Post by washi on Apr 20, 2015 8:01:49 GMT
River boats were the backbone of commerce in Japan, from ancient times until the advent of rail. A few are still in use in the tourist trade. The ride between the town of Kameoka and Arashiyama, on the west edge of Kyoto is particularly beautiful in the autumn, but breathtaking at any time of year. The trip is called Hozugawa Kudari (保津川下り) in Japanese, which means something like “(Going) Down the Hozu River”.
The ride covers a course of 16 kilometers and requires approximately 2 hours, depending on the volume of water flowing in the river at the time. There are two rail lines that pass between the two points. The modern electric line passes almost entirely through tunnels, emerging into daylight only briefly as it passes over bridges. The older line travels mostly alongside the river. The diesel powered train that runs this course is purely for sightseeing.
This post contains videos of the trip and a Google Earth tour, with music.
Download FilePost last revised March 11, 2023.[/p]
