Things to do in Mount Atago

If you're taking the Sagano Romantic Train and then the Hozugawa River Boat Ride, it's best to allow an hour and a half between them. For example, if your train arrives at 11:00 AM, book the 12:30 PM boat ride. After getting off the train, there will be signs directing you through a tunnel to the bus stop. The bus will make a brief stop and then go directly to the Hozugawa River Boat Ride building. There's a small shop where you can buy snacks and drinks; definitely buy something to drink, as the boat shop won't appear for about an hour and a half after you board. The boatman on our trip was very entertaining, likely a veteran, and interacted well with the passengers. When we encountered rapids, he would playfully warn passengers about a little splashing. You won't get completely soaked, as there are tarps for cover. Throughout the journey, the boatman spoke a mix of Japanese and short English phrases, and also used gestures to point out the local wildlife. The boat ride is spectacular and highly recommended.

Yuki was great. It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot about knife sharpening and the different techniques. I also got to take the sharpened knife with me, which was fantastic. I can only recommend it!

We had such a great day on this tour! It was a perfect way to see so many beautiful places around Kyoto and Nara in one day without having to worry about transportation or planning everything ourselves. The itinerary was well organized, and we really enjoyed every stop, especially Nara, Fushimi Inari, and Arashiyama. A special mention has to go to our guide, Frederick, who made the whole experience even better. He was extremely funny, friendly, energetic, and kept us entertained throughout the day. He explained everything clearly, gave us useful information and recommendations, and created a really fun and relaxed atmosphere for the whole group. We had enough time to enjoy the different locations, take photos, walk around, and experience each place. Overall, it was a really enjoyable and memorable day and definitely one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto. We would absolutely recommend this tour — and if you get Frederick as your guide, even better! 😊

We had such a lovely tour with Zoey!The whole trip was well organized and so much fun. Zoey was super cute and friendly, and she explained a lot of interesting things about the places we visited. I really enjoyed the day. Highly recommended!

Walking from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, we were lucky that the weather in April wasn't too hot. There was a pleasant breeze the whole way, which was very comfortable. The onsen was hosted by two people, one man and one woman. Although I don't speak Japanese, I understood what they were saying, so communication was not a problem.

I had a wonderful time exploring around the kifune shrine, sanzen-in temple, and arashiyama. My tour guide Kangfu provided me with a lot of details and recommended spots to see before arriving at each location and I was provided with enough time to enjoy myself and see the wonderful sights of Japan.

One of the best things we did on our trip!! Everything is provided which is amazing and the staff are very friendly and helpful! The route is beautiful and the rapids are not so extreme. If you're thinking about booking, I would highly highly reccommend it!!

We boarded the bus in Kyoto, and our tour group consisted of members from various countries. Our guide, Xiao Shen, switched into four-language mode, introducing everything in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. His humorous and engaging style made everyone feel very comfortable. Xiao Shen handled all ticket purchases, coordination, and provided information about the train, Arashiyama route, and meeting points via Line. This allowed us to explore freely and simply meet at the designated time. The driver was excellent, providing a smooth ride that prevented motion sickness, and the seats were clean and comfortable. During the Hozugawa River boat ride, the weather was perfect. Four boatmen guided us downstream, introducing the environment and rock formations with simple animal vocabulary, accompanied by physical interactions and occasional tricks from the boatmen. With a gentle breeze and beautiful scenery, the trip was truly enjoyable.

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 which really highlighted their professionalism. Thanks for an amazing day.