On March 10, 2024, the ''Hozu Boat Day'' ritual marking the beginning of the spring tourist season for the ''Hozugawa Kudari'' from Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto City will be held at the boarding point in Hozu-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. there were. At the end of March 2023, there was a capsizing accident in which two boatmen died, so the boatmen prayed for a safe year of operation with sad expressions on their faces.
The Hozu River Amusement Boat Enterprise Association (Hozu Town, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture), which operates the boat, has designated this day as "Hozu Boat Day." In previous years, various events were held, but this year they were canceled due to the rollover accident.
Approximately 80 boatmen participated in the ritual, which began around 8 a.m. The chief priests of Kotohira Shrine and Ukeda Shrine (both located in Hozu-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture), which are dedicated to the guardian deities of ships, offered blessings praying for safety, and the directors of the association dedicated tamagushi.
Finally, Representative Director Tomohachi Toyoda and the chief priest poured sake, salt, and rice into the Katsura River (Hozu River). They offered it to the god of the river Yaoyorozu and prayed that the accident would never happen again.
