KYOTO TOURIST INFORMATION
Kyoto Station Kyoto Tourist Information Center (Kyoto Station) is located on the second floor of Kyoto Station. The largest public tourist service center in Kyoto, it is jointly operated by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City. Staff members can speak Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. The centers has a wide array of pamphlets and maps and the staff can: 1) recommend sightseeing spots, events and activities; provide guidance on transportation and access to tourist attractions; give advice on the accommodations such as hotels and Japanese-style hotels (ryokan). It also sells sightseeing tickets for various tourist attractions or events and provides reservation and ticketing for tourism facilities. Ithe center can also provide reservation and ticketing for some transportation, transit agencies and accommodation Location: 600-8216 2nd Floor Kyoto Station, Karasuma, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Tel: 075-343-0548. Hours Open: 8:30am to 7:00pm. Open all year;
Websites: Official Kyoto City site kyoto.travel; Discover your own Kyoto (Run by Kyoto Tourism) kyototourism.org Kyoto Prefecture Site Welcome to Kyoto ; Good Museums website: kyoto-museums.jp ; Inside Kyoto: insidekyoto.com ; Maps: kumihimo-society.org
Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto (across the street from north entrance of Kyoto Station) is on the third floor of Kyoto Tower. This center is oriented more towards providing information on all of Kansai, which includes Osaka, Nara, Kobe and many other places. Location: 721-1 Higashi-shiokoji-cho, Shichi-jo Sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto. Tel: +81-75-341-0280. Hours Open: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Closed from December 30 to January 3)
Guidebook of Kyoto: “A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto” by Marc Treib and Ron Herman; “Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops and Inns” by Diane Durston (Kodansha); “Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City” by Diane Durston; and “Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide” by Governor Mosher. The tourist offices provide a number of excellent free guides.
Getting to Kyoto: 1) From Kansai International Airport: 75 minutes by JR Limited Express “Haruka” or 85min. by Limousine bus to JR Kyoto Station. 2) From Narita International Airport: By rail: 1 hr. by Narita Express to Tokyo and 2 hrs. 20 min. 3) By Shinkansen “Nozomi” or 2 hrs. 40min. by Shinkansen “Hikari” to JR Kyoto Station. 4) By air: 1 hr. to Osaka Itami Airport and 1 hr. by Limousine bus to JR Kyoto Station. 5) From Central Japan International Airport: 30 minutes to Meitetsu Nagoya Station by Meitetsu Limited Express and 40 minutes by Shinkansen “Nozomi” to Kyoto Station.
Orientation and Walks in Kyoto
Walks: The tourist offices provide a number of excellent free guides with walks. Popular walking routes: 1) the Kyoto Station Walking Course to temples and gardens in the Kyoto Station area. 2) the Kiyomuzi Temple Area Walking Course between Kiyomuzi Temple and Shoren-in in eastern Kyoto. 3) Path of Philosophy (between Nanzenji Temple and Ginkakuji Temple. 4) Ohara-Kurama Hiking Course through mountains between the Ohara temple area and the Kurama hot spring area.
5) the Golden Temple Walk to temples between Hanazono Station on the JR San-in Main Line and Kikakuji (Golden Temple) in northwest Kyoto. There are also a number of walks and hikes in the temple areas and mountains around Arashiyama in western Kyoto and Fushimi Inaria Shrine in southern Kyoto. Many people stroll around the Gion area in the evening and a night, hoping to catch glimpses of geisha and maikos. See Hiking Mountains in the Kansai Area.
Websites: JNTO walking guide PDF file JNTO ; Frommers Frommers.com
Orientation: Kyoto is laid out on a Chinese model as a flat 3½-mile by 3-mile rectangle. Surrounded by mountains, it is divided by a great east-west highway, subdivided by parallel avenues, and organized into checkerboard units. The Tourist Information Center (TIC) provides a good free map.
The main commercial and nightlife centers is between Shijo-dori to the south, Sanjo-dori to the north, Kawaramachi-sori to the east and Karasuma-dori to the west. Central Kyoto includes this area and extends roughly from Kyoto Station in the south to Imperial Palace in the north. Temples, shrines and other places of interest are scattered all over the city and its hinterlands.
It is hard to get around Kyoto exclusively on foot. To make matters worse only a few places can be reached by train or subway. To reach the majority of temples, shrines and gardens you have to take at least one public bus, some of which run only a couple times an hour. Many people end up taking an organized tour because transportation is so problematic. Taxis are convenient if you have enough money.
