Hi there!
I didn’t go rafting on the Hozugawa River, but I did come across people who were going river rafting a few times when I was near the river.
So here’s a bit of a visual in case you’re thinking about going rafting when you’re in Kyoto!
Based on the schedule of this rafting tour, I would say this part of your day would look something like this!
- Take JR train from Kyoto station to Umahori station (near Kameoka scenic train station)
- Short walk to meet your rafting tour guides
- Short walk to the river
- Safety instructions at the river
- Off you go rafting!
- Go rafting down the Hozugawa river to near Hozukyo station
- JR train back to Umahori to end your tour!
If you’re looking for more to do on your return to Arashiyama after your river rafting experience, here’s what I did for my one day in Arashiyama and Sagano:
- JR train to Kameoka station to take the Sagano scenic railway (with a side trip to Hozugawa River)
- Sagano scenic railway to Arashiyama torokko station
- Visit to Okochi Sanso Garden and teahouse
- Walk through Arashiyama bamboo forest
- Visit to Tenryuji Temple
- Visit to Arashiyama monkey park
When is the best time for rafting in Kyoto?
Rafting tours on the Hozugawa River are offered from April to November.
But the best time to get out on the river is the summer because it can mean a better chance for higher water levels on the river.
And that means it can make for better rapids for that white water rafting experience!
The summer can also make for warmer temperatures which might be more ideal if you don’t want cold water splashing on you!
But even if you go rafting when the temperatures are cooler, you can be provided a wetsuit to protect you from the cold temperatures.
And for something a little less strenuous as a river activity in Kyoto, there’s also the Hozugawa river boat ride so someone can do the rowing for you.
Now…
Here’s a bit of what your day might look like rafting on the Hozugawa River!
JR train from Kyoto station to Umahori station
This particular rafting tour has its base near Umahori, so that’s where this sample schedule will start out.
It’ll be pretty easy to get to Umahori from Kyoto station.
You’ll look for the train that’s going towards Saga-Arashiyama.
Then, you’ll get on that train!
You’ll ride it past Saga-Arashiyama until you reach Umahori.
This will be about a 30 minute train ride.
Short walk to meet your rafting tour guides
Short walk to the river
Safety training and rafting instructions at the river…
Practice session…
And then…
Off you go rafting!
You’ll be on the river for about 2 hours, and there may be a break included.
Get off your raft near Hozukyo station
Walk to JR Hozukyo station
JR train back to Umahori!
This will be about a 5 minute ride.
What to do after rafting?!
It’ll be a short walk to the Sagano scenic railway train station of Kameoka torokko station, so you can take the scenic tourist train back to Arashiyama!
You can get off at Arashiyama torokko station if you want to explore the area a little bit more by foot.
You can go to places like the Okochi Sanso Garden (and teahouse), bamboo forest, Tenryuji Temple, and the monkey park!
Or, if you’re ready to head back to Kyoto station, you can get off at the Saga torokko station, which is right next to the Saga-Arashiyama JR train station. From there, it will be about a 20 minute train ride back to Kyoto station.
HAPPY HOZUGAWA RIVER RAFTING!
Use this Kyoto tourist map to plan out your 5 days in Kyoto with Hozugawa river rafting!
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
- Day 3: Philosopher’s Path walk
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass