What did the Hozu River carry in that time before the Romantic Train existed? Before we answer that, let us tell the story of how the Hozu River came to be. This region tells of the following legend.

Once upon a time, there was a large lake in Kameoka. Its waters were red, and so it was called “Tanba”. However, when a certain god cleared away a mountain, the lake’s water began to flow towards Kyoto, and the area that was once a lake became an open plain. Thus, the province of Tanba was born.

This myth also aligns with modern geology.

Ultimately, the Hozu River began flowing from Kameoka to Kyoto, twisting and winding around the protruding mountains. Then, after many million moons, the capital city of Japan at Nara was set to move to Kyoto.

Why did the capital need to be removed from Nara? One reason could be attributed to a lack of lumber; after cutting down all the trees in the mountains surrounding it, Nara became unlivable. Back then, wood was indispensable as fuel for cooking and warmth as well as for construction.

Kameoka was one site they considered, primarily because of Tanba’s timber, which was renowned since time immemorial for its high quality. Then there was the Hozu River, which could carry said timber. For these reasons, it was decided that Kyoto would become the new capital. One could say that, without the mountains of Tanba or the Hozu River, the capital at Kyoto would have never existed.

In any event, the Hozu River ferried even more timber than before, thanks to the capital’s transfer to Kyoto. Wood was cut into logs and assembled into rafts, and the crews rowed for their lives through the dangerous river. Imagine the rafters battling the vicious rapids of a river that overflowed on occasion. That is how they transported the wood that built a capital, where Emperor Saga, the namesake of Sagano, would ascend the throne.

Timber was the ancient and most crucial cargo ferried upon the Hozu River long before the birth of the Romantic Train. It did not just carry wood to the capital; it was an energy source that helped Kyoto and its citizens grow, to say nothing of the many temples that benefited as well.

The next turning point occurred in the Edo Period, when a Sagano merchant was charged with maintaining the Hozu River. With his engineering finesse, he controlled the river current, allowing smaller boats to transport rice, vegetables, fish, and other cargo downstream. Thus the Hozu River flourished as a shipping route between Tanba and Kyoto.

The Meiji Period brought the advent of the railroad, and with the rise of cargo trains, the Hozu River’s role as a shipping route came to an end. And at that precise moment, foreign luminaries visiting Japan said they wanted to ride on boats. Thanks to the maintenance done during the Edo Period, they were able to ride the Hozu River downstream safely. The change from cargo to customers was an overnight sensation. And so, at the forefront of Japanese tourism, the Hozu River continues to flow gently down the stream of history.