Entertainment in Kyoto
19th century geisha The best source of entertainment information was Kansai Time Out but it ceased publication in September 2009. Time Out continues to exist online and remains a good source. Entertainment guides and calendar of events may be obtained from the tourist offices, hotels with foreign customers and newsstands. You can also check out local Thursday or Friday weekend entertainment supplements in the English newspapers (Japan Times and Japan News), the Lonely Planet books, other guidebooks, and posters put up around town. Entertainment Websites: Official Kyoto City site kyoto.travel;
Kyoto Time Out timeout.com
There are lots of bars and nightclubs in Pontocho (across the Kamogawa river from Gion, between the river and Kawaramachi-dori, north of Kawaramachi station) and in main commercial district between Shijo-dori to the south, Sanjo-dori to the north, Kawaramachi-sori to the east and Karasuma-dori to the west.
Traditional entertainment districts are known as “hanamachi: and “kagai.” These are the traditional stomping grounds of geisha — or as they are known in Kyoto, geiko and maiko. There are currently about 100 maiko working in Kyoto. They are younger — and generally better looking — than the geiko and tend to be the geisha tourists are most likely to see.
Gion is the most well-known of Kyoto’s five traditional hanamachi (entertainment) districts. Keep in mind that places with geishas are extremely expensive and don’t accept people off the street. Bunraku puppet theater, Kabuki, No Theater and traditional forms of Japanese music and dance are often staged at various venues in Kyoto (again check Kyoto Visitor’s Guide or the tourist offices for schedules). Many of Kyoto's temples and shrines come to life during the numerous festivals and events that fill Kyoto's calendar.
Western and Japanese classical music concerts are performed at the Kyoto Concert Hall. It can seat 1,800 people and contains a pipe organ that ca make the sound of Japanese musical instruments. Nintendo has plans to build a "Pokemon World" theme park in Kyoto.
Entertainment Websites: Kyoto Time Out timeout.com ; Kyoto City Tourism Association Kyoto Travel ; Lonely Planet lonelyplanet.com ; Live Japan livejapan.com
Theaters, Gardens and Baths in Kyoto
Kabuki Minami-za Kabuki Theater (near the Kamo river) is the oldest Kabuki theater in Japan. Near the spot where the theater now stands, a Shinto priestess and her troupe performed the first Kabuki in 1603 to raise money for a shrine. Most performances are held during the Kaomise festival from the end of November to late December. Website: Kabuki Web kabukiweb.net/theatres/minamiza
Noh Theater was first performed in Kyoto in 1374. A new Noh theater, the Kongo Noh Theater (five minutes by foot from Imadegawa subway station), opened in Kamigyo Ward in June 2003. Replacing the wooden Kongo Nogaku-do Theater which closed down after 140 years in 2000, it is a 430-seat concrete theater with computer-controlled lighting, a stage close to the audience, carefully-engineered acoustics and a headset system so that non-Japanese can follow the action in six languages. Noh and kyogen are also performed at the and the Kanze Nogaku-do Kaikan. Website: Kyoto Kanze kyoto-kanze.jp
Maiko Theater (Higashiyama Ward) features maiko, young geisha-like female entertainers and has become popular with tourists from abroad. Jiji News reported: “At the Maiko Theater, launched in late 2016, audiences can enjoy dance performances by maiko and eat and drink with the apprentice female entertainers, who are in the process of learning traditional dance and music.“Anybody may enter the theater for a fixed charge, according to the operator. It is generally thought to be difficult to see maiko performances in Kyoto as many places offering such shows in Japan’s ancient capital refuse first-time customers. “I’ve wanted people to know the attraction of the culture of the hanamachi [geisha district],” said Kugu Tomoko, a representative of the maiko theater. “I’ve hoped to create a place where visitors can see maiko easily.” “Some 80 to 90 percent of the audience are foreigners. But, surprisingly, some people come from Kyoto,” said Kugu, whose parents runs a restaurant in which maiko and senior female entertainers perform and provide accommodation for them. [Source: Jiji Press, May 13, 2017]
Baths: Funaoka Onsen (Kuramaguchi-dori) has seven baths, including an indoor bath, outdoor bath and an herbal bath which smells like celery. The changing rooms features a painting of a large red-nosed demon and woodcarvings made during the invasion of Manchuria.
Shomen-yu is huge three-story bath complex with an outdoor bath on the roof. The sauna has a television and room for 20 men. One of the nicest outdoor onsens is in Kurama. See Kurama. Website: Japan Visitor Japan Visitor
Gardens in Kyoto
Gardens in Kyoto include the ones at the Imperial Palace, Heian Shrine, Ginkakauji Temple, Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, Sanzen-in Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Tenryuji Temple, Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa, Saiho-ji Temple Moss Garden, Daichiji Temple, Jonangu Temple, Nijo Castle, and Tofukuji Temple. For more details see these places. Websites: Kyoto Gardens.org kyotogardens.org ; Japanese Garden learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens ;
The classic Japanese garden is an artificial garden that reproduces natural scenic beauty in a heightened intensity. Its charm lies in its subtle, highly sophisticated layout in a limited space.The aim of Japanese landscape gardening, which has a long history of development, is to create a scenic composition by arranging rocks, trees, shrubs and running water in such a way as to create the sweep of a vast landscape. [Source: JNTO]
Japanese gardens are usually referred to as the “hill garden” (“tsukiyama”) and the “waterless stream garden” (“karesansui”) The hill garden features a hill usually combined with a pond and a stream. It can be viewed from various vantage points, as you stroll along the paths, or appreciate it from within a house to which it is attached. Fine specimens of this style are the gardens of Tenryuji Temple and Saihoji Temple, both in Kyoto. In the dry landscape garden, rocks and sands form the main elements, the sea being symbolized not by water but by a layer of sand with furrows suggestive of the rippling movement, and waterfalls by an arrangement of rocks. Examples of this style are the gardens of Ryoanji Temple and Daitokuji Temple, also in Kyoto.
With the introduction of the tea ceremony in the 14th century, the chaniwa (garden attached to the tea-ceremony house) came to be designed and laid out. Actually, it is not a garden but a narrow path leading up to the chashitsu (tearoom proper) The aim of the designer of this style was to create a feeling of solitude and detachment from the world. A tea garden is mainly featured by the placement of stepping stones. Most of the tea gardens are not open to the public.
Ticket windows are usually closed 30 min. or 1 hr. before closing time. The gardens are mostly closed from December 28 to January 4. The time-saving and convenient way to see the Japanese gardens in Kyoto is to join one of the tours. Reservation is required. (by phone or Internet) Course Time required Fare Operated by Nijo Castle – Kinkakuji Temple – Kyoto Imperial Palace – (Nishi Honganji) – Lunch – Heian Jingu Shrine – Sanjusangendo Temple – Kiyomizudera Temple 10 hrs. 30 min. ¥11,600 Sunrise Tours (075) 341-1413 Tour with an Englishspeaking guide. On Saturday, Sunday, national holidays and some other days when Kyoto Old Imperial Palace is closed, the tour will visit Nishi Honganji, instead. On Tue. in January, July, Aug and December when Nijo Castle is closed, the tour visit Ryoanji Temple, or Daitokuji Daisen-in Temple, instead. Kinkakuji – Kiyomizudera – Arashiyama – Heian Jingu Shrine 7 hrs. – 8 hrs. ¥6,460 Keihan Bus/Kyoto City Bus (075) 672-2100 Tour with a Japanese-speaking guide Kyoto Imperial Palace – Daitokuji Hombo-Daisen-in Weekdays only Lunch – Sennyuji – Daitokuji Daisen-in Temple 5 hrs. ¥7,160
Restaurants in Kyoto
traditonal kaiseki dishes A variety of places to eat are scattered around Kyoto. A good list of restaurants is sometimes available from the tourist office and guides with restaurant are on sale at bookstores and newsstands. You can also check lists of restaurants and suggestions in Kyoto websites, local entertainment magazines, the Lonely Planet books, and other guidebooks.
Kyoto-style cuisine, noted for its refined taste and artistic presentation, is a synthesis of three distinctive styles of cooking: Yusoku-ryori, favored by the old court nobility; Kaisekiryori, developed to be served before the tea ceremony; and Shojin-ryori, vegetarian dishes traditionally preferred by Buddhist priests. Collectively called Kyo-ryori, the dishes consist of soup, rice, pickles and, according to the season, a variety of fish and/or vegetable dishes.
“ The Michelin Guide Kyoto and Osaka 2010 “ was released in October 2008. Six restaurants in Kyoto and one in Osaka were awarded three stars. They included 400-year-old Japanese restaurant Hyotei, the main restaurant in Arashiyama of Kyoto Kitcho and the French restaurant Hajime in Osaka. In the guide the five level rating system was applied to restaurant and ryokan.
For three months, beginning on June 15th, outdoor Yuka Dining Platforms on the west side of the Kamogawa river, are open. These places tend to be very expensive. More than 82 restaurants offer alfresco dining stretching on a 2.5-kilometer stretch of river. There are lots of restaurants and bars in Pontocho (across the Kamogawa river from Gion, between the river and Kawaramachi-dori, north of Kawaramachi station) and in main commercial district north of Kawaramachi station and between Shijo-dori to the south, Sanjo-dori to the north, Kawaramachi-sori to the east and Karasuma-dori to the west.
One Kyoto resident wrote: "We have so many many good restaurants in the downtown area that every day I discover new ones. We also have a decent gaij community...you might add for relief Tadg's Irish bar on the 8th floor of the Empire building just south of Oike on Kiyomachi. There is comfort food for the foreigner tired of total Japanese. It is in area of the hotels too. Recently sanjo street has taken off between terramachi and Karasuma. Also Karasuma is becoming the center of Kyoto and had new hotels and shops including the Sinpukan near Oike."
Restaurant Websites : Kyoto Official Travel Guide by Kyoto Tourism Council Kyoto Travel ; Kansai Restaurant Guide Bento.com ; Frommers Frommers.com ; Fodors Fodors.com
Shopping in Kyoto
The long history, the sophisticated aristocracy, the wealthy merchants and the natural artistry of the people have all combined to produce a rich tradition in creating beautiful objects, arts and crafts. Whether just window shopping or looking for that special souvenir, the following areas are the most rewarding: Nishiki Food Market for unique Kyoto cuisine; Teramachi, Shijo and Shinkyogoku shopping arcades; Kiyomizuzaka St. for a wide selection of ceramics; the extensive underground shopping arcades, ‘Porta’ and ‘The Cube’, and Aeon Mall around Kyoto Station; and the fashionable Kitayama-dori St.
Souvenir and curio shops sell things like woodblock prints, porcelain, scrolls, screens, dolls and ceramic figures. Marutamachi Dori is one of Kyoto's busiest modern shopping streets. But it is also a busy street chocked with traffic. Shinmonzen Dori is Kyoto’s main street for antiques. Kitayama used to be known as a trendy shopping area but it was at its peak a long time ago when the Bubble Economy was in full swing in 1980s. Websites: Kyoto Official Travel Guide by Kyoto Tourism Council Kyoto Travel ; Frommers Frommers.com
19th century souvenir shop Shijo Street (Shijo subway station) is the main east-west shopping street in downtown Kyoto. There are department stores here and many interesting craft shops. There are many small shops in the shopping arcades on Teramachi Street and Shinkyogoku Street. Kawaramchi, which intersects Shijo Street, is full of amusement facilities and more shops.
Toraya Confectionery was founded in the early 16th century in Kyoto, but with the move of the imperial family to Tokyo in 1868, the headquarters of the company followed suit. Hiroshi Naito, a specialist in intrinsic wood structures, redesigned the old store opposite the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. His expertise shows in the curved ceiling of tearoom, and his open design lets the garden optically flow into the building. Location: 415 Hirohashidono-cho, Ichijo-kado, Karasuma-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 602-0911 Tel: +81-75-441-3111
Daisho-do is a specialty store selling rare items such as Japanese antique books, woodblock prints and others. Several centuries after the "The Scroll of Frolicking Animals and Humans", came Ukiyo-e (woodblock print). These images of urban culture and amusement were extremely popular among commoners in the Edo Period (1603-1868) and were often displayed in homes. In their time, ukiyo-e occupied a place similar to today's manga in that they were staples of popular culture. You can purchase ukiyo-e, Japanese books, at "Daisho-do." Facing a row of temples, this shop carries high quality items but also sells comparatively affordable replicas. The store will wrap and package your purchases and send it by airmail to almost anywhere around the world. Location: Nishiki-koji agaru Teramachi Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City Hours Open: 11:00am-7:30pm, Closed Wednesdays; Getting There: 5-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line, 10-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Keihan Line
Downtown Shopping District of Kyoto
The Walk “Modern Bustling Streets Cross Traditional Narrow Streets” takes you through the bustling streets of Nishikikoji, Teramachi-dori St., Shinkyogoku, and Kawaramachi. Head downtown to the dizzying sights and sounds of modern Kyoto, where the glaring electrical goods shops, huge department stores and banks stand alongside dusty old book shops and printmakers. Wander down the narrow backstreets of Ponto-cho, Hanamikoji-dori St. and Miyagawa-cho, and you might just catch a fleeting glance of a maiko or geisha sitting inside with a measure of refinement befitting the ancient city doorways.
Shijo-kawaramachi is the main place in Kyoto for restaurants and department stores. From here, it's only a short walk to Gion where old town houses have been transformed into stylish boutiques.For a break from shopping, wander down the tiny alleys that link the main streets and see a fascinating contrast of two worlds. Stroll around here at dusk and in the darkness watch the traditional lanterns gradually come to life, glowing gently against the blazing neon backdrop. End your day with a performance at Gion Corner, the famous stage for traditional arts. Performances are twice daily from 6:00pm and 7:00pm Note that there are no performances on July16, August16 and December29-January3.
