Hozugawa River Cruise

The 16-km, 2-hour journey down the river through the mountains from Kameoka to Kyoto's scenic Arashiyama is a thrill not to be missed.

Developed by Suminokura Ryoi in 1606 as an industrial waterway for carrying such products as lumber and fuel from the Tamba region to Kyoto, today this river is a well-known tourist attraction in Japan.

The valley features rocks of fantastic shapes, including Kagami-iwa (Mirror Rock), Kaeru-iwa (Frog Rock), Byobu-iwa (Screen Rock) and Raion-iwa (Lion Rock), as well as numerous rapids. With the cherry blossoms in the spring, the rock azaleas and green leaves in the summer, colorful leaves in autumn and the snowy landscape in the winter, the beauty of this river valley is something to behold all year around.

The cruises utilize traditional style, flat bottomed boats piloted by boatmen who guide the craft with oars and bamboo poles. The boats take about two hours to leisurely make their way down the river and are a relaxing way to see the natural scenery of the largely undeveloped ravine. The river cruises are often combined with a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway.

Cruises are offered year round, but are particularly popular from mid November to early December when the leaves change color. The boats are heated in winter and operate during light rain (they will be covered in a plastic tent), but service is canceled in case of heavy rain or large changes in the water level.

The Hozugawa River was originally employed to transport logs that were used to build many of Kyoto and Osaka's famous temples and castles. During the Edo Period the river was cleared of obstructions so that boats carrying grain, firewood and other cargo could safely navigate it. Trains and trucks eventually made river transport obsolete, and operations ceased after several hundred years of use. However, the boats were brought back and eventually became popular as a sightseeing attraction.