Kameoka

The weather was drizzling, there were few tourists, short queues, the itinerary was on time, and the tour guide was polite and patient in explaining things. The scenery on the little train and boat was beautiful, and the boatman chatted and laughed with the passengers.

The relaxing train journey and the cute performances of the station staff added to the liveliness of the trip. You can choose the seat you want by planning in advance. It’s a pity that you can’t tell whether it’s forward or backward. It is recommended to choose window seats so that you can clearly enjoy the scenery along the way.

We arrived in Arashiyama on October 4th, hoping to take the Hozugawa River cruise on our own. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great. It rained for the next few days, and it was especially heavy on our day. We took the JR train from Kyoto Station, got off the train, and saw a sign at the exit saying there were no horse-drawn carriages or Hozugawa River cruises. It was a shame, but we did get on the Arashiyama train, and the river was incredibly turbulent! So, anyone who got on the train on good weather was lucky! And thanks to KKday, we had the opportunity to take the horse-drawn carriage. They stayed behind for our group, otherwise they wouldn't have been running. I think both horses were amazing! The one that took us was named Kuromi, and she was so clever! The carriage ride was actually quite long. It took us to the ferry, which was near the soccer field and Kameoka Station. Our tour guide then took us back to Arashiyama on the JR train from Kameoka Station—a perfect rainy day option. This time, I got to experience the different charm of Arashiyama in the rain and fog (there were still just as many tourists). Traveling is like that, with its many twists and turns. This time, because we had plenty of time, we even had time to sit down and relax inside Tenryu-ji Temple and just stare blankly at the scenery. It was a nice bonus, and we even headed towards Nison-in Temple. A small reminder for the tour guide: he could have gathered everyone at a better location for the talk. Otherwise, some places were crowded and chaotic, and it was hard for the little girl to hear the guide clearly. Also, he could have been more conspicuous at the train station, asking everyone to stand in a clear spot when gathering! Or, he could have guided the group up and down the stairs, so we didn't have to rush down all at once. Those behind us wouldn't have noticed and wouldn't know where the guide was, and the guide would have had to take the time to check if everyone had gotten down. Everything else was pretty good. At least, going with KKday saved me the hassle of buying tickets. (The refund only covered the group boat ticket, so it was still worth it to get on the boat. If we can't get on the boat due to rain, I suggest KKday include Tenryu-ji Temple tickets. Everyone would be happier, hahaha.)