Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
This bus tour lets guest enjoy quick access to the popular scenic Sagano trolley train as well as an exciting river descent down the Hozugawa river in Kyoto, both of which are popular attractions in high demand and perfect for groups, families, and individuals who have limited time in Kyoto.
These activities allow guests to appreciate the natural scenery of Kyoto's four seasons at any time of the year from both the train and boat. From cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, the changing leaves of autumn, or the snowy fields in winter, this tour will provide guests with unforgettable experiences and imagery.
After the tour, guests will have time to explore the Arashiyama bamboo grove and surrounding area. Visit local souvenir and snack shops at this iconic Kyoto locale before getting back on the bus to head back to Kyoto Station.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children up to 5 years old who are under 80cm tall do not require a seat and so can participate for free.
Children over 5 years old under 80cm will not be able to participate in the Hozugawa riverboat ride
Depending on river conditions the Hozugawa boat ride may be cancelled. Alternate activities will be provided instead.
We offer GPS-enabled multilingual audio guidance, available in English, Chinese and Korean.
Please note that a Japanese-speaking guide will accompany the tour and you will be sharing the ride with Japanese tourists.
The boarding ticket you receive also serves as an entry pass for major sightseeing locations. Please keep it safe until the end of the tour, as lost tickets cannot be reissued. Boarding tickets can be exchanged starting from three days prior to your boarding date.
Please make your own way to the bus terminal. The bus will depart on time, and late arrivals will not be permitted to join the tour with no exceptions (no refunds will be issued.)
Please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to departure time for prompt boarding (8:40am)
At each sightseeing spot, the guide will display the return time before departure for the next stop. Please be sure to confirm it and return to the bus on time. If you do not follow the instructions, the bus will depart for the next destination without waiting.
In the event that the Hozugawa River descent is canceled due to bad weather, the tour will be conducted with an alternative route. A refund for the Hozugawa River descent will also be issued on-site.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Sagano Romantic Train
Ride the Sagano Railway from Saga Station to Kameoka Station and take in the beautiful surrounding scenery.
Take a ride down the Hozugawa River from Kameoka to Arashiyama
What‘s Included
Local guide (Japanese language only)
One-way ticket for Sagano Scenic Railway
Hozugawa River Boat Ride (conditions apply for infants, please see additional information)
On-board audio guide (English, Chinese and Korean)
Lunch
Pick up and Drop off at your Hotel
Options
Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride
Reviews
26 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Train / River Boat Tour
Donna N,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very scenic. The boat ride was long. Shoe got soaked with water sitting on the left side. Good experience!
Don’t miss out on this delightful experience!
Becky W,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The bus tour was delightful and I was presented with a small ‘receiver’ that gave me the sightseeing tour in English. The train ride was through the beautiful landscape. The 3 boatmen took down the Hozugawa river and mad it fun going through the rapids area.
Poor communication,...
Donna M,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Poor communication, especially about meeting place. Email with questions never answered. Tour itself was great, just very stressful getting there
Do not book this!
Chris D,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR. TIME AND MONEY WASTED. VIATOR ARE NOT INTERESTED. Having spent two hours to get to The train station and lbus information Centre”, where I was told to meet, nobody there including the people behind the counter or the other people working in the bus station knew where this tour departed from. As a result, I was late for the 9 am departure time. The representative at the ticket counter said that it was a daily occurrence. I contacted Viator, but after much time and effort, by email, they were disinterested in reviewing the joining instructions or giving me a refund or rescheduled tour. This was despite the fact that the Boat trip section of the tour was cancelled anyway, without prior notice. Viator Customer Service think this is reasonable. I do not. They showed zero good will, have clearly never visited the meeting point, and did not appreciate the difficulty of finding a tour that has no signage- post, and is hidden from view upon arrival at the station. PLEASE DO NOT BOOK, AND AVOID YOURSELF STRESS AND EXPENSE.
Really enjoyed the day...
Nicola N,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really enjoyed the day trip, we varied in ages but there was something for all of us to enjoy. Was very well organized and run.
Well organised, not rushed
susan J,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Well organised but the guide only spoke Japanese. She did show non Japanese (most people) a google translation which did work. As a solo traveller and a senior I was concerned I would get lost but the bus was easy to find on our return. The boat was cancelled, disappointed it was a lovely sunny day with no wind, but gave us extra time in Arashiyama. Lots of places to shop and eat.
Great for all seasons
Kacey S,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The whole tour was a wonderful way to spend the day! The audio guide was helpful and the tour guide was delightful and communicated the necessities in English as well like where and when to meet back after exploring arashiyama area. The riverboat crew was a lot of fun and we got a chance to try different street food and restaurant options in the afternoon on our own before returning on the bus. The taxi stand where we got on the bus is at Kyoto station right across the post office building.
Boat tour cancelled, minimal refund
Kate P,Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The boat ride was cancelled (bed=cold weather) and we couldn't cancel our trip for a full refund. The tour ended up just being coach ride to train ride through the gorge then bus and coach to Arashiyama where we got a longer stay. Not worth the $$$ spent. Even with the radio translate there were lots of instructions given in Japanese and not communicated in English (e.g. get sticker out of packet and put on jacket, which queue to join). I only did this tour for the boat ride, so it was essentially a big waste of lots of money.
a great day out
Pamela M,Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00From beginning to end the tour was a wonderful experience particularly the boat ride was so much fun. The whole tour was well organised and care was taken to ensure that the whole group particularly those who had language barriers understood directions and were kept safe.
Great Day in Japan
walksafe,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super fun tour including Romantic Train ride and river cruise. Beautiful fall colors everywhere! The tour was a full day of adventure. We even spotted monkeys along the banks of the river and got to experience snacks on the river via a boat that pulled up along side of us. We had time to explore Arishiyama bamboo forest and have lunch on our own before returning back to our meeting point. Highly recommend this experience. Our guide and boat captains were all wonderful, too.
From ¥19,500
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Beauty of Japan