Kyoto

We took the bullet train to get to Kyoto, and it was such an easy way to travel. Once we arrived we then used the subway to get to our hotel. The subway in Japan is easy to get around, directions are clear and in many instances you transfer lines without exiting the station. The only thing you need to do is follow the signs.

We stayed at the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel in a double room, and like Tokyo we found the room very small. So we asked for an upgrade and ended up in a small suite which was lovely. Again the cost of the upgrade was quite minimal, so don’t be afraid to ask for upgrades if your rooms are not as large as you would like them to be. If you feel the cost is too much you can always decline and stay where you are.

The hotel was situated close to the hub of the city, and had some good restaurants nearby to sample some of the local cuisine.

Kyoto has some outstanding tourist attractions, so let’s take a look:

Nijo Castle – we are not sure if this is just not a popular tourist attraction, or we happened to go on a day that most people stayed away. Either way it was an interesting historical journey with the Castle being completed on the orders of the first Shogun who unified Japan, and ushered in 260 years of peace and prosperity. It was definitely worth a visit with the grounds and gardens beautifully maintained.
Kinkaku-ji Temple – wow, what an amazing building. The temple has a gold leaf facade and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a tranquil lake. There are just hundreds of visitors to this site, so you need a fair bit of patience to get decent photos. The only saving grace is that the tourist path is one way only, so you are not battling crowds coming towards you. Well worth a visit and we don’t think it would matter what season you went to see the temple, it would be beautiful in any light.
Kyoto Imperial Palace – the palace has six entry gates with each representing a different purpose or status. The grounds are impressive, and the buildings reflect the importance of the Palace and its use. The grounds are divided into 3 sections, 2 residential sections – one for the Emperor, one for the Empress and children, and 1 section for official ceremonies. It is extremely well maintained and takes about an hour to wander through.
Fushimi Inari Shrine – a very important Shinto Shrine, this is probably one of the most outstanding attractions we have ever seen and one of the most popular for both Japanese residents and international travellers. The vermillon red torii gates straddle a network of trails behind the main buildings of the Shrine. The trails lead into the forest of the sacred Mt Inari, which stands at 233 metres and belongs to the shrine grounds. This is a very crowded attraction, so our advice is to go as early as possible in the morning before the crowds arrive. Inari Station is located just across the road from the entrance, so it is by far the easiest way to get there.
Kyoto Railway Museum – if you are a lover of all things trains then you will really appreciate the train museum. At the entrance there is a great little cafe inside an old train carriage where you can sit and take stock for a few minutes before heading into the museum. There are full size trains and carriages which you can look into, a room showing how the system operates and a huge model railway. It offers 3 floors of exhibits and a fully operational turntable outside. Catch the train from Kyoto Station to Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station which is only one stop. Well worth a visit.
Nishiki Markets – one long street of shopping! Five blocks to be exact. What more could you want. Every possible type of food is on offer, and the shopping is just as good. Lots of places to eat, most of the restaurants are situated directly behind the food carts lining the street. You will not be disappointed in spending a few hours here, but our advice is to do it before lunch, as the crowds are enormous.
Gion District – Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. It is filled with shops, restaurants and teahouses where geisha and geisha apprentices entertain. Tourists are also attracted to the area because of the high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses.
Great Buddha Hall – located about an hour’s drive out of Kyoto this is a well known attraction, not only because it houses Japan’s largest bronze statue of Buddha, but it has deer roaming the grounds. The seated Buddha is 15 metres tall and is housed in what is still one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.
Kyoto Station – there is a huge shopping mall underneath and around the station. But at night the place really comes alive. On top of the station is a huge entertainment area with restaurants, open air seating areas and plenty of light shows. From the East Square you can access the Skyway tunnel which allows you to walk the length of the station, 45 metres above the central hall. The Skyway tunnel is accessed from the restaurant level on the 11th floor of the station building and is free to use. At night it gives you spectacular views of the Kyoto Tower and the night lights of Kyoto.

Travel Tips

Purchase a Kansai Thru 3 day pass. These can be purchased from the Kyoto Station Bus Information Centre, and will save you a lot of time when travelling on the subway.
If you prefer to do some of the tourist sights with a tour guide, there are plenty on offer and can be organised through the reception desk at your hotel.

Travel Alerts

Crowds, crowds and more crowds. If you do not like crowds then you will not enjoy a lot of the tourist attractions. You must be prepared to wait patiently for photo opportunities and moving around the attractions.
Kyoto is a very safe and clean city, and the Japanese people are extremely friendly and polite. We have no alerts for Kyoto.

Travel Adventures

Try something different by visiting a restaurant called Eikichi. It is a very small restaurant (only seating about 10 customers) and is owned and run by the Chef. The food is amazing, he speaks no English, but that didn’t stop him from delivering a first class meal with plenty of variety. The address is 307 Tamatsushimacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8427, Japan. He is extremely popular so get there right on doors open. If you google Eikichi Restaurant Kyoto you will find the restaurant listed with directions.
Tourists are spoilt for choice in Japan, so we think it a good idea to do some research into what type of attractions you wish to visit. A good place to start doing your research for Kyoto is the Kyoto Tourism website.