Hozugawa-kudari (Boat Ride)

Hozugawa River Boat Ride is a river cruise from Kameoka to Arashiyama on a traditional flat-bottomed boat. You will travel along about 16 km of river, enjoying dramatic gorge scenery as you go. The history of river transport here is ancient, beginning when timber was carried downstream from Tamba using Hozugawa waterways as early as the era of Nagaoka-kyo. Later, after Suminokura Ryoi opened up the water route in 1606 (Keicho 11), goods such as rice, wheat, and firewood and charcoal were also transported. The natural beauty of Hozukyo Gorge is spectacular, and watching the boatmen skillfully avoid massive rocks is thrilling. River cruises for tourists began around the Meiji era. Today, the boat ride starts from the boarding area about an 8-minute walk from JR Kameoka Station and takes about two hours to reach Arashiyama. Each season offers different scenery, from cherry blossoms in spring and fresh greenery reflected on the water in early summer to crimson autumn foliage along the gorge, and even winter cruises on heated boats for viewing winter landscapes. The endpoint is just before Togetsukyo Bridge, and a statue of Suminokura Ryoi stands nearby. A highly popular sightseeing route pairs the Sagano Scenic Railway from Saga-Arashiyama to Kameoka with the return trip by Hozugawa River Boat Ride.