxing way to enjoy the natural scenery of the largely undeveloped ravine. Many visitors combine the cruise with a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway.

Cruises run year-round, but are especially popular from mid-November to early December when the autumn leaves change color. Boats are heated in winter and operate during light rain (covered with a plastic tent), but service is canceled during heavy rain or significant changes in water level.

Historically, the Hozugawa River was used to transport logs for building many of Kyoto and Osaka's famous temples and castles. During the Edo Period, the river was cleared of obstructions so boats carrying grain, firewood, and other cargo could navigate safely. Eventually, trains and trucks made river transport obsolete, and operations ceased after several hundred years. However, the boats were revived and became a popular sightseeing attraction.

The departure point is a short bus ride (190 yen) or ten-minute walk from JR Kameoka Station (20-30 minutes, 410 yen from Kyoto Station). Alternatively, the pier is a 15-minute, 350 yen bus ride from Torokko Kameoka Station, the last stop on the Sagano Scenic Railway from Arashiyama.

Boats arrive in Arashiyama, a few hundred meters upstream from the Togetsukyo Bridge.