All Reviews for 2026 Japan Cherry Blossom Tours

The water level was low, and it took two hours. However, the performance of the boatman was delightful, and the autumn leaves were stunning, making it enjoyable. I would like to experience it again when the water level is higher.

水量が少なく２時間かかった。
しかし船頭さんのパフォーマンスが愉快で、また紅葉が見事で楽しかった。
今度は水量が多い時に楽しみたいです。

The boat ride down the Hozu River during the autumn leaves season was amazing. I had wanted to go for a long time, but reservations filled up quickly, and I couldn't go. The three boatmen used their whole bodies to row, maneuver, and steer the boat, along with their storytelling! It was a wonderful experience under the clear autumn sky. Thank you very much for the wonderful stories, Captain, who is more experienced than I am. Watching the captain's movements made me sincerely want to do my best as well. If I have the chance again, I would definitely like to go. Please take care of yourself and continue to thrive in the future.

紅葉の季節の保津川下りは、最高でした。ずっと行きたかったのですが、すぐに予約が一杯になって行けませんでした。3名の船頭さんの全身を使った漕ぎと操作と舵取り、そして話術！秋晴れの中とても良い体験ができました。私より先輩の船長さん、とても素晴らしいお話ありがとうございました。船長さんの動きを見て、私も頑張ろうと真摯に思いました。また、機会があれば是非行きたいです。身体に気を付けて、今後ともご活躍ください。

I visited in September this year, but due to a typhoon and high water levels, my trip was canceled, so I tried again. The boatman mentioned that the peak of the autumn leaves had passed by about a week, but it was still beautiful and enjoyable. The water level was low, nearly double the usual amount, and the boat ride lasted about 1 hour and 50 minutes. It wasn't thrilling, but I hardly got splashed and was able to enjoy it leisurely, which was great. I would like to visit again in a different season.

今年9月に訪問したのですが台風の増水で欠航だったため、再チャレンジ。船頭さんは紅葉の最盛期は１週間ほど過ぎてしまったと言っていましたが、十分綺麗で楽しめました。水量が少なく通常の倍近く、１時間５０分ほどの船旅でした。スリリングではなかったですが、ほとんど飛沫もかからず、ゆったりと楽しむことができて良かったです。また違う季節に再訪したい。

It was a wonderful tour where I could admire the beautiful autumn leaves from the surface of the river. I think I could enjoy a different scenery during the cherry blossom and fresh green seasons as well. I would love to participate again if I have the chance!

美しい紅葉を川面から見上げることができる素晴らしいツアーでした。桜や青紅葉の季節も違った景色が楽しめそうです。また機会があれば参加したいです！

I had a wonderful experience with the Hozu River boat ride. More than that, I am grateful for the service provided by Veltra. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I repeatedly changed the number of participants after making the reservation, and I was impressed by the quick responses to my inquiry emails and the speed of the refunds. I definitely want to use your services again next time.

保津川下りについては、もちろん楽しく体験させていただきました。
今回はそれ以上に、ベルトラ様の対応に感謝いたします。コロナ禍といこともあり、予約直後から人数追加、人数減少を繰り返し、こちらからの問合せメールに対しても迅速な対応、そして返金の速さにも驚きました。
次回からも是非利用させていただきたいです。

It was fun! I got a little wet. It was a nice day, so I dried off quickly, but you might want to be careful on colder days. You can shop along the way. It's surprising. If you're interested, it's a good idea to have your wallet ready in an easy-to-reach place.

楽しかったです！少し濡れました。天気の良い日だったのですぐ乾きましたが、寒い日は気をつけたほうがいいかもしれません。途中買い物ができます。びっくりします。興味のある人はお財布を取り出しやすいところに準備しておくといいです。

I visited during the autumn foliage season. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes at a leisurely pace, but the autumn leaves were quite beautiful, and being in nature felt great. The boatmen provided excellent service and offered explanations, which kept things interesting. After walking around various temples in Kyoto, this boat tour allowed me to enjoy a different scenery and atmosphere, so I'm glad I included it in my plans!

紅葉時期に行きました。
のんびりと1時間45分くらいかけて行きますが
紅葉もなかなか綺麗だったし自然の中、気持ち良かったです。
船頭さんたちのサービス精神も良く解説もあり飽きないです。
京都観光であっちこっちお寺回り等歩きまわってきたのでこの船ツアーはまた違う景観や気分で楽しめ、予定に入れて良かったです！

The boatman engaged the multinational passengers with humorous conversations, enhancing the experience while we admired the beauty of the autumn leaves on the mountains seen from the Hozu River. We also appreciated the effort put into the boat ride and had a wonderful time. The rumored boat shop was also stylish.