Nishiki Food Market (long Nishikikoji St. between Teramachi and Takakura streets, behind Shijodori, the main commercial district) is filled with many small shops selling Kyoto delicacies. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” it is where restaurant chefs pick up ingredients by bicycle and women do their shopping in kimonos. Rows of paper lanterns hang from pickle shops and items from the shops spill out in the narrow 390-meter-long covered arcade. Among the delicacies on sale are “gu” (bread-like pieces of wheat gluten), “yuba” (soy paper), and steaming carp roe. There are about 150 grocery stores selling the best fresh produce available in Kyoto on n this narrow stone-paved street. It is always bustling with customers who come to look, to taste, and to buy the best.
Crafts in Kyoto
Kyoto is still regarded as a major center of traditional crafts. Among the 40 or so different kinds crafts that are still made in Kyoto are Nishiki silk weaving, Yuzen dyed cloth, Kiyomizuyaki pottery, Kyo Zogan (Damascene), Koi Braided Cord, Kyo Washi (handmade paper). cloisonne, lacquerware, dyed garments, woodwork, embroidery, braiding, round paper fans, folded paper fans, stonework, dolls, sliding paper doors, kimonos, Buddhist altars, and Buddhist altar implements.
If crafts are your thing, a good place to begin your visit to Kyoto is at the Fureaikan Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (near Heian Shrine) Many traditional industries took centuries to develop and are now kept alive by a few artisan families. There are a number of craft museums and craft shops where crafts are sold and craftsmen can be seen doing their work. Check “Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops and Inns” by Diane Durston. Tourist offices in Kyoto also have guides and pamphlets that explain where you can buy and see demonstrations of all the crafts mentioned above. Websites: Kyoto Official Travel Guide by Kyoto Tourism Council Kyoto Travel ; Japan Guide Japan-guide.com
Kyoto Handicraft Center (accessible by No. 206 bus from Kyoto Station) sells good quality but expensive crafts such as ceramics, dolls, fans, and dyed cloth. You can often see craftsmen at work and try your hand at making cloisonne, wood bloc prints and dolls.
Kyoto Café Katsumi Yasuda contains handmade curtains, old doors from condemned buildings, flowers and plants – everything is a reflection of architect Katsumi Yasuda’s own warm and sensitive personality. Located in Kyoto’s historic quarter for kimono makers, Somushi is a haven of tranquility with a meditative quality. “When you design something, it is vital to allow time to go over everything in detail,” explains Yasuda. “Here in Kyoto, the pace of life is just that bit slower, so there’s always time!” Location: 73 Ogura-cho, Nishi-iru, Karasuma-sanjo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 604-8166, Tel: +81-75-253-1456
Kawai Kanjiro’s House is the home of the potter Kanjiro Kawai (1890-1966), He was a central figures of the Mingei movement, which strove to bring out the aesthetic beauty in everyday traditional crafts and readily available nature. The museum offers a thorough survey of Kawai’s wide range of works, including ceramics, calligraphy, woodwork, brasswork and furniture, as well as his selection of artifacts from around the world. Location: 569 Kanei-cho, Gojozaka, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 605-0875, Tel: +81-75-561-3585
Textiles in Kyoto
At Orinasukan (on the street east of Senbo, two blocks north of Imadegawa) you can see kimonos being made by skilled weavers and elaborate looms. For a $4 entrance fee you get shown around by an English-speaking guide and see a museum with modern kimonos and spectacular Noh costumes.
The Nishijin area is famous for its tradition silk weaving. Christal Whelan wrote in Daily Yomiuri: “For five centuries the neighborhood of Nishijin, west of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, has been the production center of Japan's obi, silk brocades, twills and gauzes. Its narrow streets are lined with two-story wooden townhouses called machiya, the traditional habitations of the textile artisans and the merchants who organize production and sell the finished products to wholesalers. The characteristic latticed doors and house-fronts are often painted with a red-ocher pigment that repels moths from these silk-weaving workshops. "Nishijin" refers not only to this district in Kyoto, but to a weaving process and to a textile product that carries its label.”
Nishijin Textile Center (Karasuma subway station) is a facility set up for tourists. Here visitors can see a kimono fashion show, a demonstration of silk weaving, and displays of Nishijin fabrics. Women can try kimonos and have their picture taken in them. Shoppers can buy kimonos, dresses, robes, neckties and other garments made of Nishijin silk. Website: Nishijin.or Nishijin.or
Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten is a famous for shibori dyed kimonos. Shibori is the Japanese word for techniques that shape textiles and preserve their form, even when dyed. Kazuo Katayama is the third-generation president of this company that keeps up the century-old tradition. “Shibori tie-dye’s concaveconvex characteristics achieve unique and daring designs,” he says. “Fashion and art fuse and thereby turn into a complete new form of wearable art.” Location: 221 Hashibenkei-cho, Takoyakushidori, Karasuma Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 604-8151, Tel: +81-75-221-2666
Kyoto Shibori Museum introduced you to the oldest dyeing craft in Japan and is still used to make vivid but cultivated designs on kimonos as well as other Japanese clothing and small articles.This is the only museum in Japan specializing just on the tie-dye theme. Visitors are able to leisurely enjoy the techniques and results via bimonthly special exhibitions arranged by tie-dye experts and film footage of the various processes. In addition, the museum offers three very popular scarf tie-dye courses, “Sekka shibori” “ita-shime-shibori” and “Kyo-arashi-shibori”, that visitors can try out.Finished scarves can be taken home on the day. And, for visitors who want a technical challenge, the “fukusa course” awaits. This involves dyeing using the Kyoto dapple-pattern technique. Location: 127 Shikiami-cho Aburanokojidori Oike-sagaru,Nakagyo-ku; Tel: +81-75-221-4252; Fax: +81-75-221-4253; Hours Open: 9:00am to 5:00pm , Closed Irregular holidays; Admission Fee: 800 yen; Dyeing lesson: about 3,500 yen and others; Getting There: 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of the Tozai Line Nijojo-mae Station, 5-minute walk from Horikawa-Oike Stop of City Bus; Website: shibori.jp;
Markets in Kyoto
Nishiki Food Market (long Nishikikoji St. between Teramachi and Takakura streets, behind Shijodori, the main commercial district) is filled with many small shops selling Kyoto delicacies. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” it is where restaurant chefs pick up ingredients by bicycle and women do their shopping in kimonos. Rows of paper lanterns hang from pickle shops and items from the shops spill out in the narrow 390-meter-long covered arcade. Among the delicacies on sale are “gu” (bread-like pieces of wheat gluten), “yuba” (soy paper), and steaming carp roe. There are about 150 grocery stores selling the best fresh produce available in Kyoto on n this narrow stone-paved street. It is always bustling with customers who come to look, to taste, and to buy the best.
Temple Flea Markets include the ones at 1) Toji Temple on the 1st Sunday each month, 2) Kitano-Tenmangi Shrine (southwest of Daitoku-ji Temple) on the 25th of each month, 3) Imamiya Shrine on the 1st of each month, 4) Chionji Temple on the 15th of each month. 5) Kamigoryo Shrine on the 18th of each month. 6) Myorenji Temple on the 12th of each month and 7) Koshoji Temple on the 28th of each month.
The flea markets in January and February are said to be particularly large and interesting. The Kitano-Tenmangi market is the most famous. Honoring a local patron saint, it draws vendors from Osaka, Nara, Mie, Hyogo as well as Kyoto. Vendors sell everything from candied apples to octopus balls and stalls offer plants, pottery, used kimonos and obis, second-hand cloths, antiques, produce, pickles and a wide variety of other stuff. There are about 400 stalls the flea market. About 10,000 people show up at the market.
An interesting artists market is held on the top of Mt. Yoshida above Ginkaku Temple on the third Sunday of each month. . The monthly market at Hyakumanden Chionji Temple is popular with aspiring designers, aiming to find markets for their clothes. Websites: Sharing Kyoto sharing-kyoto.com
Accommodation in Kyoto
Kyoto has many nice traditional Japanese inns and a large selection of first rates hotels and some standard hotels, hostels, and business hotels. Hotels are scattered all over town. Some are located around Kyoto Station. There are also some unique modern places. “Hotels in Japan” from the Japan National Tourist Organization, given out at overseas tourist offices, has a good list of deluxe, luxury and standard hotels. Lists of traditional inns are also available. Tourist offices can help you find a place. The Lonely Planet guides have good information on budget accommodation.
Kyoto’s accommodations range from Luxury and First class Westernstyle (¥25,000 to ¥90,000) to business-style (¥10,000 to ¥20,000) hotels to Ryokan, or Japanese inns, which encompass the discreetly deluxe (¥30,000 to ¥90,000) to the modest (¥10,000 to ¥20,000). The traditional inns are an excellent way to experience traditional Japanese lifestyle first-hand. All accommodation is clean, safe and comfortable.
As a rule the cheaper places are not centrally located. Some of the cheapest accommodation are dormitory beds in gaijin houses and hostels. Temple lodging known as shukabo is offered at Myoren-ji Temple and Hiden-in Temple. The TIC offers two useful brochures: “Reasonable Ryokan & Minshuka in Kyoto” , “Shukabos in Kyoto” and “Inexpensive Accommodation in Kyoto (Dormitory Style) “. Also check “Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops and Inns” by Diane Durston
Kyoto Hotel Concept Room (one stop south of Kyoto Station) a hotel reception area into an exhibition space. The entrance is like a sculpture museum, and the comfortable guest rooms are like galleries: A cherry blossom-wallpapered room is designed by Mika Ninagawa. A double-bed with a giant silver wardrobe hook overhead is the work of Kenji Yanobe. Even the smokers’ corner underwent has become 1960s-style Pop Art installation. Location: 7 Aketa-cho, Higashi-kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 601-8044 +81-75-681-5656
Hotel Websites: Kyoto City Official site Kyoto Travel ; KTrip Advisor tripadvisor.com; Japan Hotel & Ryokan Search jnto.go.jp/ja-search; Japan Hotel Association j-hotel.or.jp/en; Japan City Hotel Association jcha.or.jp ; Japanese Inn Group japaneseinngroup.com; Ryokan and Minshuku Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association ryokan.or.jp; Japanese Guest Houses Japanese Guest Houses Budget Accommodation: Japan Youth Hostels (click hostels for good map and description of hostels) Japan Youth Hostels; Check Lonely Planet books
Transportation in Kyoto
Toji Temple Kyoto is serviced by Japan Railways (JR) lines, two subways (the Karasuma and Tozai lines), five private train lines (Keifuku, Eizan, Keihan, Hankyu and Kintensu), a city bus system run by several companies, and taxis. Velotaxis may be available in some places in central Kyoto. Hankyu rents bicycles at 10 stations in Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo prefecture. Open top double-decker bus tours are available in Kyoto. See Orientation above.
If you can three of four people together to save money you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle by taking taxis around to the sights.If you are on your own taxis may prohibitively expensive and getting around will take same planning and research because only some places can be reached by subway or train and many require a bus trip. You may want to consider a tour.
An extensive bus and subway network covers the city. Fares start from ¥230 for buses and from ¥210 for subways, with both being determined by the distance traveled. Taxis are plentiful, with fares starting from around ¥450 for the first 1.2 km.Most of the buses in Kyoto are painted light green, with a thick dark green line running down the center. In most cased the fare is ¥220 for inner city rides and more for rides into the suburbs or countryside. The bus information line (☎ 075-801-2561) is in Japanese language only.
Trafica prepaid cards can be used for all city subways and buses. They come in ¥1,000 and ¥3,000 denominations. City senyo prepaid cards are valid only on the city buses. A special one-day ticket is available for ¥700. One- and two-day tickets that can be used on all buses and subways without limit cost ¥1,200 for one day and ¥2,000 for two days. The prices are half for children. These tickets can be purchased at subway stations, bus stations and bus and subway information centers.
According to ASIRT: “Streets are laid out in a grid pattern, making navigation relatively easy; however, traffic is often congested. Many 1-way streets exist, especially in central Kyoto. Parking is difficult to find. Bus transportation is the easiest way to get around. Some buses travel in a loop, and others travel between two destinations. (Announcements are made in Japanese and English.) There are two subway lines: the Karasuma Line runs north and south from Takeda to Kokusai Kaikan. The Tozai Line runs east to west. The two lines intersect in Central Kyoto at Karasuma Oike Station. Few hills exist, making biking easy. Rental bikes are available. Kyoto is one of the major stops on the Shinkansen bullet train, and Tokyo can be reached by train in 3 hours. [Source: Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT)]
Websites: Japan Guide japan-guide.com ; Kyoto Official Travel Guide by Kyoto Tourism Council Kyoto Travel ; Kyoto Prefecture Site Welcome to Kyoto Kyoto Metro, Subway and Train Map: Urban Rail urbanrail.net Kyoto Tram Map: Urban Rail urbanrail.net; Maps: kumihimo-society.org
Kyoto Station is the main long-distance train station is Kyoto. It is a new massive, modern building with stunning architecture that opened in 1997. In addition to trains it has a hotel, theaters, a museum, a department store, tourist information centers, restaurants and shops. It is also where you catch shinkansen (bullet trains) to Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyushu in the south and Nagoya, Tokyo, Nagano, Yamagata, Niigata and Akita prefectures in the north. Websites: Kyoto Station Site kyoto-station-building.co ; Wikipedia Wikipedia ; Kyoto Station Map : JR West westjr.co
Getting to Kyoto: 1) From Kansai International Airport: 75 minutes by JR Limited Express “Haruka” or 85min. by Limousine bus to JR Kyoto Station. 2) From Narita International Airport: By rail: 1 hr. by Narita Express to Tokyo and 2 hrs. 20 min. 3) By Shinkansen “Nozomi” or 2 hrs. 40min. by Shinkansen “Hikari” to JR Kyoto Station. 4) By air: 1 hr. to Osaka Itami Airport and 1 hr. by Limousine bus to JR Kyoto Station. 5) From Central Japan International Airport: 30 minutes to Meitetsu Nagoya Station by Meitetsu Limited Express and 40 minutes by Shinkansen “Nozomi” to Kyoto Station.
