8D Avia Japan Trip: Shogawa River Cruise
I have never heard of Shogawa river before so I have no idea we can actually do some cruising activity there. Shogawa river cruise is included in the G’Day Japan tour itinerary offered by Avia because I suppose the location of Shogawa river is on the way between the city of Kanazawa and Takayama. The river was formerly used to transport wooden logs by timber rafting. It’s a quiet river and nowadays it seems that the Sho river only ferries tourists. The boat goes from Komaki hydroelectric dam to Omaki onsen, a ryokan with thermal spring. If you wish to spend the night at Omaki onsen, you can do so however, we took the return cruise ticket because we are en-route to Takayama.
The river trip offers you a scenic view of unspoiled Japanese mountain landscapes within 45 minutes. Somehow it kinda reminds me of Chinese landscapes too. After doing many river cruises, you start to think that they start to look the same one after another. But this probably depend on the season and whether the river is passing through a city or nature landscape.
The color of the river is green-ish, hmm, okay maybe I should phrase it “emerald” instead of green. That would make it more pleasing to the eyes. There are many turns which will show you high cliffs covered in vegetation and even snow in late autumn, winter and early spring. The snow-covered mountains are probably where the Alpine route of Japan is located. We did not go there to because we came in late March while the Alpine route only opens from 15 June onwards.
I think you would have to book a tour or car to self-drive to Shogawa cruise centre. I suppose this is one of the perks of joining a tour, easier access to otherwise, less-accessible activity. Hahaha.
Shogawa River Cruise operating hours:
- 4 services daily (3 in winter) Komaki – Omaki
- outward services 8.30AM to 4PM
- return services 9.10AM to 4.35PM