多国籍の乗船客を船頭さんが笑い誘う会話で盛り上げつつ保津川から見上た紅葉の山の美しさや舟下りを続けるご苦労も判り楽しい時間を過ごせました。うわさの船の売店も粋でした。

1) It was about a one and a half hour boat ride.
2) After getting off the trolley, we hurried to the bus to make it in time for our reservation.
3) In reality, the departure was 30 minutes later than the scheduled time, but there was no announcement or apology for the delay, which felt a bit off.
4) When boarding, they call out numbers or names, but it was difficult with the crowd around. Given the times, it would be more convenient if the numbers were displayed on a monitor and only those who were late were announced.
5) The three boatmen did their best. They provided a humorous commentary to keep us entertained, and it was great to see everyone working hard.

1)1時間半くらいの乗船でした。
2)トロッコから降りて予約時間に間に合う為バスで急いで向かいました。
3)実際出発は予約時刻より30分も遅れましたが
いつもの事なのか遅れの案内もお詫びもなくちょっと違和感ありました。
4)乗船の際番号又は名前を呼ばれますが周り混んでる中大変です。今時だからモニターに番号が表示され乗り遅れの人だけアナウンスされた方が都合良さそうと思いました。
5)船頭さん三人組で頑張って頂きました。退屈にならない様に冗談混じりのご案内で皆さん頑張る姿良かったです。

This was my second time on the Hozu River boat ride, and it was a fun two-hour journey. However, it was disappointing that there was no announcement about the departure being over 30 minutes late. The boatman’s explanations made the trip enjoyable. Thank you very much.

今回で二度目の保津川下り、２時間楽しい船旅でしたが、ただ、予定出航時間から、30分以上遅れていたのに、遅れている等のアナウンスが無かったのが、残念です。
船頭さんの、ご説明で楽しい船旅が出来ました。ありがとうございました。

For an hour and a half, the boatman entertained us. It was unexpectedly fun! We also enjoyed the autumn leaves. The view from the trolley train by the river is lovely.

1時間半、船頭さんが楽しませてくれます。予想外に楽しい！
紅葉も満喫できました。トロッコ電車も川からの景色は素敵です。

I was made to wait unnecessarily for 30 minutes after gathering. I thought they could have pushed back the meeting time a bit more.

I was surprised that after gathering at Kyoto Station and visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha, we returned to Kyoto Station to pick up guests from Osaka. Is there such a tour? If I had known about that in advance, I probably wouldn't have participated (laughs).

The time allocated for sightseeing was either insufficient or excessive, so I think they should reconsider the time distribution. It seems that this tour is usually aimed at overseas travelers, so it might not feel out of place for them, but for Japanese participants, it felt quite awkward. The tour guide was working hard, but the price was too high for just a bus without admission fees, so I don't think I will use this service again in the future.

集合してから出発まで、無駄に30分待たされた。それならもっと集合時間を遅らせればいいのにと思った。
京都駅に集合し、伏見稲荷大社を見学した後、また京都駅に戻って大阪からの客を乗車させたのには驚いた。そんなツアーあります？それならせめて事前に行程表に書いていて欲しかった。（事前にそのようなことを知っていたら、恐らく参加はしなかった　笑）
観光地の見学時間は足りなかったり余ったりで、もう少し時間配分を見直した方がいいのかなと思った。
普段は海外旅行者向けのツアーらしいので違和感ないのかもしれないが、日本人の参加者にとってはなんだか違和感だらけのツアーでした。添乗員の方は一生懸命仕事をしていたが、拝観料なしのバスのみにしては価格が高すぎるので今後利用することはないと思います。

It was quite cold, so warm clothing is a must! Everyone who paddled was really fun, and I had a great time!!

結構寒かったので防寒具必須です！
漕いでくれた人たちみんな面白くて、
めっちゃ楽しかったです！！

We were blessed with great weather and enjoyed the best Hozu River boat ride. The scenery around us was wonderful, and the boatman's stories were very entertaining, keeping us smiling the whole time. Sitting down also helped strengthen my core. This time, I went with my daughter, and I would love to go again with someone special.