Tourism and Transport Passes for Kyoto and Kansai
For frequent users, One-day (¥900) and Two-day Passes (¥1,700) are available for both buses and subways. Also handy for the day tripper is the Kyoto City Bus and Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass (¥600) Subway, Bus One-day (Two-day) Pass can be used on all Kyoto Subway lines and City Bus lines, as well as on Kyoto Bus and Keihan Bus (with some exceptions). It gives you an unlimited number of rides on these networks for either one or two consecutive days, and is regarded as best deal if you travel is limited to Kyoto.You can get special offers at some tourist spots if you present this ticket on the day of use.You can buy this pass at any subway station in Kyoto. One-day Pass:Adults: ¥900, children (6 to 11 years old): ¥450; Two-day Pass: Adults: ¥1,700, children (6 to 11 years old): ¥850
Bus One-day Pass (City Bus & Kyoto Bus) covers unlimited bus rides on City Bus and Kyoto Bus in the flat-fare zones for the duration of one day. If you plan to takes buses three or more times in one day, this pass will save you money. You can get special offers at some tourist spots if you present this ticket on the day of use. Remember, though, if you travel outside the flat-fare zones will require an extra fee. You can buy these passes at commuter pass sales booths, the Kyoto City Bus and Subway Information Centers, the Kyoto City Bus Offices, or at subway stations (adult tickets only). You can also purchase these passes from bus drivers, but supplies may be in limited supply, Adults: ¥600, children (6 to 11 years old): ¥300.
Subway One-day Pass can be used for unlimited rides on all Kyoto Subway lines for the duration of one day. You can also get special offers at some tourist spots if you present this ticket on the day of use. You can buy this pass at any subway station in Kyoto Adults: ¥600, children (6 to 11 years old): ¥300.
Hankyu Tourist Pass gives you unlimited rides on the Hankyū rail network that connects Kyoto with Osaka, and Kobe. If you want to explore all of these cities in a short space of time, the Hankyū Tourist Pass is a good choice .This pass is only available to foreign tourists visiting Japan for sightseeing with “temporary visitor”. You have to show your passport when you purchase the pass. The two-day pass may be used on non-consecutive days within its period of validity. When you purchase this pass, you will receive a booklet with special promotions for the Hankyū Tourist Pass holders. You can buy the Hankyū Tourist Pass at airports or at Hankyū Tourist Centers. One-day Pass:¥700; Two-day Pass:¥1,200, Website: kansai360.net
Kansai Thru Pass 2-day-3-day ticket is convenient and economical for traveling in Kansai. It allows you unlimited use of designated public transportation in Kansai. Also special treatment at selected facilities along the railways, made available by showing the pass you have used that day. The Kansai Thru Pass can be purchased at a travel agency before your visit, or after you arrive in Japan at the Tourist Information Center at Kansai International Airport. Two Day Pass: ¥ 4,300 for adults and ¥2,150 for children six thru 12. Three Day Pass: ¥5,300 for adults and ¥2,650 yen for children six thru 12.
ICOCA is a convenient JR-West IC card for JR, Subways, private railways, and buses as well as in the PiTaPa area. You can pass through automated wicket gates without removing the card from its case.
JR West Rail Kansai Area Pass is a good deal for those who want to travel around Kansai for a full day or more, and is convenient for traveling to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, or Nara, etc., via JR. It allows you to ride in the free seating section of the limited express Haruka from Kansai International Airport.One day: ¥2,400 for adults (12 and over); ¥1,200 for children (6-11): Two day: ¥4,800 for adults (12 and over); ¥2,400 for children (6-11): Three day: ¥5,800 for adults; ¥2,900 for children; Four day: ¥6,800 for adults; ¥3,400 for children
Image Sources: 1) Ray Kinnane 2) MIT Education 3) 5) 8) Visualizing Culture, MIT Education 4) 7) Liza Dalby Tale of Genji site 9) 10) Kyoto Prefecture Tourism
Text Sources: JNTO (Japan National Tourist Organization), Japan.org, Japan News, Japan Times, Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan Ministry of the Environment, UNESCO, Japan Guide website, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Updated in July 2020