The Hozugawa boats run about 16 km down the gorge from Kameoka to Arashiyama, steered by boatmen with poles and long oars through a few lively rapids. The trip takes around two hours, and in winter the boats carry heated kotatsu tables.
Ride Kyoto’s Hozugawa River for two hours past sculpted rocks and wooded gorges, with skilled boatmen, lively commentary, and occasional splashes.
Most Popular★ 4.7“i think this was my highlight of my trip! Definitely recommend, the guide made certain I got my photos and was quite enjoyable!”
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3,331 reviews2 hoursFrom $37.89
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano Scenic Railway, float down the Hozugawa River, and explore Arashiyama with transfers from Osaka or Kyoto.
★ 4.8“Nice experience but I feel the train was not really worth it. If you could stand and take photos that may be better but the views are limited on the train. The boat ride was good and had some beautiful views. Overall good. Tomo the…”
★★★★★★★★★★
604 reviews10 hoursFrom $65.39
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano Scenic Railway and Hozugawa River boat, with a guide and Arashiyama time, but check weather and language details before booking.
★ 4.6“The tour guide was amazing, and the itinerary was very flexible! I originally signed up mainly to experience the Hozugawa River rafting, but unfortunately, due to heavy rain the previous week, the water levels were too high, and operations were suspended for safety reasons (although…”
★★★★★★★★★★
171 reviewsFrom $65.39
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano train, float through the Hozugawa Gorge, then explore Arashiyama, with practical advice on timing, weather, and value.
★ 4.3“we really enjoyed the whole experience of this excursion! the boat tour was definitely the highlight as well spending time near arashimaya after the boat tour! beautiful scenery and the boat guides were funny and super nice!”
★★★★★★★★★★
95 reviews7 hoursFrom $82.09
Raft Kyoto’s Hozugawa River with friendly guides, beginner-friendly rapids, a 3-meter rock jump and free photos, just 25 minutes from Kyoto Station.
★ 4.9“amazing experience with the team. Milan was great!”
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95 reviews3 hoursFrom $60.65
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano Romantic Train through Hozukyo Gorge, then float down the Hozugawa River to Arashiyama, weather permitting.
★ 4.2“We really enjoyed the trip , the views were beautiful and our tour guide was excellent. The only disappointment was that the boat ride was cancelled due to the rain, but the tour guide informed us that we will receive a refund. Overall, it was…”
★★★★★★★★★★
68 reviewsFrom $90.95
Adventure awaits on Kyoto's Hozugawa River with thrilling whitewater rafting, stunning scenery, and expert guides—perfect for active travelers seeking authentic fun.
“Awesome experience! Roshan made the whole morning fun and enjoyable. they provide all the gear you need like a helmet, lige preserver, water shoes, wet suits, etc. really organized and definitely worth the money!”
★★★★★★★★★★
66 reviews3.5 hoursFrom $61by Hozu glitters Co., Ltd.
Compare Kyoto’s Sagano train, horse-drawn carriage, and Hozugawa River cruise, with practical advice on guides, weather, timing, and value.
★ 4.7“It was well organized and I did not have to worry about buying the tickets. If you have visited Swiss Alps before, the romantic train can be skipped. The horse carriage is just for the experience, in terms of scenery there is nothing much. For…”
★★★★★★★★★★
61 reviewsFrom $94.60
Discover the scenic beauty of Kyoto with this combined Sagano Railway and Hozugawa River boat tour, perfect for quick, memorable explorations.
“From beginning to end the tour was a wonderful experience particularly the boat ride was so much fun. The whole tour was well organised and care was taken to ensure that the whole group particularly those who had language barriers understood directions and were kept…”
★★★★★★★★★★
21 reviewsFrom $127.38by Beauty of Japan
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano train, walk Arashiyama’s bamboo path, and cruise the Hozugawa with a guide. See what’s worth your time and what rain can change.
★ 4.5“Actually a great experience with a multilingual guide (Naomi). Timing and guidance was well paced and genuine. The boating activity was excellent and very accessible (and entertaining). There was no end of the day pressuring or 'revew begging' from the guides to leave high ratings…”
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10 reviewsFrom $93.35
Get ready to embark on a breathtaking journey through Kyoto's natural wonders and cultural treasures, but what unexpected delights await you along the way?
★ 3.9“Badly organised with a ‘guide’ who was hardly visible or audible I was told expecting a guide who shared interesting facts about the whole outing but he said nothing and was not a natural-born organiser. The meeting point was a mess. The ‘romantic’ train boarding…”
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8 reviews5 hoursFrom $116
Ride Kyoto’s Sagano Romantic Train, cruise the Hozugawa gorge, and enjoy a Japanese lunch on a guided Arashiyama day tour from Osaka or Kyoto.
★ 5.0“Well timed day with excellent guide Joe. Good variety with delicious lunch in a cool setting on a very hot day. Plenty of time to explore Arashiyama, extremely enjoyable trip. Date of trip was changed week prior due to availability- good communication from company”
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5 reviewsFrom $80.85
Pair a Hozugawa River cruise with Kyoto’s Sagano train for a two-part Arashiyama outing, with a guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
★ 5.0“our guide, Joanna, was a very nice person and she is a very considerate person.”
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3 reviewsFrom $93.35