Mere minutes after the Sagano Scenic Railway train leaves its terminus in the popular suburb of Arashiyama just outside Kyoto, civilization abruptly falls away. Behind us lies a metropolis of at least a million people; out the windows, the only signs of life are a few Japanese macaques cavorting among the trees on the hillside.
With big bay windows running the length of each train car, it’s easy to soak up the view of the HozuRiver as it twists and curves its way through Kyoto’s western mountains. Cherry and maple trees line the tracks, and pepper the opposite riverbank. In spring and fall, the gorge is awash with color. Winter brings a more muted scene, but as the temperature plummets, the possibility of witnessing a magical snowy landscape grows exponentially.
The railway, in business since 1991, may not boast the longest train route in Japan at only 20 minutes, but that short time is enough to transport travelers from the bright lights of the city to the quiet valleys of the uncelebrated areas of KyotoPrefecture.