How to Spend a Day on Sagano Train & Hozugawa River

A full Sagano + Hozugawa day

9:00 — Board the Sagano Romantic Train

• Saga-Arashiyama Station (JR Sagano Line from Kyoto, 15 min, ¥240)
• 5-min walk to Torokko Saga
• A 7.3km, 25-min ¥880 ride to Torokko Kameoka
• Book a month in advance — especially in koyo and sakura seasons

10:00 — Hozugawa Gorge views

• The open-air "Rich Car 5" has the best sightlines
• Pass through 200m gorges with the river churning below
• Peak koyo + sakura: among the prettiest sights in Kyoto

11:00 — Hozugawa river-boat descent

• From Kameoka Torokko take a 15-min shuttle bus to the Hozu Boat Pier ¥320
• A 2-hour, 16km float back to Arashiyama
• ¥4,500/person — 4 traditional boat-men paddle by hand
• 2 small rapids — wet but fun

13:30 — Lunch in Arashiyama (after disembarking)

• Yoshimura matcha soba ¥1,200
• Or Arashiyama Yoshimura kaiseki yudofu ¥4,500

15:00 — Sagano Bamboo Grove

• Cooler in the afternoon, lovely golden light
• Free

16:00 — Tenryu-ji

• UNESCO Zen temple ¥800
• 700-year-old Sogen-ji garden frames Arashiyama

17:30 — Togetsukyo Bridge sunset

• Arashiyama's signature photo spot
• River + mountains + warm light from the riverside cafés

18:30 — Back to Kyoto

• JR Sagano Line from Saga-Arashiyama, 15 min

Quick facts

• Book Romantic Train + Hozugawa boat 4–6 weeks ahead — peak seasons sell out
• Wear water-resistant clothing — the boat splashes
• Mosquito repellent in summer
• Total cost: ¥600 transit + ¥880 train + ¥4,500 boat + ¥3,500 food + ¥800 temple = ¥10,300

Suggested combo

This rail-and-river day is at its best in mid-November koyo or early-April sakura.