お天気に恵まれ　最高の保津川下りを楽しみました。周りの景色ほもちろんのこと船頭さんの話もとても楽しくて　ずっと笑い顔でした。
座りながら体幹も鍛えられました。
今回は娘と行きました。また、大切な人と行きたいと思います。

It was fun. The weather wasn't perfectly clear, but it was generally nice, not too cold, and there was no wind, which was a big plus. The wait time was about 15 minutes, and it went smoothly. The autumn leaves were beautiful, and the boat ride was just the right amount of thrilling. I thought an hour and a half would be long, but the three boatmen took turns sharing interesting stories, and before I knew it, we had arrived. If I had to point out a downside, it was a bit cramped with four people in a row, especially if someone is large (though it was warm during the cold season). When I bought sweet sake from the shop boat, I was taken off before I could finish drinking it, so I wished I had at least another five minutes to enjoy it. Overall, it was a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

楽しかったです。快晴とまではいかなかったけど概ね良い天気で寒くもなく風もなかったのも大きかったです。
待ち時間も15分くらいですんなりでした。
紅葉はきれいで船も適度にスリリング。
1時間半ほどと聞いて長いなと思ってたけど、3人の船頭さんが代わる代わる味のある語りで飽きさせず、気づけばついてました。
強いて難点を言えば、一列4人で大きい人がいるとちょっと狭い（寒い時期は暖かいけど）。
店船で甘酒等を買っても飲み終わらないうちに降ろされてしまったので、せめてあと5分くらい味わう時間が欲しかった。
全体的には満足の楽しい体験でした。

The view of the autumn leaves from the river was wonderful and moving. The river had a variety of flows, from calm areas to rapids, offering different experiences. The conversations with the three boatmen and crew were also a very enjoyable time.

川から見る紅葉は素晴らしく感動的でした。
川の流れも穏やかなところから急流までバリエーションがあり色々楽しめます。3人の船頭、船員さんのトークもとてもよい時間でした。

I participated in a bus tour with my elderly parents. I knew there would be JR transfers, but we had to walk quite a bit from Fushimi Inari to the bus stop. After Fushimi Inari, the tour guide changed, and we moved to Kiyomizu-dera. I wanted to make effective use of our time, so I chose a plan that included meals, but we had to wait 15 minutes to be guided to the restaurant, and by the time we got our food, it was cold and the yudofu wasn't warm. The tour guide went to buy admission tickets during our meal and took a long time to return, so I ended up purchasing the admission tickets myself. Even then, we didn't have enough time! At Kinkaku-ji, we just went around it. At Arashiyama, we were dropped off near Togetsukyo Bridge, and that was where we parted ways. There was quite a distance from the main street to JR Saga Station. I think this tour was tough for my elderly parents. There was no alcohol disinfectant, I couldn't hear the guide's explanations, the arrangements were poor, and I will not use this sightseeing bus again!

高齢の両親とバスツアーに参加しました
ＪＲ移動があるのはわかっていましたが、伏見稲荷からバス乗り場まで結構歩かされました。
伏見稲荷から添乗員が代わり、清水寺寺ヘ移動
時間を有効に使いたかったので食事付きプランにしたのに食事処まで案内されるまで15分待たされるし、せっかくの料理は冷めて湯豆腐は温まってなかった。
添乗員は食事中に拝観料のチケットを買いに行き　なかなか戻ってこないので自分で拝観料を購入しました。それでも時間がなかったです！
金閣寺は、ぐるっと回るだけでした。
嵐山は渡月橋近くで降ろされ　そこで解散でした。
メイン通りからＪＲ嵯峨駅まで結構距離がありました。
このツアーは高齢の両親にはきつかったと思います。
アルコール消毒もないし　ガイドの話も聞こえないし　段取りも悪いし　こちらの観光バスはもう利用しません！

Boarded on November 21. It was a busy season, and the waiting room was crowded with people for the 12:00 reservation, but my name was called at 12:15, so I was glad I made a reservation. Since it had rained the night before, the water level was high, making it easier to paddle. We arrived at Arashiyama in an hour and a half instead of the planned two hours, which allowed us to make it in time for our lunch reservation afterward. The autumn leaves seemed to be at their peak, and there were thrills and laughter, plus we enjoyed the nearby food boats. I was very satisfied. Seats are assigned. Since there are four people per row, it might feel a bit cramped if there is a larger person.

