Typhoon and Heavy Rain Cause Damage in Kyoto, Arashiyama, and Kamogawa River

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Due to the heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon No.18 in 2013, the rivers in the Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge areas overflowed, breaching the levees and flooding residential areas, causing significant damage.

In Kyoto, the Katsura River overflowed, prompting evacuation advisories for 270,000 people in Kyoto and 300,000 people in Osaka.

The news showed aerial footage of the flooded Katsura River.

For details on the Kamo River and Katsura River, which swelled due to the record heavy rain in July 2018, please see the article below.

Flooding due to Record Heavy Rain Heavy rain in Kyoto Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge, flooding of Katsura River and Kamo River

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Typhoon No.18: The State of Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge

Now, let’s introduce the state of affairs when Typhoon No.18 passed through.

This is what Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge looked like at dawn, as broadcast by KBS Kyoto. It seems that Togetsukyo Bridge was about to be swallowed by the muddy torrent.

Typhoon 18: The State of Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge

Normally, Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge are known as picturesque tourist spots.

Togetsukyo Bridge are known as picturesque tourist spots

Due to the high traffic, the live footage from the Yodo River Office near “Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge” and “Katsura Ohashi Bridge” was unavailable for a while.

Yodogawa River Office Live Camera

The Hiyoshi Dam upstream of the Katsura River also seemed to be at full water capacity.

Water capacity of Hiyoshi Dam upstream of the Katsura River

You can view Yodogawa River Basin real-time information about the dam on the following website.

Yodogawa River Basin Real Time Information

Kamo-gawa River After Typhoon No.18

Now, the night brought intense wind and rain due to Typhoon No.18, but by the next morning, on the 16th, it started to clear up from noon, so I went to see the state of the nearby Kamo River. All the photos were taken near Kawabata-Oike.

The color of the river is completely different from usual. It’s truly a muddy torrent. Although the water level seems to have dropped compared to dawn, it’s still right up to the riverbanks.

Kamo-gawa River After Typhoon No. 18

By the way, this is what the Kamo River usually looks like.

Kamo-gawa River

Although some time has passed since the typhoon left, there are still areas where the water has risen up to the banks.

Kamo-gawa River After Typhoon No. 18

The water is also overflowing around the bridge piers.

The water is also overflowing around the bridge piers.

The ducks have evacuated to the shore, gazing wistfully at the river.

The ducks at Kamogawa river

Hey, if you swim now, you’ll get swept away…

swimming ducks at Kamogawa river

Seeing this muddy torrent reminds us that even the usually peaceful and quiet Kamo River can show the “fury of nature” when it rains heavily.

Kamo-gawa River After Typhoon No. 18

The Kamo River has been a raging river that overflows every few years since ancient times.

The well-known anecdote of Emperor Shirakawa saying, “The waters of the Kamo River, the dice of sugoroku, and the Yamabushi monks, these are things that do not go my way,” speaks to this history.

Even though modern flood control measures are in place, we must not forget that the Kamo River is a river that has repeatedly flooded throughout history.

Yodogawa River Basin Real Time Information
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Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge After Typhoon No.18

Here is the state of Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge. There was an article like this on the internet news:

The muddy torrent of the Katsura River surged up to the point where the bridge piers of the famous Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge were no longer visible, and occasionally, the water overflowed onto the bridge. The surrounding inns and souvenir shops were also flooded, and tourists watched anxiously.

Since the footage of Arashiyama after the typhoon repeatedly appeared on TV, I went to see it for myself.

I traveled west from downtown Kyoto along Sanjo Street and arrived at Arashiyama. The Katsura River was a muddy torrent.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18

The water from the river seemed to have overflowed the levee, leaving the roads covered in mud. Cleaning up must be a huge task.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18 flood

This is near Kiyotaki-dori Sanjo. From here to Togetsukyo Bridge, the road was closed. As the weather cleared, the mud dried up, and when the wind blew, dust clouds rose.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18 muddy road

Togetsukyo Bridge was also closed.

Togetsukyo Bridge was closed.

This is the view from Togetsukyo Bridge looking towards Randen Arashiyama Station. It seemed that the water had overflowed up to about 100 meters ahead.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18

People were cleaning up the mud on the roads. Thank you for your hard work…

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18

The overflowed water had not only covered the roads but also entered buildings, with store owners cleaning their floors. It’s really unfortunate that the long weekend at Arashiyama tourist spot was ruined by such a disaster.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18

This is near Arashiyama Kitcho, Japanese Cuisine Restaurants. The water overflowed, making it unclear where the riverbank was.

near Arashiyama kitcho, after Typhoon No. 18

Upstream, it also looked like a vast river. It must have been even more severe during the typhoon.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18

Damage to Inns, Hotels, Restaurants, and Tourist Spots in Arashiyama

This area is home to several Japanese restaurants, including Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama, Ryotei Rangetsu, Arashiyama Benkei, and Arashiyama Kumahiko.

On the opposite bank is Hanaikada: Arashiyama Onsen, and further upstream is the famous luxury inn Hoshinoya Kyoto. Given the extensive media coverage of the typhoon damage, it seems business might be affected for some time.

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18 damage

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and the Sagano Romantic Train may also be closed for a while.

According to their official websites, Arashiyama Kitcho and Arashiyama Benkei are open from the 17th, the Sagano Romantic Train resumes operations on the 19th.

Hoshinoya is closed during the repair period with a goal to reopen by the end of the year, and Hanaikada and the Hozugawa River Boat Ride will remain closed for the time being.

Arashiyama is usually crowded with tourists during the holidays, but today it is filled mostly with police, firefighters, media personnel, and onlookers

Arashiyama after Typhoon No. 18 damage

Kyoto is said to be a city resilient to natural disasters, partly due to its long history as the capital. Even so, record-breaking rainfall can cause damage.

When a typhoon comes, I might become a victim myself. I am recording this in this blog to remind myself of this possibility.

I would like to express my sympathies to those who have been affected by Typhoon No.18 and to those who evacuated despite the late hour.

In the following YouTube video, you can see the condition of the Arashiyama area after the typhoon, as well as aerial footage of Arashiyama that was broadcast on TV.

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Record-Breaking Heavy Rain in July 2018

The heavy rain in July 2018 seems likely to cause more damage than Typhoon No.18 in 2013. The nearby Kamogawa River has risen up to the riverbank, and in Kyoto city, it has exceeded the evacuation threshold.

Record-Breaking Heavy Rain in July 2018

In Kyoto, heavy rain and flood warnings have been issued, and there have been landslides and other damages in various places. The riverbank of the Kamogawa River is off-limits due to the rising water, and the water has reached the stairs.

The riverbank of the Kamogawa River is off-limits due to the rising water

The following article describes the condition of the Kamogawa and Katsuragawa rivers, which overflowed during the record-breaking heavy rain in July 2018.

Record-Breaking Heavy Rain in Kyoto Heavy rain in Kyoto Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge, flooding of Katsura River and Kamo River

Japanese Article : 台風18号の豪雨 鴨川と嵐山渡月橋の様子

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