Crossing the river in a boat from the opposite bank to reach the restaurant is already a fun experience in itself, and on top of that, the boat ride is free! Another group of female customers couldn't make it to the opposite bank on their own and had to be towed to the restaurant by the shop's boat, but they arrived safely. The view is great, the menu is more reasonable than typical tourist prices. It was fantastic to stretch out on the tatami mats, cool off under the roof! The staff is friendly, and it's a mystery why it's not crowded. It's not a fancy or stylish restaurant, but considering the location, entertainment value, and price, I think it's highly recommended.

I rowed a small boat from the opposite bank and managed to reach the restaurant by myself. It was interesting. It was quite difficult at first because I wasn't used to it, but halfway through, the shop owner came to help me. It was hot, so I had some cold noodles. It was my first time having it with black honey. I still think the traditional vinegar and soy sauce taste better, but it's all about the experience. The shop owner was kind and the view from the restaurant (photo) was amazing.

The river originates in the central part of Kyoto Prefecture, in the Tanba Highlands, winding through the mountains from Enbu to Kameoka City, then flowing through a scenic gorge to the famous Arashiyama, where it merges with the Kamo River before entering the Yodo River. The boat ride down the Hozu River, spanning from Kameoka to Saga Arashiyama in Kyoto, is a thrilling journey of about 16km, with deep pools and rapids, taking less than 2 hours. As you approach the endpoint in Saga Arashiyama, you'll encounter floating snack shops offering treats like mitarashi dango, grilled squid, oden, coffee, beer, sake, and chu-hai. I chose the oden for 500 yen as a memorable experience on the boat.

In mid-November at 10 am, we took a yakatabune boat ride from Arashiyama in the morning. The cost was 4,000 yen for 1-2 people. We chartered the whole boat for 2 people that day. When we returned, it was 1,500 yen per person. The departure time was for a shared ride. There was a floating shop boat at the most beautiful spot in Arashiyama, selling food on the boat. [Food consumed] Mitarashi dango, mineral water, tea... It was elegant to eat food on the river. The Mitarashi dango was hot and delicious. The grilled squid looked big and tasty. The oden also looked delicious! It's fun to plan to buy food on the boat. Arashiyama was just starting to change colors with autumn leaves, so it will get even more beautiful. It was lucky to have a private yakatabune boat ride early on a weekday. It was the best experience.

Rowing a boat to place an order from the boat was quite an adventure. Finally reaching our destination, we enjoyed ice-cold canned beers on the boat while toasting to the experience. The grilled squid we ordered was cooked fresh and had a nice texture, making it a perfect snack to go with the drinks. It might be cold in the winter, but I believe this experience would make a great memory for tourists and travelers. I highly recommend this place as it was so much fun!

After spending about an hour and a half coming down the Hozu River...!!!!♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ A boat shop arrived (^^) It really gets you excited, right♪ Splashing some water, feeling happy with just the steam when your body is cold (T_T). When the boat was perfectly moored, everyone placed their orders at once! Actually, due to COVID, there were only 12 people on the boat which can accommodate 30 people, so my order arrived quickly too (^^)♪ Of course, I ordered hot sake. And grilled squid. Togetsukyo Bridge is right in front of us now. (ﾟдﾟ)彡 Yes! This river cruise is coming to an end... After shopping for about 10 minutes, we disembarked (T_T). It's such a great situation, but the time to relax is short... (T_T) If only we could have another 10 minutes to relax, it would be perfect... Nevertheless, this was a fun experience (^^) I sincerely want to do the Hozu River cruise again.

After enjoying the trolley train ride, it was time for another exciting attraction - the long-awaited boat ride down the Hozugawa River! The three boatmen were even funnier than comedians, keeping us laughing the whole time thanks to the reactions of the group of eight people. I wanted to buy the boatman's spirited T-shirt because it was so cool! During the boat ride, we also got to ride the trolley train, see ducks and monkeys, and overall had a fun time. And then, to our surprise, a boat convenience store appeared! I didn't know about this surprise element beforehand, so it was really entertaining.

If you walk along the river from Arashiyama Station without crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge on a sunny day, it's recommended. It's really pleasant to drink by the river. On this slightly chilly day, I had oden and tempura river fish. I toasted with a shochu highball. It really makes you feel like you've arrived in Kyoto! For the food, it's better not to expect too much quality, just enjoy it! Haha.

It's fun, delicious, and the best, but I don't feel very calm when I'm rushed to buy.

From the Togetsukyo Bridge, go up the Oi River and you will find this shop along the riverbank. You can access it from either the right bank or the left bank. Row the yellow boat to cross over to the shop. With nearly 100 years of history, they serve delicious food and drinks against a backdrop of stunning views. It's a great feeling to enjoy the food and keep the drinks coming. The best mood!