Things to do in Hozugawa River Boat Ride (Hozugawa Kudari)

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.

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.

Our trip was really nice with a very sweet guide eiko san… Romantic train was one of the most romantic experience in kyoto. our chauffer was really sweet and gave us a comfortable ride to all locations. due to rain boat ride was cancelled but she took us around bamboo forest and temple instead of the boat ride due to bad weather. i definitely recommend this trip 💯

a real highlight of our japan trip. Beautiful and a great way to spend the day. great price and fave was the river tour. would highly recommend.

This was by far the best Klook tour I’ve ever been on! My husband and I absolutely loved our guide, Mr. Joe. He was incredibly kind and provided clear, detailed information about the itinerary, meeting point, and drop-off location. We especially appreciated how he shared interesting history about Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara along the way. His English was very clear, which made communication easy and enjoyable. We were also lucky enough to ride Cabin No. 5 on the Sagano Romantic Train, and we didn’t miss out on the Hozugawa River boat rafting experience either. It was truly a memorable day! Okani Mr Joe! Hope we meet again!

Well timed day with excellent guide Joe. Good variety with delicious lunch in a cool setting on a very hot day. Plenty of time to explore Arashiyama, extremely enjoyable trip. Date of trip was changed week prior due to availability- good communication from company

We had a great time very funny guides, relaxing beautiful weather even though it was August

We had an excellent Kyoto–Nara private tour booked through Klook. Everything was smooth from start to finish, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Our driver was truly incredible—professional, punctual, and very courteous throughout the entire trip. He made us feel comfortable and ensured we had a stress-free and enjoyable journey. His knowledge of the routes and flexibility with our schedule really made a difference. The tour itself was well-organized, allowing us to explore Kyoto and Nara at our own pace without feeling rushed. It was the perfect way to experience these beautiful places. Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a convenient and memorable trip. We would definitely book again!