Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration7h

GroupUp to 2

LanguagesJA

Audio guideEN

Ride two of Kyoto's most scenic routes in one morning, then explore the bamboo forest on foot.

A 7-hour bus tour from Kyoto that includes a one-way ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway from Saga to Kameoka, a river boat descent down the Hozugawa from Kameoka to Arashiyama, and free time to walk the Arashiyama bamboo grove. A Japanese-speaking guide accompanies the group, and on-board audio guides in English, Chinese and Korean narrate the route. The boat ride may be cancelled in poor river conditions, with an alternate activity provided instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sagano Railway, River Ride, Arashiyama Visit

Ride Sagano Railway to Kameoka
Take Hozugawa River boat ride
Explore Arashiyama bamboo forest
Visit souvenir and snack shops

The Experience

How do you fit two of Kyoto's most popular scenic routes into a single day without arranging transport between them yourself? This tour handles the logistics: a bus picks up the route, a guide keeps the timing, and you move between the Sagano Railway, the river boat and the bamboo forest without planning the connections. You arrive at Saga Station, board the open-air train, and ride the rails for roughly an hour through the forested valleys and river gorges that make this line famous. The train runs year-round, so whether the season brings cherry blossoms, summer greenery, autumn color or snow, the landscape shifts as you move through it.

From Kameoka Station, you transfer directly to the Hozugawa River boat. The descent takes you downstream toward Arashiyama, with the boat navigating the river's bends and narrows—the ride itself is the point, not a ferry between two fixed points. On-board audio guides in English, Chinese and Korean describe what you're passing, so you don't need to rely only on the Japanese-speaking guide. If river conditions are unsafe, the tour substitutes an alternate activity and refunds the boat portion on the spot.

After the boat reaches Arashiyama, you have free time to walk the bamboo grove—the dense stand of tall stalks that photographs the same way whether you visit in spring or winter. Souvenir shops and food stalls line the paths, though meals are at your own expense. The boarding ticket you receive works as an entry pass for major sightseeing locations, so keep it until the tour ends. The bus departs Kyoto Station on time; arrive at least 20 minutes early, and confirm the return time at each stop before the group moves on.

What’s included

One-way ticket for the Sagano Scenic Railway.
Hozugawa River boat ride from Kameoka to Arashiyama.
on-board audio guides in English, Chinese and Korean.
a Japanese-speaking guide for the full 7 hours.
your boarding ticket serves as an entry pass for major sightseeing locations along the route.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beauty of Japan

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the Sagano train and Hozugawa river boat as a combined experience with set departure times; choose self-guided if you'd rather explore at your own pace.