Sagano Romantic Train
Last updated: September 13, 2026
The Sagano Romantic Train rolls for 25 unhurried minutes between Saga Torokko Station in Arashiyama and Kameoka, tracing the Hozugawa River gorge in vintage open-window carriages. The slow pace is the point — time to follow the river turning below, through cherry blossoms in spring, deep green in summer, blazing maples in autumn and, some years, a dusting of snow. It is one of Japan's great short train journeys, and it begins a few minutes from the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Itinerary
Route
Departure
- Start point: Saga Torokko Station
- Stop at: Kameoka Torokko Station
Frequently Asked Questions
Saga Torokko Station stands right beside JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, a short ride from Kyoto Station on the JR Sagano Line, with Torokko Arashiyama one stop on at the edge of the bamboo grove. The train runs in both directions, so you can just as well start from Kameoka Torokko Station — JR Umahori Station is a few minutes' walk from it — and ride into Arashiyama.
Car 5, the open-air "Rich" carriage, has no glass in its windows — the gorge air, the river sound and the season come straight in. The river crosses from one side of the train to the other along the way, so both sides of the aisle get their moments.
The line operates from March through late December and pauses for the winter. Spring wraps the gorge in cherry blossom and November sets the maples alight — the two headline seasons — while summer's deep green is the quietest and most underrated ride.