River cruises in "Jukkoku-bune," or old-fashioned wooden houseboats, along the Fushimi waterside, which once flourished as a port town, started on April 1 along both the Uji River canal and the Hori River. Enveloped by the fragrance of spring, visitors savored cruises along the waterway, surrounded by cherry blossoms and Thunberg spireas, in the wooden houseboats redolent with the flavor of the past.

The cruises are operated by Fushimi Yumekobo Co. Ltd., a town management organization, in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. They connect the boarding area behind Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum with the "Misu-komon" water gate in "Fushimi Minato Hiroba," or the waterside area of Fushimi, in an approximately five kilometer long, 55-minute round-trip.

Passengers savored their peaceful time as they cruised along the waterway between the white walls of sake breweries colored by willows.

The cruises are operated daily, except Mondays, until November 30. The fare is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for elementary school students and younger. Until April 4, the riverbanks were illuminated for nighttime cruises, and operated until 9:30p.m. "Sanjukkoku-bune" cruises are also being run on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between April 3 and May 5. For more information, contact Fushimi Yumekobo Co. Ltd. at 075-623-1030.