9 Cruises & Boat Tours in Kyoto Worth Reserving

3.Fushimi Sake District Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 10 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54Best value

Relax in Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district with a Jikkoku-bune canal cruise, Gekkeikan tastings, temple quiet, and Meiji coffee.

“Very good guide , who was very good at giving an overall history of Kyoto not just the sake industry.”

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4.Kyoto Hozugawa River Boat Sagano Romantic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 8 reviews · 5 hours · from $116

Sagano Romantic Train and the Hozugawa River boat from Kyoto for 5 hours, with an English guide and seasonal scenery.

“Badly organised with a ‘guide’ who was hardly visible or audible I was told expecting a guide who shared interesting facts about the whole outing but he said nothing and was not a natural-born organiser. The meeting point was a mess. The ‘romantic’ train boarding was less than efficient and worst of all not at all romantic. Seats very uncomfortable and in spite of lovely toute along the river which you can hardly see as one has to remain seated. The best part was the river rapids ride (simple boat and not RAFT!) and the boat crew were entertaining and a breath of fresh air. Fun! Then we had a…”

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5.Fushimi Kyoto Walking Tour with Sake Tasting and Canal Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $58

Fushimi Kyoto canal boat ride, Chokenji Temple, Gekkeikan sake museum, and a guided sake tasting for $58 in 3.5 hours.

“This was a great half day trip to explore the Fushimi district! We met our guide using the train system and had a quick visit to a shrine. From there, we had a great visit to the sake distillery where we watched a documentary, visited the musRead more”

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6.Private Boat Cruise with Shamisen and Games

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $133Top rated

Private yakatabune cruise in Arashiyama with live shamisen, traditional games, and stories from a former maiko, plus great photo time.

“A really rewarding and soothing activity We took a river walk with Kohaku, who played the shamisen (a traditional instrument) and sang for us! She taught us a really simple and fun Japanese game! We had a great time chatting with her, she's super cute, and I totally recommend the activity! Thanks Kohaku ♥️”

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7.Lake Biwa Boat Race Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $214.1

Watch high-tech speedboat races on Lake Biwa with a pro guide, a reserved seat, and a legal betting experience from Kyoto.

“Thanks to Kenji, I had a fantastic time watching Japanese boat racing. As a big American sports fan who loves to go to sports stadiums in the United States, I was expecting the American 'ballpark' experience: overpriced food, crowded seatiRead more”

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8.Private Lake Biwa Boat Race Tour with Your Own Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1 reviews · 4 hours · from $161

Private Lake Biwa speedboat races from Kyoto with a local guide, reserved seats, optional wagering, and a bento picnic.

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9.Kyoto Gion Festival and Lake Biwa Lunch Cruise Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1 reviews · from $191.14

Gion Matsuri reserved seats, Lake Biwa lunch cruise buffet, plus Omihachiman cafés and Mitsui outlet shopping near Kyoto.

“The Gion Festival is a slower paced festival compared to other Japanese festivals I’ve attended. However, our guide was great and tried to help everything move along. I enjoyed the day. If the weather permitted I would have enjoyed spending a longer time in the old village towards the end.”

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