11月21日乗船。繁忙期で、12:00の予約で待合室はたくさんの人でしたが、12:15には名前を呼ばれて乗ることができ、予約をしていて良かったです。前夜が雨だったため増水していて漕ぎやすいとのこと、2時間の予定が1時間半で嵐山に到着し、その後の予約の昼食にも間に合いました。紅葉もピークかなと思われましたが、スリルあり、笑いあり、並走の屋台船も楽しめました。満足です。席は指定されます。一列に4人相席なので、大きい人がいると少し窮屈かもしれません。

It was a series of clear days, and although the water level was the lowest of the season, we finished our boat trip in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Three boatmen took turns guiding us from the bow, middle, and stern, and each of them engaged us in very enjoyable conversations, making the time fly by without a dull moment. Shortly after departure, there was a bit of fog and it was cold enough to need a down jacket, but it cleared up along the way, and we had a pleasantly warm and comfortable ride down the river. It was truly a great experience.

晴天続きで、今シーズンで最も少ない水量とのことでしたが、1時間40分で船旅を終了しました。3人の船頭さんが交代で船首、中ほど、船尾と持ち場を変えての案内でしたが、どの方も、とても楽しい会話で飽きることなくお客さんを楽しませて、時間があっという間に過ぎていきました。出発直後は、やや霧が立ち込めダウンを必要とする寒さでしたが、途中から快晴となり、ポカポカとした丁度良い快適な川下りとなりました。本当に良い経験でした。

I had a wonderful time enjoying the boatman's stories while admiring the scenery and the autumn leaves. There were also thrilling moments as we navigated through the rapids, which added to the fun.

船頭さんの話を楽しみながら、景色や紅葉を眺めて、大変よい時間が過ごせました。激流を下るスリルも所々あり、楽しめました。

I wanted to see the autumn leaves, but my 82-year-old mother has difficulty walking. I thought we could enjoy it without walking if we took a boat, so we participated together. My mother was worried, saying, "I can't swim," but the boatman reassured her, saying, "You definitely won't sink, so it's okay." We enjoyed the autumn leaves from the river, felt the terrain from the front to the back of the mountain, and had a great time laughing at the boatman's guidance and stories. We bought grilled squid and dango from the shop on the boat. Eating on the boat was exceptionally delicious! The two hours flew by. The three boatmen, sweating as they rowed, entertained us and looked really cool!

紅葉を見たいけど、歩くのが大変な82歳の母。船なら歩かずに楽しめると思い親子で参加。
「泳げないんだけど」と、不安になっていた母に「絶対沈没せえへんから大丈夫」と船頭さんに言われひと安心。川の上からの紅葉を楽しみ、山の表から裏へ地形を感じ、船頭さんのガイドとトークに大笑い。売店の船で購入したイカ焼きと団子。船の上で食べるのは格別に旨い！あっという間の２時間でした。
船頭さん３人衆が、汗だくで漕ぎながらも私達を楽しませて下さり、カッコ良かったですよ♪

In mid-November, I made a reservation due to it being the best season for autumn leaves. The Hozu River boat ride offered beautiful scenery, and the boatmen's stories were entertaining. Although we got splashed with water, it was thrilling, and I felt it was worth the ride. However, despite making a reservation, we had to wait for an hour due to the crowds. In the end, whether you have a reservation or not, you end up waiting the same amount of time upon arrival. I would appreciate it if adjustments could be made so that those who reserved in advance can depart within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.

For those who can schedule after the Hozu River boat ride, I recommend making reservations with ample time during this season.

11月中旬、紅葉ベストシーズンゆえに、予約しました。保津川下りは景色も良く、船頭さんたちの話も面白く、水がかかりますがスリリングでもあり乗って良かったと思います。しかし、せっかく予約したのに混雑で１時間待たされました。結局予約しても、しなくても到着したら同じ様に待たされます。せめて、事前に予約した分には、予約時間から15分以内には出発できるように調整をお願いしたいです。
保津川下りのあと、予定を入れられるかたは、この時期だけは余裕のある時間で予約を入れることをおすすめします。

The weather was great, and the autumn leaves were perfect. The three boatmen were handsome, funny, and we had a wonderful time.

お天気もよく、紅葉もバッチリで最高でした。
船頭さん３人ともイケメンで、おもろいし楽しい時間でした。

After a 10-minute ride on the JR train from Saga-Arashiyama Station, I arrived at Kameoka Station. It took about 5 to 6 minutes on foot to reach the boarding area while seeing Kyocera Stadium on my right.

After completing the check-in, I was guided to the boat in less than 10 minutes of waiting, and the adventure of the Hozu River boat ride began. The skilled navigation and chatter of the three boatmen entertained all the passengers on board.

The colorful autumn leaves were vibrant, and everyone was taking lots of photos. The excitement of getting splashed with water while going down the rapids was also fun, making it a memorable 1 hour and 50-minute boat journey.

Thank you to the boatmen from that time!

嵯峨嵐山駅からJRで10分亀岡駅に到着。京セラスタジアムを右手に見ながら徒歩5,6分で乗場です。
受付を済ませ、待つこと10分足らずで舟に案内され、いよいよ保津川下りの始まりです。3人の船頭さんの巧みな操船とお喋りが満員の乗船客を楽しませてくれます。
色付いた紅葉は目にも鮮やかで、皆さん写真を撮りまくっていました。
急流を下る時には全身水を被るハプニングも楽しく、一生心に残る1時間50分の船旅でした。
あの時の船頭さん、ありがとうございました。

You will go down the river in about 1 hour and 30 to 50 minutes. There aren't many rapids, but it's fun. The guide's narration is enjoyable (in Japanese only). About two-thirds to three-quarters of the passengers are foreigners. Passengers are quite close to each other in the front, back, and sides, so those who are sensitive may want to avoid it.

1時間30～50分で川を下って行きます。
急流はあまりありません。が楽しいです。
船頭さんの案内も楽しい(日本語のみ)
乗客は外国人が2/3～3/4くらいの比率です。
前後横と乗客同士はかなり密です。神経質な方は乗らないほうがいいでしょう

I was able to enjoy a wonderful view of the autumn leaves at their peak! Although it was just under two hours, it felt much shorter than expected. I took a lot of photos and enjoyed the boatman's stories, and before I knew it, we had arrived at the destination.

紅葉の見頃でとても素敵な景色を楽しむことが出来ました！2時間弱と長時間でしたが、思ったよりもあっという間でたくさん写真を撮って、船頭さんのお話を楽しんでいたらゴール時点に到着しました。

The autumn leaves were about a week earlier than usual, and the weather on the day was pleasantly sunny, making it a thoroughly enjoyable tour! I highly recommend it to everyone.

例年よりも一週間ほど紅葉が早く、当日は穏やかな晴天だったこともあり、満喫したツアーでした♪皆さんにお勧めしたいです

When it comes to bus tours, the bus usually stops at a parking lot near the sightseeing location, allowing you to leave your heavy luggage on the bus and explore in a light outfit. However, we had to walk for 10 minutes to get back to the parking lot after the tour. My shoulders were sore from carrying my luggage.
There was no alcohol disinfectant when boarding the bus. What about ventilation?
It didn't seem like a proper response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tour guide who joined us later was kind and helpful, but overall, I have participated in several bus tours, and this was the worst one yet. I will not participate in any tours from this company again.

　バスツアーと言えば、見学地の近くの駐車場にバスが停まり、重い荷物はバスに置いて、身軽な格好で見学なのに、電車で移動。見学後の駐車場まで、徒歩10分も歩く。荷物で肩がバキバキになってしまいました。
　バス乗車の際のアルコール消毒なし。換気は？
コロナ禍での対応とは、思えません。
　途中からの添乗員さんは、親切で良かったけど。何度かバスツアーに参加していますが、今までで最悪でした。
こちらの会社のツアーには、2度と参加しません。

I participated in mid-November! The weather was great, and the magnificent autumn foliage was beautiful. The boatmen were entertaining, making the two hours fly by without a dull moment! ❤︎ I would love to visit again during cherry blossom season! Thank you for a wonderful two hours!!

11月中旬に参加させて頂きました！お天気も良く壮大な紅葉の景色と船頭の皆さんが面白くて退屈せずにあ！っという間の2時間でした❤︎次回は桜の時期にお伺いしたいと思います！2時間本当にお疲れ様でした！！

I had the experience in early November when the autumn leaves were at their peak. We departed at 10 AM, and I was very moved to see the moment when the fog cleared. Also, the boatman's funny talk brought a lot of laughter. I thought this was a typical Kansai-style comedic response.

紅葉がちょうど見ごろとなる１１月初旬に体験させて貰いました。１０時発で出発したのですが、霧が晴れていく瞬間が見れてとても感動しました。あと、船頭さんの面白トークが笑いを誘っていましたね。これは、関西人らしいツッコミだと思いました。