Hozugawa kudari The Cruise on Hozu River
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Kameoka City is about half an hour from Kyoto station, in the north-west of the former imperial capital. Located 640m from the train 🚅 station, a small port is awaiting the passengers of the day, while boats are gently floating on the water, below on Hozu River. If you don’t have 90 to 120 minutes to spare sitting on a boat, another option to adore Hozugawa Gorge is by taking the Sagano Romantic Train. Especially during the cherry blossom and the fall foliage season, you get to see the gorgeous flowers or vivid colors up close. Of course, you can see the Hozugawa River from the train’s window as well.
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They will tell fun and interesting stories along the way, make jokes and do a bit of play-acting on the choppy sections (which are not scary at all, just thrilling).
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Kyoto's premiere spot for scenic beauty, flowing 16km between the mountains leading to Arashiyama, the Hozugawa River was once an important waterway used for transporting lumber to the capital. Experience the deep pools, rapids, and all the thrills of an ever-changing mountain river. Hozugawa River Cruises (保津川下り, Hozugawa Kudari) are sightseeing boat rides down the Hozugawa River from Kameoka to Arashiyama. The cruises utilize traditional style, flat-bottomed boats piloted by boatmen with oars and bamboo poles.
Hozu River Boat Cruise
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Take a traditional boat along the Hozu River to Arashiyama, a relaxing way to see this beautiful part of Kyoto. These days, you can take off your shoes and recreate this gentle pastime, though the flutes and poetry have been replaced by the banter and commentary from the expert oarsmen, some in their sixties. For more information about the tickets and the Hozugawa River Boat Ride timetable, please refer to their official website HERE. The 16 km Hozugawa River Boat Ride, also known as Hozugawa River Cruises or Hozugawa-kudari in Japanese, has a long history of over 400 years. Hozu River was once an important waterway to transport timer and supplies to Kyoto and Osaka from the Tamba region (丹波地方) in northern Kyoto.
Kameoka itself is 31 minutes from Kyoto Station, and I recommend that you leave Kyoto by 1130 am at the latest if you are going on a day trip. The Hozu River passes through Kyoto and the city of Kameoka, which lies to the west. Splendid mountains line the riverbanks, forming a landscape straight out of a painting. Delightful throughout the year, the mountains turn bright red in autumn, a landscape best enjoyed from a boat.
The Hozu river cruise or hozugawa kudari takes place several times a day from Kameoka to Arashiyama, the latter being less than 30 minutes from the crowds at JR Kyoto Station. Most people come here from Osaka or Kyoto on a day trip, however, you can stay overnight at one of several excellent ryokans nearby at Kameoka Onsen. This popular river route has a rich history dating back more than 400 years and offers visitors a chance to enjoy a leisurely and entertaining boat ride through one of Kyoto’s most beautiful areas.
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If boat rides are not your thing, another great way to see the beautiful nature in Kyoto is by the Sagano Romantic Train, called “Sagano Torokko Ressha” in Japanese. It is a sightseeing train where the railway cars are antique and runs on a narrow railway track from the 19th century. In 1895, pleasure boats began making the trip and a number of foreign princes and princesses have since taken the cruise along with the Showa Emperor in the 1920's. Each boat seats about 15 people and is equipped with a roof should it rain. Each boat is navigated by two boatmen using oars and long, bamboo poles. In the fall the cruise is hugely popular as the forests take on a blaze of red color.
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Here you can also see Daihikaku Senko-ji Temple, built by Ryoi to honor the people who lost their lives in the excavation of Hozugawa River. Also, food and other goods were transported on the Hozugawa River, like rice, wheat, firewood, charcoal. The river soon became a vital transport vein to Kyoto and a lucrative and thriving business.
The boatmen will tie the two boats temporarily so you can get the snacks and drinks you want. It was the only time we were glad that we sat on the left-hand side of the boat. The food boat was located just next to us, and we were able to see clearly what they were selling. Even some royals have taken the Hozugawa Riverboat cruise, like the Prince of Romania in 1920, the Prince of Wales in 1922, the Duke of Gloucester in 1929, Princess Alexandra, and Princess Margaret. The Emperor of Japan and his family have done the riverboat trip several times over the years.
The cruise takes the travelers through the gorges and along the sides of the mountains colored in white and pink in spring 🌸, or orange and red in autumn 🍁. The scenery appears as a larger-than-life painting showing nature’s timelessness wonders. Generally, these boats depart hourly, though on weekends and busy periods they will depart more frequently, as soon as there are 20 people on board. While there are no seats on the boat, the cloth floor is reasonably comfortable, though you may wish to bring a cushion. You can bring your own snacks; otherwise, a food boat comes alongside you as you head towards Arashiyama during the peak tourist seasons. The boat ride takes two hours from Kameoka to Arashiyama, winding its way through the 16-kilometer course.
It is a brilliant way to see some of the beautiful nature that this famous city also has, and not only its famous temples and shrines. After the boat trip, the wooden boats have to be transported back to Kameoka. In the old days, until 1949, the boatsmen pulled the heavy boats back upstream!
Hozu-gawa River has been used for transport for decades, ever since before Heian-kyō (now named Kyoto) became the capital of Japan back in 794. Back then, Nagaoka-kyō functioned as the capital as the Emperor Kanmu lived in Nagaoka Palace in Nagaoka-kyō from 784 to 794. The scenery changes during the four seasons, and it is particularly breathtaking during the Sakura cherry blossom season in spring (March/ April) and autumn foliage in November. Check out our recommended 3-day Kyoto Itinerary for tips on what to see in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, where the riverboat will drop you off. The scenery is also extraordinarily beautiful during the Cherry Blossom Season in spring (March/April) when the hillsides get covered in a pink and white sea of cherry trees in bloom. Cruises are offered year round, but are particularly popular from mid November to early December when the leaves change color.
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