Sagano Romantic Train Tickets (2026-27): When They Go on Sale, the New Train, and What It Costs
The Sagano Romantic Train is the slow scenic line along the Hozu River gorge from Arashiyama to Kameoka. Reserved seats can sell out, so book on the official site as soon as your date opens: at 0:00 Japan time, about a month ahead. On the official site a ticket costs the regular fare, ¥880 for any stop.
The big change is the train itself. The current cars make their last runs on December 29, 2026. There are no trains in January and February, and a new train starts on March 1, 2027, with a new seat fee on top of the fare.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We always show the official way to book first.
When do Sagano train tickets go on sale?
Individual tickets go on sale online at 0:00 Japan time, on the same date one month before you ride. To ride on December 12, you book from 0:00 on November 12. If the month before has no such date, the FAQ gives a separate rule, so check it for dates like the 31st.
The new train uses a slightly different rule: 30 days before, at 0:00. The opening day is the exception. Tickets for March 1, 2027 go on sale on February 1, 2027, at about 10:00.
How to book on the official site
Booking is done on the railway's ticket site, which you reach from the Ticket reservation (チケット予約はこちら) button on the official homepage. You need an account and a credit card.
- Create an account before the sale opens. You can sign up with an email address or a social media account. If you are already signed up, that is one step fewer at 0:00.
- Pick the date, the route and the number of people, then choose a train and a seat. You can pick a car and seat number (A–D in four-seat boxes). A and D are the window seats.
- Check the booking and pay by credit card. Press Confirm payment (支払いを確定する), enter your card details and press Pay (支払う).
- On the day, show the QR code. Open your booking, press Use e-ticket (Eチケットを利用), choose your ticket and show the QR code to staff at the gate.The e-ticket opens online, so you need mobile data at the station. A Japan eSIM is the easy fix.Compare Japan eSIMs on Klook ↗
What changes with the new train in 2027?
The operator announced the details on October 23, 2026. If you're travelling from March 2027, plan for these.
The open-air car No. 5 (the "Rich" car) is part of the old train. The new train announcement lists only cars 1 to 4, so if you want the windowless car, ride before December 29, 2026.
What we checked on Nov 6, 2026
The fares page loads its prices from the railway's own fare system. On Nov 6 it returned ¥880 adult and ¥440 child for the official site and the stations, for November 2026 and for March 2027.
The FAQ said advance tickets go on sale at 0:00 one month before the ride date, refunds are free until 23:59 the day before, and there are no refunds or changes on the day.
The Oct 23, 2026 press release gave the Mar 1, 2027 start, the 30-day sale rule, the ¥620 seat fee, the ¥9,000 private room and the Dec 29, 2026 retirement of the current train.
We have not booked a ticket ourselves yet, so button names and screens above are from the official instructions.
Sold out: what are your real options?
A full train online doesn't always mean you can't ride. Try these in order.
An agency ticket
Each agency product sets its own price, seat choice and cancellation terms, so read them on the product page and compare with the official ¥880 fare before you pay.
Affiliate linksSame-day tickets at the station
Windows open around 8:35 at Torokko Saga, 8:50 at Arashiyama and 9:10 at Kameoka (all from about 8:35 in busy periods). They sell that day's seats first come, first served. Hozukyo doesn't sell them.
Standing tickets
When all seats are gone, the stations sell a limited number of standing tickets. The ride takes about 23 minutes.
Watch for refunds
Refunds are free until 23:59 the day before, so seats come back. Check the official site again the evening before.
Rain, luggage and refunds: what to know before you ride
- Refunds are free until 23:59 the day before. On the day, you can't refund or change trains.
- You can't change the date, time or number of people. Refund and book again instead.
- You can change your seat up to 3 times on the same train, until 23:59 the day before.
- Car No. 5 has no windows. You may get wet, umbrellas aren't allowed, and rain is no reason for a refund. Bring a raincoat.
- Suitcases up to about 120 cm (length + width + height) ride free. Anything over 1 m long isn't allowed.
- Stations take cash, major credit cards and IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica (not PiTaPa).
- The JR Pass and Seishun 18 tickets are not valid.
Travelling with big bags? It's easier to send them ahead. Luggage delivery in Japan →
Is it worth it, and which way should you ride?
It costs ¥880 (¥1,500 for a seat on the new train) for about 23 minutes along the gorge. If the official site is full for your date, a bamboo-grove walk and the riverside give you Arashiyama without the train.
One way to plan it: ride from Saga to Kameoka and come back on JR from Umahori Station, about a 10-minute walk from Torokko Kameoka. Another is the Hozu River boat back down to Arashiyama (保津川下り). Its tickets are sold at Torokko Saga station. Check boat times and fares with the boat operator before you go.
Getting there
Torokko Saga is next to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station on the Sagano Line (about a 5-minute walk). Randen Saga Station is also about 5 minutes away, and Hankyu Arashiyama about 20 minutes. An IC card covers JR and Randen. How to use ICOCA in Kansai →
Coming from Tokyo? Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen →
Make a day of it in Arashiyama
A day in Arashiyama
Bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji and the river. Book your train time first and plan the rest of the day around it.
Wear a kimono for the day
Rental shops near Arashiyama and Gion. Return times matter if you ride an afternoon train.
Affiliate linkKyoto by bus and subway
Arashiyama is a long way from Gion. See whether a day pass saves you money.
Still no seat?
Check the official site again the evening before (free refunds end at 23:59), then try the station window early in the morning. If you've ridden the new train, tell us which side had the better view. We'll add reader reports with the date.
The second link is an affiliate link.