Sagano Romantic Train Night Illumination 2026 (Arashiyama)

Dates & time: October 24, 2026 (Sat) - December 29, 2026 (Tue) From 16:30 until the last train (no service on Dec 16)
Price & booking: One way: adults ¥880 / children aged 6-11 ¥440, the same fare for any section Reserved seats go on sale at midnight Japan time one month before the travel date on the Sagano Scenic Railway official site. Same-day tickets are also sold at station windows, but trains can be full.
Venue & access: Along the Sagano Romantic Train line (Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station) Torokko Saga Station is about 5 min on foot from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Sagano Line). The terminus, Torokko Kameoka Station, is about 10 min on foot from JR Umahori Station on the same line

How are the leaves now?

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There are 4 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Along the Sagano Romantic Train line (Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station), and 2 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

The Sagano Romantic Train, the vintage sightseeing railway that winds from Arashiyama through the Hozu River gorge to Kameoka, lights up the autumn leaves along its route every evening from late October. Branded the "Light Fantasy Train," the night ride passes illuminated maples and fall foliage, with colored lights picking out the mountainsides above the river. You watch it all from wooden seats under bare bulbs in the retro carriages. The current train is retiring on December 29 and a new one debuts next spring, so this is the last autumn to see the illumination from these cars. Unlike temple light-ups you walk through, this one is seen sitting down, which makes it an easy evening option with kids or after a long day of sightseeing in Arashiyama.

NOTE

Which trains show the illumination

Trains from the Saga-no 16 (departs Torokko Kameoka 16:30) onward

Extra evening trains during the period

Saga-no 81 (outbound): Torokko Saga 17:10 → Arashiyama 17:13 → Hozukyo 17:24 → Kameoka 17:38
Saga-no 82 (return): Torokko Kameoka 17:43 → Hozukyo 17:55 → Arashiyama 18:09 → Saga 18:12
Runs Oct 24 - Dec 13 and Dec 26-27
Saga-no 91 (outbound): Torokko Saga 18:26 → Arashiyama 18:29 → Hozukyo 18:40 → Kameoka 18:54
Saga-no 92 (return): Torokko Kameoka 18:59 → Hozukyo 19:11 → Arashiyama 19:25 → Saga 19:28
Runs Nov 14-30 and Dec 5-6

The carriages

Cars 1-4 have windows and four-person box seats
Car 5, the "Rich" car, is open-sided with no window glass. You can get wet in the rain, and umbrellas are not allowed on board
The current train retires on Dec 29; a new train is due to debut next spring

Seats

Window seats are A and D
Toward Kameoka (downbound), C and D face forward; toward Saga (upbound), A and B face forward

Luggage

Suitcases up to about 120 cm (length + width + height) can be brought on free; items longer than 1 m are not allowed
Fold strollers and keep them at your seat

Stations

Torokko Arashiyama is the closest station to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove path, but it has about 60 steps between the platform and the gate and no elevator
The bamboo grove is about a 10-minute walk from Torokko Saga
There is no parking at Torokko Saga or Torokko Arashiyama

Souvenir photos on board

Photographers from Bunkyo Studio take souvenir photos on the train and bring them round to your seat before you get off
Buying on the spot is cash only, so carry some yen if you might want one
To buy later, use the chatbot on the official site ("Other" > "Souvenir photo") and enter your travel date, time and seat number
Photographers do not always reach every car; ask a staff member if you would like a photo

* No service on Wednesday, Dec 16

* Details may change without notice

Buying tickets

Same-day tickets are sold at the Torokko Saga, Arashiyama and Kameoka station windows. When reserved seats sell out, standing tickets are sold at the stations for that day only
Station windows take cash, major credit cards and transit IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica (not PiTaPa)
The official site accepts credit cards only (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club) registered for 3D Secure; tickets are e-tickets shown on your phone
One child under 6 per ticket holder rides free on a lap
The Japan Rail Pass (JR PASS) is not valid on this train

Autumn Leaves Night View Sightseeing Date Family

出典: 嵯峨野観光鉄道公式サイト（プレスリリース 2026年9月18日）

Kobe · Gluten-free

All Kyoto light-ups & night viewings → Kyoto & Kansai autumn leaves map →

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FAQ

Can I ride without a reservation?

Yes. Same-day tickets are sold at the Torokko Saga, Arashiyama and Kameoka station windows, though numbers are limited and trains can fill up. On days when reserved seats sell out, standing tickets are sold for that day. To be sure of a seat, book on the official site, where tickets go on sale one month before the travel date.

If I ride one way, how do I get back?

Fares are one way, so a round trip needs a second ticket. If you get off at Torokko Kameoka, JR Umahori Station on the Sagano Line is about a 10-minute walk away, with trains back toward Saga-Arashiyama and Kyoto.

Does it run in the rain?

The train is scheduled to run every day except Dec 16. Car 5, the open-sided "Rich" car, has no window glass, so you can get wet and umbrellas are not allowed on board. Tickets for car 5 cannot be refunded or changed on the day because of rain.

Which train should I take to see the illumination?

The lights come on at 16:30 and can be seen from the Saga-no 16, which leaves Torokko Kameoka at 16:30, and every train after it. Extra trains leave Torokko Saga at 17:10 during the period, with another at 18:26 on Nov 14-30 and Dec 5-6.

Can I use the Japan Rail Pass?

No. The Japan Rail Pass and the Seishun 18 ticket are not valid, so you need a separate ticket. Station windows accept cash, credit cards and IC transit cards such as ICOCA and Suica (not PiTaPa).