Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride
Kyoto, Japan
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- One-way ticket for Sagano Scenic Railway
- Local guide (Japanese language only)
- On-board audio guide (English, Chinese and Korean)
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride (conditions apply for infants, please see additional information)
- Lunch
- Pick up and Drop off at your Hotel
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- おこしバスのりばHigashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan
Kyoto Station Karasuma Exit Meetin point is ＜KYOTO Sightseeing "OKOSHI" Bus Terminal＞. (Same point as Sky Hop Bus)
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Ticket Redemption Point
Kyoto Sta., Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan
Itinerary
1
Sagano Romantic Train
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
保津川下り
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Arashiyama
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 2 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 34 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Peter_M, Jun 2026
Great experience, the train ride was really good (around 20 minutes journey) and the river boat was fantastic (about 2 hours) - although we did get rather wet (hot day so no issues!). The boatmen were very entertaining and we saw some great scenery.
A really well organised trip, plenty of free time for exploring and we were well looked after, would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for joining our tour. We're really happy to hear that you enjoyed it. We'll also share your comments with the tour company. If you get the chance, please come to Kyoto again. Have a great trip!
Anna_S, May 2026
Great trip overall! Although the boat ride was canceled due to weather conditions, the experience was still very enjoyable. The bamboo forest was beautiful, and seeing the monkeys was especially fun. Be sure to wear good shoes, since the hike to the top is on a dirt trail.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much for joining our tour this time. We are sorry that the boat was canceled, but we are glad that you were able to enjoy yourself. Please come visit Japan again if you have the opportunity.
Sheree_M, May 2026
Excellent tour although very disappointed there was no English speaking guide as mentioned in the advertising. The guys rowing the raft were brilliant and worked so hard on a hot day.
Helen_A, May 2026
Absolutely well worth the effort, very well organised. Train trip and boat trip were both entertaining. The 3 man crew on the boat were so entertaining and passionate about there jobs
There was plenty of time (2hours) to have lunch and visit the town before the bus ride back
Definitely worth recommending
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for joining our tour. It was the season of fresh greenery, and I hope it was a pleasant trip. If you have another opportunity, please do come and visit Kyoto again.
Alanna_J, May 2026
Great day trip and accommodating for children. The weather wasn't good on our day so The riverboat was cancelled, this was managed very well with refund for portion of the days experiences. Lots of time explore local towns and eat lunch
Andrew_M, May 2026
A fun trip - be prepared to be splashed if you sit at the edge seats.
Make sure you get the tour with English translation if you dont know Japanese
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for joining our tour. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Please come to visit Kyoto again if you have the chance.
Donna_N, Apr 2026
Very scenic. The boat ride was long. Shoe got soaked with water sitting on the left side. Good experience!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for joining our tour. I'm glad you were able to feel the spring in Kyoto. If you have another opportunity, please definitely come to Kyoto again. Thank you.
Donna_M, Apr 2026
Poor communication, especially about meeting place. Email with questions never answered. Tour itself was great, just very stressful getting there
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for participating in the tour.
I understand how you feel about the trouble during the trip you were looking forward to; it's really unfortunate.
We have checked, but we have not received a message from you.
We will check whether your message has reached Viator's Customer Center.
We apologize for causing you concern. We would like to use your feedback to help the tour company and improve in the future.
Chris_D, Apr 2026
DO 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.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We are sorry that you were unable to participate. We would like to use your feedback to improve our future operations with the organizing company.
Nicola_N, Mar 2026
Really enjoyed the day trip, we varied in ages but there was something for all of us to enjoy.
Was very well organized and run.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for participating in the tour. I am very glad that you enjoyed it. I will also convey this to the tour company. Please come visit Kyoto again if you have the opportunity.
Kacey_S, Dec 2025
The 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.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for joining our tour. I hope you also enjoyed the autumn leaves. If you have the chance, please come visit Kyoto again.
Pamela_M, Nov 2025
From 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.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for joining our tour. We are very happy that you enjoyed it. Please come visit Kyoto again if you get the chance.
Ann_S, Nov 2025
This tour was OCD-level organized! From meeting point at bus terminal at Kyoto Station to assigned seating on bus to railway and assignment of cars, to boat boarding to directions for free time in Arashiyama, our guide was on top of everything - all with a smile on her face! The train ride was spectacular, the boat trip down the river was a blast with our three boatmen just a hoot, time in Arashiyama just enough with the bus ride back to Kyoto comfortable and efficient. Thank you so much for a wonderful day!
RITA_W, Oct 2025
The tour is in Japanese but you will receive an audio tour guide in the language of your choice, for us it worked perfectly and we had no problems. Finding the bus ticket exchange was a little tricky but we arrived early enough to figure it out. The train ride was enjoyable and there were some great views of the river. The little boats were waiting after a short bus ride from the station to the river and we had a great time, the boat handlers were a delight and entertaining, they did there utmost best to use English to translate their remarks and some helpful other passengers filled in the blanks:) overall we had a wonderful time and recommend this tour gladly.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for joining our tour. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed it. If you have the chance, please come visit Kyoto again.
Lily_M, Sep 2025
A must see tour. Organized tour from beginning to end. Planning to return in Spring and Autumn in the near future.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for joining our tour. We are very happy that you enjoyed it. Please come visit Japan again.
Alice_F, Jul 2025
It was a great experience, even though it was really hot this day. We could easily find the starting point and the bus was very comfortable. The train was nice with beautiful views of the river. The bus from the train station to the pier was comfortable and with air conditioning. The river cruise was lovely. We could also visit a temple in Arashiyama in our free time after the boat and returned to the starting point with the same bus from the beginning and also received a cooling towel to refresh ourselves after a very hot summer day. I recommend!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you very much for participating in our tour this time. I am very happy that you enjoyed it. If you have the chance, please come and visit Japan again.
nudoshi, Jul 2025
Boat ride is 2 hours and slow. Seats are just a plank and no back rest. Everyone is crammed. Great service but boat was a waste of time. Train ride was nice.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for joining our tour this time. We will pass on your feedback to the supplier and hope to use it for improving our products in the future. If you have the opportunity, please come and visit Japan again.
Katherine_J, Apr 2025
Very nice train ride and rafting experience. If you’re wondering how gentle or hard rafting is … well it’s pretty tame. Read the info that the tour is in Japanese and any English needed is done by Google translate.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for participating in the tour. We are glad you enjoyed it. Please feel free to come to Japan again if you have the opportunity.
From $123.32
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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