Explore more curated experiences in Kyoto

View all Kyoto tours

Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish in Kyoto

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: Kyoto compass tour
Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish
Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish 2
Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish 3
+3
more

The scenic train up the gorge, the boat back down the river, the bamboo grove on foot and a hot spring at the end — with both hard-to-book tickets included.

Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish: Key Facts

PriceFrom $198 per person
Duration4.5 hours
Group sizeUp to 9 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Group Tour with the Sagano Train

The full loop: Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa boat tickets included, the bamboo grove on foot and an optional onsen ...
4.5 hours
English
$198
Free cancellation

Full description

Arashiyama is usually done as a walk: the bamboo grove, the bridge, a temple, and back on the train. This does it as a loop through the gorge instead, and it is a considerably better day.

The Sagano Romantic Train goes first. It is a preserved line running along the Hozugawa gorge on rails the modern railway abandoned, in open-sided carriages, climbing between the mountains with the river below. Tickets sell out well ahead in autumn and cherry season, and they are included here.

Then you come back down the same gorge on the water. The Hozugawa boat ride is punted and rowed by boatmen who work the river with poles, through stretches of genuine whitewater and long calm pools, and it takes about two hours. The perspective from the water is completely different from the train above it, which is the reason to do both in one day rather than choosing.

The bamboo grove follows on foot — the towering stalks and the particular filtered green light that no photograph reproduces properly.

An Arashiyama onsen closes it. The hot spring entrance fee is optional and paid separately if you want it, but after four and a half hours of train, boat and walking it is the right ending.

One honest caution: both the train and the boat are third-party services subject to weather and river conditions. In winter the operator offers a guaranteed full refund on affected bookings, which is a fairer arrangement than most. Groups cap at nine and guides work in English and Japanese.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Meet the guide in Arashiyama

Sagano Romantic Train up the Hozugawa gorge

Board the traditional boat at Kameoka

Two-hour river descent through the gorge

Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Optional soak at an Arashiyama onsen

Includes

  • Sagano Romantic Train ticket
  • Hozugawa river boat ticket
  • Guided walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • English or Japanese-speaking guide

Excludes

  • Hot spring entrance fee (optional)
  • Meals
  • Transport to and from the meeting point
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

Sagatenryuji Kurumamichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8373 — in Arashiyama, close to the Sagano train terminus.

Weather

This runs outdoors, so the operator can call it off for rain, wind or sea conditions, and that decision is usually made on the day. If they cancel, you choose: another date, or your money back in full. We do not keep a booking fee on a tour that did not run.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 4.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $198
$198
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 135 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
L
Lynne
August 17, 2026

We had a wonderful day, exploring Kyoto with Itsuki. She was warm, welcoming, and friendly. She was great with our two small kids! She arranged everything for us so that all we had to do was follow her along, and we really enjoyed ourselves on the train ride, boat ride, and walking through the bamboo forest. She even suggested a café where the kids and grandparents could hang out while My husband and I enjoyed the onsen. A perfect day! Thank you Itsuki!

5
T
Tracey
August 16, 2026

It was a fantastic day and our guide Itsuki made it even better she was wonderful

5
A
Alexander
July 29, 2026

Itsuki was an amazing guide from start to finish and she took really good care of us and made sure we had the best day :) I especially loved her using WhatsApp to communicate because she facilitated the whole process.

5
J
Jennifer
July 23, 2026

The train , boat trip and walk in the bamboo forest were scenic and fun and a change from seeing temples. Itsuki was super organised, very friendly and entertaining, weaving in fun facts about Japanese traditions and language with information about the Bamboo forest and surrounding area. Itsuki communicates well before the tour date and again in the days leading up to the tour to make sure all runs smoothly. It was very hot and she supplied us with fans and extra frozen water on the tour . We chose not to go to the Onsen.

5
S
Sierra
July 5, 2026

We had a wonderful time with Itsuki. We saw so much and loved the boat trip in particular.

5
J
Jill
July 3, 2026

We had a fabulous morning! Romantic train ride then highly entertaining boat ride complete with beer boat, free time for lunch, then the bamboo forest. Our guide Itsuki was brilliant, so friendly and chatty, and very knowledgeable. Great communication throughout. Highly recommend!

5
J
Jiacai
June 14, 2026

We arrived late for the train but guide Itsuki went above and beyond to help us get on the next boat, which unfortunately got cancelled due to weather. She was an excellent guide and very engaging and warm and I felt like she truly cared for our welfare.👏🏻☺️

5
A
Alessandra
June 1, 2026

Amazing! Our Guide Itsuki was very very friendly and nice . The tour was beautiful!!we are really happy that we did it !!

Frequently Asked Questions

Sagatenryuji Kurumamichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8373 — in Arashiyama, close to the Sagano train terminus.
The price does not cover hot spring entrance fee (optional), meals, transport to and from the meeting point and personal expenses. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Most of the day, and the boat is the point rather than the transport. Conditions occasionally force a change of route, which the operator decides on the morning and is not something anyone can promise around.
Kyoto compass tour. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Sagano Romantic Train ticket, Hozugawa river boat ticket, Guided walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, English or Japanese-speaking guide
The duration of the Arashiyama by Sagano Train, Hozugawa Boat and an Onsen to Finish is typically 4.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$198