Hozugawa River Boat Ride End Point — Attraction in Kyoto

I used to fish where Kiyotaki river and Hozu River met. Over a decade of fishing there, I would always see wooden boats come down. One year, we had to pack up and move further up the stream because they were filming a samurai movie. Yeah, it's that gorgeous and pristine. I always wanted to come down the river on a boat. finally 30 years later, I decided to take the plunge.

I was there in early November so the leaves haven't turned colour. But it was still so beautiful. I also got to see my old fishing spot on the way down lol.

The guys who took us down were funny and professional. As we near the end a concession boat linked next to our boat. You can get some drinks, snacks and even a freshly grilled squid. Show your appreciation by getting some drinks for the boat men. They will really appreciate the gesture.

If you are expecting a true whitewater rafting experience, you will be bored out of your mind. While there are handful of turbulent spots that keeps the ride more interesting this is more about taking in the scenery. Don't forget to go to the washroom before you hop on. It's a 1.5 hours before you set foot on land.

A quick side note, there is a romantic train that gets you to the river ride. And there is the famous Arabica Cafe when you get off so all you coffee lovers ready...

We took the Hozugawa River boat ride after catching the Sagano Romantic Train, and it was one of the best experiences of the day. The ride was a mix of calm stretches and bursts of excitement through light rapids, making it both relaxing and fun. At times it picked up quite a bit of speed, splashing everyone on board, so definitely bring a light coat or poncho if you don’t want to get wet. That said, on a warm day we dried off quickly and it just added to the experience.

The boat is guided by skilled rowers who steer with long wooden poles and even share the occasional joke along the way. The surrounding scenery of lush forested hills and rocky cliffs is absolutely stunning, make sure your camera is ready because there’s a great mix of open river and dramatic valley views. About halfway through, small vendor boats pull alongside and sell snacks and drinks, we bought a couple of items and were impressed with the quality.

Overall, this was a really memorable activity. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy Kyoto’s natural beauty from a totally different perspective. Great fun, peaceful moments, and plenty of photo opportunities throughout...

Boat ride came out to about $70USD for 2 people. I wouldn't recommend this ride unless you're trying to kill time during your day in Kyoko. The boat ride is very slow so it kind of drags on for way too long since there isn't much to see along the river. There are very small rapids spread out along the way but during summer they weren't strong enough to get any water into the boat. The seats aren't the most comfy but the thin life jackets were a nice option during the hot day. Highlight of the trip was the vendor boat that is towards the last 30 minutes of the ride. They had good snacks to purchase. Tour guides were nice as well. Very...