Table of Contents
- How to Get to the Stations on Sagano Scenic Railway
- Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
- The Best Carriage of Sagano Scenic Railway
- Hozukyō Torokko Station (トロッコ保津峡駅)
- Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage along Sagano Scenic Railway
- Are Reservations Required for the Sagano Scenic Railway?
- How to Reserve the Sagano Romantic Train
- Which Side of the Sagano Romantic Train Should I Choose?
- Can I Bring Large Suitcases onto the Sagano Romantic Train
- Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
Tip: Since the train conductor only speaks Japanese on the train, scan the train guide’s QR code to access Sagano Scenic Rail’s audio guide. You should find it at Sagano Scenic Railway’s stations. It is available in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
About Sagano Romantic Train
How to Get to the Stations on Sagano Scenic Railway
After getting out of JR Saga Arashiyama Station’s ticket gates, head left and take the escalator down to the ground level. Sagano Scenic Railway’s Saga Torokko Station (トロッコ嵯峨駅) will be on your right as shown in the IG post. If you are unsure, the direction signs are hung from the ceiling (refer to the 2nd to 4th photos in the IG post). Or, just follow the crowd.
On the other hand, if you are coming from the other side of the prefecture, boarding the train from Kameoka Torokko Station (トロッコ亀岡駅) is a better choice.
To get to Kameoka Torokko Station, you just need to get off at JR Umahori Station (馬堀駅) on the San-in Main Line. From there, it will just be a 5 to 10-minute walk.
Tip: If you plan to visit the area around Togetsukyo Bridge (渡月橋), get off at Torokko Saga Station (トロッコ嵐山駅). The station is at the end of Arashiyama’s bamboo grove.
The Best Carriage of Sagano Scenic Railway
All Sagano Scenic Train has five carriages. When the weather is good, the best carriage to be in during the scenic ride is carriage no. 5, called the Rich (ザ. リッチ). The only open-air carriage allows you to snap photos of the magnificent scenery in front of you without any unpleasant window glare.
A small extra benefit of boarding the Sagano Romantic Train Rich Car is the slight excitement you might get when the train is inside a tunnel. With the surroundings covered in darkness, it will feel like you are on an expedition (´▽｀*)
But, while you enjoy the refreshing breeze and natural light in carriage no. 5, it may not be a pleasant trip on a rainy day. Moreover, it is extra cold from mid-November to February on this carriage. Thus, consider your circumstances before purchasing or reserving your tickets.
Tip: If you plan to board the Rich from mid-autumn to early spring, warm clothing is recommended. Without the window, the cold wind blows directly on you.
Hozukyō Torokko Station (トロッコ保津峡駅)
The station is situated on a bridge because it is sandwiched between tunnels.
The Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage Along Sagano Scenic Railway
- The cherry blossoms along the Sagano Scenic Railway usually peak from early to mid-April.
- The autumn foliage season along the Sagano Scenic Railway is usually from mid-November to early December.
- As the day gets darker, the maple trees close to the rail track will be lit up.
- In 2024, the nighttime Sagano Romantic Train operated from October 12 to December 29.
Are Reservations Required for the Sagano Romantic Train?
How to Reserve the Sagano Romantic Train
Reservations are open at 12 am one month before the boarding date via Sagano Romantic Train’s website HERE at 12 am Japan time a month in advance. The tickets for the first train of the day during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons can be gone within minutes.
On the day, simply show the QR code, which can be found in the member’s area of the official website where you registered.
You can pre-purchase your Sagano Romantic Train tickets through klook. Simply open the link on your voucher and present it to the station staff when you board the train.
Which Side of the Sagano Romantic Train Should I Choose?
However, if you are taking a one-way trip, here are the sorts of views that you can expect on each side of the train.
- From Arashiyama to Kameoka:
- The left-hand side has a better view during the first 1/4 of the journey, with the Hozugawa Valley on your left.
- The right-hand side has a better view during the 3/4 of the remaining trip, with Hozugawa Valley on your right.
- From Kameoka to Arashiyama: It is the other way around.
The photo on the right is the Sagano Romantic Train seat map (click the photo for a bigger seat map).
Important: Please note that all seats are box seats for 4 people. This means that half of the seats face in the opposite direction of travel.
Can I Bring Large Suitcases Onto the Sagano Romantic Train
You can bring large suitcases onto the Sagano Scenic Train. But you need to pay to do so. On the day, please head to the ticket office and inform the staff that you have a large suitcase you would like to bring on board. The staff will issue you a separate ticket for the suitcase. You can refer to the IG post for an idea of what the ticket looks like. We paid 260 yen for ours.
Since it is rare for passengers to do so, the staff at the platform may not know how to proceed. All you need to do is get on the train early and put your luggage behind the first or the last row.
The end of one side of the carriage is designated for those without a reserved seat ticket. The area is marked in blue and has the words “立席” written and images of people standing drawn. You can refer to the 2nd photo in the IG post for an idea of what it looks like. Unreserved seat tickets are available for sale on the day at the station.
Please place your large belongings at the other end of the carriage, where the floor isn’t marked. You can refer to the last photo in the IG post.
Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With an Experienced Guide
Discover Kameoka City: Just a Train Ride Away from Arashiyama
Arashiyama in Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations in the prefecture. After taking the Sagano Romantic Train, take a JR train to Kameoka.
Kameoka City’s scenery is as amazing as what you can get in Arashiyama, if not better. And the best thing is, it is only half as crowded!
For more information about the city, please refer to our Kameoka City article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
I love the Sagano ride. I remember seeing a resort/hotel of some sort nestled in the mountain while on the ride. Can someone please tell me the name of this resort?