Kyoto · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 5 Best Cruises & Boat Tours in Kyoto

5 tours  ·  from $54

Every trip has one free day too few. These 5 cruises & boat tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Cruises & Boat Tours, Kyoto Bus Tours, Kyoto Tours, Sagano Romantic Train Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride

1.Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · from $127Our pick

Start at Kyoto Station, ride the Sagano Railway from Saga to Kameoka, then take a roughly 90-minute Hozugawa River boat ride to Arashiyama. A Japanese-speaking guide manages the schedule, while GPS audio guidance is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. Free time follows in the bamboo grove area.

“This tour was OCD-level organized! From meeting point at bus terminal at Kyoto Station to assigned seating on bus to railway and assignment of cars, to boat boarding to directions for free time in Arashiyama, our guide was on top of everyRead more”

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Kyoto: Fushimi Sake District Tour with Boat Ride - Starting at Chushojima Station and easing into the district
Cruises & Boat Tours, Drinking Tours, Food & Drink, Fushimi Inari Tours, Kyoto Sake Tastings, Kyoto Tours, Sake Tasting, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Fushimi Sake District Tour with Boat Ride

2.Fushimi Sake District Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 10 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54Best value

Spend 210 minutes exploring Fushimi with an English-speaking guide such as Katsuhiko. Visit a quiet temple, ride a traditional Jikkoku-bune boat, sample Gekkeikan sake, and finish with coffee in a restored Meiji-era building. Private and small-group options are available.

“A magical tour that gives an insight into traditional and modern sake making. We tasted several types of sake at the museum, housed in a historic building, and bought a bottle of the most delicious one to take home. After tasting, it was a delightful short boat ride from the nearby boat station. It was a wonderful way to start the day, inspiring you to explore Kyoto with renewed vigor! Highly recommended!”

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Kyoto Hozugawa River Boat Sagano Romantic Train Tour - The 25-minute Sagano Romantic Train
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kyoto Tours, Sagano Romantic Train Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Kyoto Hozugawa River Boat Sagano Romantic Train Tour

3.Kyoto Hozugawa River Boat Sagano Romantic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 8 reviews · 5 hours · from $116

You’ll ride the 7.3-kilometer Sagano Romantic Train, then take a 1.5-hour guided boat trip through the Hozu River valley before finishing in Arashiyama. An English-speaking guide and bus handle the transfers, but lunch and your return to Kyoto are not included for the half-day tour.

“Badly organised with a ‘guide’ who was hardly visible or audible I was told expecting a guide who shared interesting facts about the whole outing but he said nothing and was not a natural-born organiser. The meeting point was a mess. The ‘romantic’ train boarding was less than efficient and worst of all not at all romantic. Seats very uncomfortable and in spite of lovely toute along the river which you can hardly see as one has to remain seated. The best part was the river rapids ride (simple boat and not RAFT!) and the boat crew were entertaining and a breath of fresh air. Fun! Then we had a…”

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Kyoto: Private Boat Cruise with Shamisen and Games - Meeting Kohaku, a former maiko
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Kyoto: Private Boat Cruise with Shamisen and Games

4.Private Boat Cruise with Shamisen and Games

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $133Top rated

Join former maiko Kohaku for a one-hour private cruise in Arashiyama. She plays shamisen, sings, explains maiko life, and teaches ozashiki-asobi games on a traditional yakatabune. It is a quiet, intimate way to enjoy Kyoto’s river scenery and geisha culture.

“Positive feedback on this experience, which allowed us to learn about and immerse ourselves in Japanese culture. Our guide was excellent and took great care of us. We highly recommend this activity.”

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Fushimi Kyoto Walking Tour with Sake Tasting and Canal Boat Ride - Choken-ji Temple and Kyoto’s spiritual traditions
Cruises & Boat Tours, Drinking Tours, Food & Drink, Fushimi Inari Tours, Kyoto Sake Tastings, Kyoto Tours, Kyoto Walking Tours, Sake Tasting, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Fushimi Kyoto Walking Tour with Sake Tasting and Canal Boat Ride

5.Fushimi Kyoto Walking Tour with Sake Tasting and Canal Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $58

Spend 3.5 hours in Kyoto’s Fushimi district with an English-speaking guide such as Marcelo. Visit Choken-ji Temple, ride a traditional Jikkoku-bune boat, learn about sake at Gekkeikan Ōkura Sake Museum, and finish at a former merchant house café.

“Very interesting canal and sake tour. Who knew there were som many flavors! Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.”

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Keep browsing

Gion District Tours103Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tours74Fushimi Inari Tours70Kyoto Tea Ceremonies68Kyoto Food Tours42Kyoto Walking Tours130
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Explore Kyoto

Pick a lane, a temple or a tea room.

The lanes

GionHigashiyamaWalking ToursNight WalksRickshaw Rides

Temples and shrines

Fushimi InariKiyomizu-deraKinkaku-jiNijo CastleZen Sitting

Tea and food

Tea CeremoniesMatchaNishiki MarketCooking ClassesSake Tastings

Out of town

NaraOsakaUjiSagano RailwayPrivate Car Days