Sagano Scenic Railway trolley train — Attraction in Kyoto

I was disappointed by the Sagano Romantic Railway. We had been looking forward to visiting since our last trip to Kyoto in October of 2023, and got the chance to go this time on a Tuesday.

I could not have been more disappointed.

The ticket buying process was easy enough online. Navigating to the Kameoka station via the JR purple line was ok, too. Once we arrived, however, it screamed tourist trap.

The station is splattered with so much signage that it runs any sort of aesthetic it once had. There are screaming kids, tons of gaijin (yes, I know we were part of that group), and people with selfie sticks crowding the platforms.

I felt bad for the station masters who were trying their best to keep people from the track for their own safety. They used loud chirper devices around their neck to keep the tourists back.

Once onboard, we were met with a couple who had taken our seats. After politely showing them our tickets, they refused to move. The conductor came over and began loudly berating them to get off the train and to show him their tickets. Even though they probably did not have tickets to return, or perhaps made a mistake, I did not think they deserved to be yelled at in front of the whole car.

We sat down after they moved across the aisle and the conductor was berating them the entire 20-minute ride, which was mostly tunnels and provided an OK-view of the river.

Last time we came, we returned to Kyoto via the Hozugawa boat ride, which I would highly recommend over this overhyped tourist trap for foreigners.

Save yourself the time, money, and headache. Steer clear of this train, take the JR to Kameoka station and take the river boat ride instead, which was far superior and had much nicer staff.

Just because it’s popular doesn’t...

The name promises romance, but for me it felt more like an uncomfortable blind date. The wooden seats may be considered part of its nostalgic charm, but after a while they feel less "romantic" and more like you are sitting in a museum piece. I rode in early September, which may explain why the scenery did not quite live up to the hype, lush green, yes, but not the breathtaking spectacle one might expect from all the glowing reviews.

Perhaps this train truly shines in the crisp colours of autumn or the snowy frames of winter, but in late summer it was more ordinary than magical. If you are planning a trip, I would suggest timing it carefully to avoid the same...

It's a scenic ride and you'll love the view but the constant talking by the very nice train man really ruined the experience for us. The speaker system is ancient and even when he spoke English it was super difficult to understand him.

It didn't add anything to the ride and if I'm not mistaken there's an audio commentary available via your phone.

It's a pricy ride for 30ish minutes and it really didn't feel worth it. In fairness, we did the boat ride down the river the day before and that was excellent, so maybe we were a little bit spoiled. That being said, the constant talking, the price and the packed train really didn't help...