Kyoto's Sagano trolley train gets new glass-roofed cars from 1 March 2027 — and reserved seats will cost extra
嵯峨野トロッコ列車 新車両 2027年3月1日運行開始
The Arashiyama–Kameoka scenic train switches to new cars with floor-to-ceiling windows and a ¥9,000 private tatami room; today's train makes its last runs on 29 December 2026.
The Sagano Romantic Train — the slow sightseeing train that follows the Hozu River gorge from Arashiyama in Kyoto to Kameoka — is getting a new train. Sagano Scenic Railway says the new cars enter service on Monday 1 March 2027, starting with the Sagano 3 at 10:02 from Torokko Saga, with an opening ceremony that day.
The current train is due to make its last runs on 29 December 2026, so this winter is the final chance to ride it.
All four new cars have glass roofs and side windows that reach down to the floor, with black pillars and frames so the scenery stands out and wood-look seats and floors. Every car also has a covered, semi-open deck at the doors for fresh air.
Car 4 adds the railway's first private room, the Premium Cabin "Rankyo": a central tatami bench for up to six people, a panoramic view including the front of the train, and Nishijin-woven curtains themed on the line's autumn leaves, cherry blossom and bamboo.
The fare structure changes too. From 1 March 2027 the flat fare is ¥880 (children ¥440), and a seat also needs a separate ¥620 seat-reservation charge (children ¥310); riding on the open decks needs only the fare. The private cabin costs ¥9,000 per room plus the fare for each person, and can only be used from Torokko Saga or Torokko Kameoka.
For visitors
- Tickets are sold online on the railway's official website from midnight 30 days before travel (tickets for 1 March 2027 go on sale on 1 February 2027 at about 10:00). Station windows do not sell advance tickets.
- Same-day tickets are sold at the stations (not Torokko Hozukyo), but trains often sell out in cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf seasons — book online.
- Budget from March 2027: about ¥1,500 per adult for a seat (¥880 fare + ¥620), or ¥880 to ride on the deck.
- The JAPAN RAIL PASS does not cover the Sagano Scenic Railway. Torokko Saga is next to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (JR Sagano Line, covered by the pass).
Sources
- Sagano Scenic Railway press release (23 Oct 2026, PDF) (official, Japanese)
- Sagano Scenic Railway official site (official, Japanese)
Summarised in our own words from the sources above; last checked 3 Nov 2026. Plans can change — confirm with the operator before you travel.
