Hozugawa River Boat Ride (Hozugawa Kudari)

Unclaimed

LOVED IT! The three men who took us out were awesome, friendly, great sense of humor, informative and shared knowledge about the area. The cruise itself was relaxing, had a great view of surroundings and we even got to purchase food items from another boat towards the end. I highly recommend booking this cruise if you can. I'll definitely re-book next time we're in Japan.

This was a beautiful trip. It was very easy to get from the romantic train final stop onto the designated bus that took us to the boat HQ. They let us board an earlier boat because we were quite early. We had gorgeous weather but it was getting a bit warm at times. Make sure you have sunscreen. There was no cover but I think they do if it rains. The boatmen pointed out birds, turtles and interesting rocks. We were at the end of the Sakura season but still saw a few. To be honest, it was a bit too long and boring for my 2 son's (8, 12) and they were getting restless by the end, but I still loved it. At the end there's a "shop" boat. We tried the rice balls (loved them) and the calamari (didn't really like that too much). It's an easy walk back to the train station or bus from the boat finish point

This was such a great experience and the highlight of our trip so far. The ride provided spectacular view after spectacular view and we had time to take it all in. In between the boat guides were cracking jokes including in English while doing the most amazing job paddling us down the river with their traditional method. The ride was comfortable, yet provided a little bit of thrill too as we descended some small falls and through narrow gaps between rocks. And to have another boat pull in next to us towards the end of the trip to enjoy a snack and boat beer was a unique experience too. Finally, it was actually quite convenient to do as a day trip to the Arashiyama area - we saw the monkey park, Saga Romantic train, Hozugawa boat ride and a couple temples in our day up there. Highly recommend.

The Hozugawa river boat ride was such a fun and relaxing experience. The 2-hour journey was filled with calm and cool weather, making it a perfect way to unwind. There were a few exciting moments along the way, but nothing too scary—just enough to keep it interesting. There were three boatmen who took turns rowing. They were incredibly strong, professional, and friendly. They kept chatting with us throughout the ride, which made the two hours go by quickly and never felt boring. I visited in late April, and the atmosphere was lovely. I imagine each season would bring a different, yet equally beautiful, view of the river and surrounding nature. All in all, it was a truly worthwhile experience—highly recommended!

An awesome experience. Talented and hardworking boatmen guide you down the river telling tales and entertaining throughout. Some pretty light rafting, nothing too crazy. Beautiful sights, make sure the weather is good. Fun to spot birds and other creatures too. Highly recommend!!!