Map out your travel plan into five areas
by joiwatani
Depending on how many days you are staying in Kyoto, map out the places you are going to see. The temples are located in different areas:
1. Higashiyama Area - The attractions around this area includes Chionin Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Kodaiji Temple, Ryozen Kannon Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, Jishu Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Myohoin Temple, Chishakuin Temple, Sennyyuji TempleTofukuji Temple, Tobakaido, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Fushimi Momoyama Castle, kajuji Temple, Suishinin Temple, Daigoji Temple, Hohkaiji Temple, Hino-Tanjoin Temple, and Daizenji Temple.
If you just have a few days in Kyoto, just go to Kiyomizu Temple.
2. Ginkakuji Area - The attractions in this area are the Sekizanzenin Temple, Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Rinkyuji Temple, Manshuin Temple, Enkoji Temple, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Ginakkuji Temple and Honenin Temple. The other attractions include: Kamigamo Shrine, Kamigamijinja-mae, Kyoto International Conference Hall, Takaragaike Park, and Takaragaike Children Park.
3. Okazaki Area - The attractions here are the Nyakuoji Shrine, Eikando Temple and the Kyo City Zoolgical Garden.
4. The Kinkakuji Area: The attractions here include the Shinkoin Temple, Shodenji Temple, Genkoan Temple, Ketsuji Temple, Bukkyo University, Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, Kosanji Temple, Jingoji Temple, ADasino Nenbutsuji Temple, Daikakuji Temple, Gioji Temple, Takguchi Temple, Seiryoji Temple, Nisonin Temple and Rakushisha Temple
5. The Arashiyama Area: The main attractions include Jojakkoji Temple, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenyuji Temple, Iwatayama Park, Horiji Temple, Matusnoo Grand Shrine, Kegonji Temple, Saihoji Temple, Nishikyogoku Sports Park, and the Katsura Imperial Villa. 6. The Central Area includes the following attractions: Nijo Castle, Kyoto International Manga Museum, Nishijin Textile Center, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto Imperial Park, Kyoto City Hall, Shokokuji Temple, Doshisha University, Hoyoji Temple, Myorenji Temple, Funaokayama Park, Kenkun Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Shrine, Shinnyodo Temple, Kurdani Konkai Komyoji Temple, Heain Shrine, Myoshinji Temple, Hanazono University, Kyoto Foreign Language University, Hirano Shrine, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Mibu Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple, Umekoji Temple, and Toji Temple
Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara
by naruto
This is a temple in Ohara famous for its beautiful moss gardens and autumn foliage. A very nice and tranquil place to take a stroll and enjoy the scenery of its two beautiful gardens called Juhekien and Yuseien
The Sanzen-in's Ojo-Goguraku-in (Amida Hall), which means Temple of Rebirth in Paradise, was first built in 985 by the Tendai priest Genshin. It enshrines a statue of Amida with two kneeling attendants, Kannon and Seishi. This main building of Sanzen-in is also famous for its Funazoko, or boat's bottom ceiling which makes visitors feel that they are in an upside down boat.
Kyoto Subways
by Rabbityama
Kyoto has two subway lines: the Karasuma Line and the Tozai Line. The Karasuma Line travels from north to south and the Tozai Line travels from west to east. The meet at Karasuma Oike Station, where you can transfer from one line to the other if you need.
The Karasuma Line is the one you will use if you get on at Kyoto Station. Here are some stops with nearby attractions along the Karasuma Line (from south to north):
- Takeda Station (Jonangu Shrine)
- Kyoto Station (Kyoto Tower, Toji Temple, Higashi Honganji Temple)
- Marutamachi Station (southern entrance to Kyoto Imperial Park)
- Imadegawa Station (northern entrance to Kyoto Imperial Park)
- Kurama-guchi Station (Shokokuji Temple, Hokyoji Temple)
- Kitayama Station (Kyoto Botanical Garden)
The Tozai Line can actually take you to Otsu city or down to the Daigo area. The following are its stations with nearby destinations (from west to east):
- Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station (Koruji Temple, Toei Movie Village)
- Nijo-mae Station (Nijo Castle)
- Sanjo Keihan Station (Pontocho, Nishiki Market, Gion)
- Higashiyama Station (Shoren-in Temple, Chion-in Temple, Maruyama Park)
- Keage Station (Murinan Garden, Nanzenji Temple)
- Ono Station (Kajuji Temple, Zuishin-in Temple)
- Daigo Station (Daigoji Temple)
The line bound for Rokujizo Station will take you through the Daigo region. To get to Otsu, you'll want to instead be on the subway bound for Hamaotsu Station.
Kiyomizu-dera - a must see in Kyoto!
by sacrebleu
Both bus number 100 or 206 stop nearby the temple but it takes approximately 15 minutes to get there walking uphill from the Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka bus stop. Don’t be distracted by all the shops along Sannenzaka and Ninen-zaka – the two picturesque stepped streets leading off from Kiyomizu-zaka. You will need more time to explore this best known sight of the city. I would suggest going early in the morning when there are less visitors. I was there late afternoon and it was crowded with both tourists and students. I couldn’t really enjoy the visit to its fullness as I was constantly bumping into people, needless to say having my photo taken without including the others was a mission impossible. It would have been nice going there earlier, wandering around and emerged in the tranquility.
Highlights of the temple are its wooden verandah in the main hall which offers an impressive view of the city; the waterfall (Otowa-no-taki) where the temple is named after and the love temple (Jishu-jinja), which, during my visit, was packed with students praying for puppy love. The "love stones" placed 18 metres apart in Jishu-jina suppose to bring love to the lonely hearts if they manage to walk between these stones with their eyes closed. There is no mention about cheating so you can of course ask your friend to shout and direct you!
Next to the waterfall is an open-air teahouse where visitors can sit in lotus position while enjoying traditional tea and sweet. But if you prefer some peace and quiet, there are also two teahouses situated downhill towards the exit.
Do check the Kyomizu-dera web site before you go as I think they also open at night in some months.
The Kyoto I loved morfe
by xaver
Gion is the city area of Kyoto known as the geisha area. In the middle age this area developed in front of the sanctuary of Yasaka in order to host the pelegrems.
Later it became the area of geishas, today, it's really hard to see one of the few left.
This is probably the best area of the town to see the old typical houses (machiya) and the ones of them that became tea houses (ochiya) where the geishas used to entertain the customers.
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Izumo-no-Okuni's Grave at Kotoin Temple
Fusuma Painting at Nison-in Temple
Washing and drinking in Otawa-no-taki
The makeshift canopy for visitors of the museum
