Hozugawa River Boat Ride (Hozugawa Kudari)

Absolutely brilliant way to experience Kyoto region and also a nice break from all the temples! The boatmen were amazing and very funny, and also took very nice (and entertaining) photos and videos for us. We didn't book in advance but we got there earlier than expected (boats leaves on the hour), and just chilled in the souvenir/food/drinks hall after getting our tickets. One can also drink/eat on the boat (which we did, although we were probably the only ones...). There were some big splashes along the way and I honestly have so much respect for the boatmen. They were so upbeat and energetic the whole time despite all the hard work! Definitely a unique experience that's also good for families (we sat in front of a family with two pre-teens and they LOVED it).

The guides are really great. It was a very hot day in September, but they made it fun for everyone. The sights are stunning and we even got to see monkeys. The mobile shop at the end was pretty great to try some different treats on the river. Highly recommended.

It’s quite a ride to get here. We took the romantic train and then take the bus for like 15 mins. The boat ride is almost 2 hours. In August the weather is too hot. But the people who maneuvering the boat are humerus and fun. Highly suggest to sit in the front row for a better view. Visiting in autumn is better.

A lot of people rave about this cruise so we did it based on the reviews. It’s actually quite boring. Don’t get me wrong it’s absolutely beautiful but too long. The first 20-30 minutes the boat ride was very entertaining and the captain on the boat was funny. But the jokes got repetitive and boring as we get to the end. The water was very calm on the day we went. The staff are friendly, the service is exceptional and this is very well organised. We bought the tickets that morning we arrived at the ticket counter and we arrived at opening time. This is just a heads up to know what to really expect and it’s not cheap. We enjoyed it but didn’t love it.

Very well organized and worth going on. We went in the summer when the river was at its lowest and it still tons of fun. I could imagine come early summer the rapids would have more “splash time” as the boatmen called it. Who were SO fun and entertaining.