Katsura River

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Katsura River (桂川 Katsuragawa) is actually a continuation of 2 other rivers, Hozu River, a small, speedy river which begins in the mountains near Kameoka and then slithers through the mountains separating Kameoka and Kyoto, and Oi River (not the same Oi River in Shizuoka), which emerges from those mountains and expands into a shallow, slow flowing river until Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama. From that point forward, the river is referred to as Katsura River, and its flow continues several kilometers until it joins the Kamo River and Uji River later.

The Katsura River area features some of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and Japan, such as the Matsuo Shrine, and, as a counterpoint to the channelled Kamo River, supports acres of agricultural area on its flood plain. It also is known for its summer supply of Ayu and is a popular place for barbequing.