When visiting Japan, experiencing the country’s unique culture and activities is a must for most international tourists. If that is the case for you, consider taking the Hozugawa River Boat (Hozugawa Kudari, 保津川下り) to Arashiyama. You are completely disconnected from civilisation once the boat starts floating on the Hozugawa River. Boarding a traditional boat and being surrounded by Kyoto‘s rural natural landscape will make you feel as if the boat is travelling back in time!
Table of Contents
- About Hozugawa River Boat Ride
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride in the Cherry Blossom and Fall Foliage Season
- Can Babies and Toddlers Take the Hozugawa River Boat?
- Can an Expectant Mother Take the Hozugawa River Boat?
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride’s Timetable and Ticket
- Where Do You Board the Hozugawa River Boat Ride from
- What to Do on the Day Before Boarding the Hozugawa River Boat
- The Best Seats on the Hozugawa River Boat
- Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
About Hozugawa River Boat Ride
The 16 km Hozugawa River Boat Ride, also known as the Hozugawa River Cruise or Hozugawa-kudari in Japanese, has a rich history spanning over 400 years. The Hozu River was once an important waterway for transporting timber and supplies to Kyoto and Osaka from the Tamba region (丹波地方) in northern Kyoto.
Nowadays, the boats carry those who would love to enjoy 90 to 120 minutes of the beautiful scenery of the dynamic landscapes. From the photo, the current might seem calm, but there are parts of the river where the boat ride may seem more like rafting!
The boatmen there aren’t just good at steering the boat. Holding expert knowledge about the Hozu River and how the weather can change the water flow is essential to being a great boatman. Repairing and preserving nature in the area are also part of their duties.
Apparently, it takes around ten years to be a full-fledged boatman! Additionally, they now need to study foreign languages, such as English, to be able to serve passengers like us. (´▽｀*).
Tip: When on the Hozugawa River Cruise, focusing on what is in front of you might be natural. However, it is also a good idea to occasionally check what’s behind you. Although there might be some awkward moments between you and those sitting directly behind you, the valley seen from a different angle won’t make you regret it (^_-)-☆.
From mid-December to early March, the Hozugawa River Boat are heated up to keep you nice and warm in the colder months (^_-)-☆.
Hozugawa River Boat Ride in the Cherry Blossom and Fall Foliage Season
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride’s cherry blossom season usually peaks between late March and early April.
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride’s autumn foliage season usually peaks between late November and early December.
Can Babies and Toddlers Take the Hozugawa River Boat?
The height restriction to board the Hozugawa River Boat is 80 cm. Strollers can be folded and stored at the rear of the boat. However, if you have a large number of strollers, please get in touch with Hozugawa River Boat in advance. The company’s phone number is +81-771-22-5846.
Can an Expectant Mother Take the Hozugawa River Boat?
You can take the Hozugawa River Boat if you are pregnant. However, it is at your own risk.
Hozugawa River Boat Ride Tickets and Timetable
- Hozugawa River Boat doesn’t have a departing schedule on weekends and public holidays. When enough customers are gathered at the terminal, the boat will depart.
- On a weekday, Hozugawa River Boat departs on an hourly basis from 9 am to 3 pm.
- Hozugawa River Boat Tickets costs
- 6,000 yen for adults
- 4,500 yen for toddlers and elementary school students
You can pre-purchase your Hozugawa River Boat Ride ticket HERE! You can reserve a specific time slot.
For more information about the tickets and the Hozugawa River Boat Ride timetable, please refer to their official website HERE.
Where Does the Hozugawa River Boat Ride Start and End
Hozugawa River Boat pier is a 5 to 10-minute walk from JR Kameoka Station (亀岡駅).
If you take the Sagano Romantic Train, walk from the terminal station, Kameoka Torokko Station (トロッコ亀岡駅), to JR Umahori Station (馬堀駅). JR Kameoka Station is the next stop from JR Umahori Station.
If you don’t want to walk, you can also take Keihan Kyoto Kotsū’s (京阪京都交通) services from Kameoka Torokko Station and get off at Hodzukawakudari Jōsen-ba (保津川下り乗船場).
Kyoto Sagano Sightseeing Carriage Tour can also take you to the boat pier!
Download one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your trip.
What to Do on the Day Before Boarding the Hozugawa River Cruise
Hozugawa River Boat Terminal is a two-story building. Whether you have pre-purchased your ticket or not, please fill out the small piece of paper shown in the second and third photos in the Instagram post. Only one paper is required to be filled out for the entire group. The name to be entered is that of the group’s representative.
You can then take the piece of paper to the ticket counter to exchange or purchase your Hozugawa River Boat Ride ticket. The ticket has a number printed. 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.
While you wait, you can purchase some snacks from the shop in the terminal. Food and drinks are allowed on the Hozugawa River Boat.
The Best Seats on Hozugawa River Cruise
At the pier, the staff will allocate the seats on the Hozugawa River Boat for you. If you can, ask them if you can sit on the right-hand side of the boat. When we were on the 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.
If you understand Japanese, the front few rows are the best seats because you can hear the boatmen giving out interesting talks and stories.
At the end of the boat ride to Arashiyama, a food boat will come by. The boatmen will temporarily tie the two boats together so you can purchase 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 right next to us, and we could see clearly what they were selling.
Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
If you prefer to be guided when you visit the Sagano/Arashiyama Area, consider booking one of the tours below!
- Kyoto Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat & Arashiyama Walk
- Kyoto Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour
- Arashiyama Morning Walking Tour with Sagano Romantic Train in Kyoto
Taking the Sagano Romantic Train to Kameoka
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.
For more information, refer to our Sagano Scenic Railway article!
Discover Kameoka City – Just a Train Ride Away From Aarashiyama
Arashiyama in Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations in the prefecture. Before taking the Hozugawa River Boat, how about spending a couple of hours exploring Kameoka?
Kameoka City’s scenery is equally as amazing as what you can get in Arashiyama, if not better! And the best thing is that it is way less crowded!
For more information about the city, please refer to our Kameoka City article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
