2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 20: Sagano Torokko Train, a Trip to Hozukyo Valley

We left for Gion (祇園) after Kyoto and had dessert at Tsujiri Tea House (茶寮都路里) located at Shijyodori (四条通り). The subway was quite empty at Monday noon, which was totally different from the men-in-black in morning.

The brown building is Tsujiri Tea House

I was told that there is always a long queue at this tea house, but there was less customers when we reached. However, the queue extended from the stairs to the corridor when we left! We were so lucky to be there early.

After the dessert, we took subway to Umahori (馬堀). Later we will take Sagano Torokko Train (嵯峨野トロッコ列車) to enjoy the view of Hozukyo Valley (保津峡).

JR Umahori Station

Turned left after leaving from subway station, then passed through below a rail bridge, there is a large area of cropland beside the road. The valley at the far right side is the place that Sagano Torokko Train will pass through later.

Then turned right and walked about 500 meters, it's Torokko Kameoka Station (トロッコ亀岡駅).

Tanaka Gentaro, the founder of Sagano Railway

Tanaka Gentaro (田中源太郎) was a politician and entrepreneur in Japan. He built the railway linked between Kyoto and Sonobe (園部). He was also founders of many enterprises, including The Bank of Kameoka, which became present-day The Bank of Kyoto. He then became a member in House of Representatives of Japan. He died in a derail accident happened in 1922 at the age of 69. His train derailed and plunged into Hozu River (保津川).

Cute statues of raccoon dog beside the railway.

We walked around outside the station because our train had not arrived yet.

Wagon which bring tourists to enjoy the countryside view at vicinity

Uketa Shrine (請田神社, far left), the shrine where Hozu Fire Festival is held.

Unokawa (鵜の川), the flow will merge into Hozu River.

Sagano Torokko Train

This railway is famous with the beautiful scenery along it. The train tickets need to be booked few days ahead, visitors could also get the ticket on the spot, of course, with some luck.

We reached at Torokko Sagano Station (トロッコ嵯峨野駅) after the trip of Hozukyo Valley.

Ninomiya Kinjiro (二宮金次郎), a prominent agricultural leader and philosopher at later period of Edo Period. He implemented agricultural reform and saved those villages which did not have a good harvest at that time.

Torokko Sagano Station

The D51 Namekuji locomotive exhibited outside 19th Century Hall, which located beside Torokko Sagano Station.

This trip ended in a very short period of time. The tunnels along the railway and the fast speed of the train actually did not allow me to have a good view on the scenery. Maybe next times I would take the boat which sailed across Hozu River to have a better view of valley.

Next：

Top of the Kyoto Gozan and Head Temple of Rinzai School, Tenryu-ji Temple