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Off the Beaten Path in Kyoto

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Kyoto Travel Guide

Off the Beaten Path in Kyoto

Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Kyoto attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Local Time 5:19 am Sunday, May 18, 2008
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Kyoto Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 107  
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (107)
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Nara - The Ancient Capital
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 30, 2004
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  • Todaiji Temple - Kyoto
    Todaiji Temple
    by bkoon
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    By basing in Kyoto, there are other areas in the Kansai region that you can visit fairly easily as the transportation system is efficient enough to bring you anywhere in Kansai in the fatest time. Nara is a historical site and definitely worth visiting. It is home for many World Heritage Sites too. Being an ancient capital of Japan, Nara has lotsa to offer and some of the places you must go are as follows : -Nara Park (To see the deer) -Toadaiji Temple (Well-known Temple with Huge Buddha) -Kofukuji Temple (5-storey Pagoda) -Kasuga Taisha Shrine (Place of stone lanterns) -Shoso-in Hall (A treasure house of religious items used in Todaiji Temple and ancient items.) -Gangoji Temple -Nara-Machi -Gangoji Temple -Shin-Yakushiji Temple -Sasayaki no Komichi lane -Wakakusayama Hill -Yagyu Kaido (Takisaka no Michi) -Nara National Museum -Nara Prefectural Museum of Art Bold : Places I visited. NOTE : Please refer to my Nara Page for more tips. Alternatively, check out A2002's (Lina) comprehensive Nara Page too.

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  • Website: http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/index.html

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    Hemeji - Japan's Most Beautiful Castle
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 30, 2004
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  • Himeji Castle - World Heritage Site - Kyoto
    Himeji Castle - World Heritage
    Site
    by bkoon
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    Many say that one will not need to visit any other castle after seeing the most beautiful castle of Japan, the Himeji Castle. Although a bit far from Kyoto than other nearby places, this castle is worth a visit. It is white in colour and a World Heritage Site too. The main highlight of Himeji is this castle. NOTE : Please refer to my Himeji Page for more tips or visit Sonia's (heywinks) page for comprehensive information too.

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  • Website: http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp/english/himeji/

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    Arashiyama
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  • By naruto on January 23, 2004
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  • Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama - Kyoto
    Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama
    by naruto
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    Arashiyama is a lovely and very pleasant area just northwest of central Kyoto city. It isn't on most visitors list of places to visit, but if you have an extra day and temple fatigue, a trip to Arashiyama is a great way to spend the day. HIGHLIGHTS: Togetsukyo Bridge Cherry blossoms (in the spring) Natural foliage Quaint shops, country-style Tenryuji Temple (if your temple fatigue isn't too severe) GETTING THERE: From Kyoto Station to Arashiyama, take the JR Sagano Line (San-in Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 15 minutes) Walk 5 minutes into the centre of Arashiyama. GETTING AROUND: On foot is the best way to explore Arashiyama

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    Kobe - City by the Coast
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 30, 2004
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  • At the Kobe Port Habourland - Kyoto
    At the Kobe Port Habourland
    by bkoon
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    You will pass-by Kobe to and fro Kyoto and Kimeji. Kobe is a coastal city with a big port. I was there for merely half-a-day. I was at the Port of Kobe Harbourland where the Kobe Tower is. Many remember this city as they recall the destructive earthquake which unfortunately happened there. At 5.46 am on January 17, 1995, the Southern Hyogo Prefectural Earthquake (the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake), the first major quake to directly hit a Japanese urban area, inflicted unprecedented heavy damage on such cities and their surrounding areas in the Hanshin-Awaji region as Kobe, Awaji, Ashiya and Nishinomiya. The powerful jolt, which lasted barely 20 seconds, took 4,569 lives in Kobe city alone, practically reducing the elegant harbor city developed through many years of our ancestors' hard work to mere piles of debris and depriving many people of the very basis of their livelihood. Some Main Highlights of Kobe : - Kobe Chinatown - Kobe Tower - Mosaic - Kobe Maritime Museum - Kobe Erathquake Museum (Highly Recommended as I read so much about this and I believe it is worth the visit although I did not have the time to pop by.)

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  • Website: http://www.city.kobe.jp/index-e.html

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    Osaka - Busy City in Kansai
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 30, 2004
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  • Dotonbori - Kyoto
    Dotonbori
    by bkoon
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    Osaka is a big and bust city. We were there mainly for shopping. 2 places we went, Umeda and Namba. These are great shopping start points. Dotonobori is a must go. Just observing the busy lifestyle of the people is also interesting. As for turist attractions, I would say there are a few : - Osaka Castle - Osaka Aquarium - Dotonbori - Tennoji Park

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  • Website: http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/link/index-f.htm

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    Rural and Tranquil Ohara
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  • By naruto on January 30, 2005
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  • grounds of Sanzen-in Temple - Kyoto
    grounds of Sanzen-in
    Temple
    by naruto
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    Ohara is a northern suburb of Kyoto and still retains an atmosphere of old-time Japan. Famous for its Sanzen-in Temple as well as its Oharame girls, Ohara is a great place to visit, just to chill out from the crowds and traffic. After a tired but great day spent walking from temple to temple and exploring the small town of Ohara, a relaxing way to unwind is to soak in an onsen, and Ohara has some good ones. Check out my Accomodation page for my recommendation for a place to stay in Ohara To get to Ohara, take Kyoto Bus #17 or #18 from JR Kyoto Station (platform C2, about 1 hour), and get off at Ohara Stop.

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    Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara
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  • Updated By naruto on January 30, 2005
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  • Sanzen-in's Ojo-Goguraku-in - Kyoto
    Sanzen-in's Ojo-Goguraku-in
    by naruto
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    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.

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    Rock Statues in Sanzen-in Gardens
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  • By naruto on January 30, 2005
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  • Rock Statue - Kyoto
    Rock Statue
    by naruto
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    I was utterly fascinated by these little rock statues and faces nestled within the moss of the Sanzen-in gardens. They look like little gnomes, but could very well have a more spiritual significance. You can see more of these statues in My Rock Statues in Sanzen-in Gardens Page

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    Visit the Monkey park at Arashiyama
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  • By ClareyD on April 2, 2005
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  • Feeding area - Kyoto
    Feeding area
    by ClareyD
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    If you fancy something different to do in Kyoto or simply suffering from temple fatigue and like animals, how about a trip to the Monkey Park at Arashiyama. You enter the park strolling up a steep mountain path, when you get to the top you get to the feeding area which has an incredible view of Kyoto and lots of monkeys (the park has around 170 Japanese monkeys). You can buy some monkey nuts or apples (100 yen as at March 2005) to feed the monkeys but the general rule is that you can only feed them in the feeding area. It's a good idea to keep the bag of food away from the edge of the cage as the monkeys will grab it from you. If you continue away from the feeding area there is a play area with swings and a slide where you can watch the monkeys playing around which makes for some good photo opportunities. It's really good fun and great to watch the interaction and different personalities from close proximity and makes a nice change from seeing monkeys in cages.

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  • Phone: +81-075-872-0950
  • Website: www.iwatayama.ne.jp

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    Farmhouses at Kameoka
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  • By akikonomu on December 27, 2003
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  • Farmhouse - Kyoto
    Farmhouse
    by akikonomu
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    From Kyoto train station, take the train bound for Arashiyama and alight at Kameoka. Or If you had taken the "romantic train" (or something like that) from Arashiyama, you'll alight at Kameoka. Walk around the area and see farmhouses with small plots of rice fields, vegetable plots, chrysanthemums or persimmon trees. Kudos to the warm, friendly shopkeepers who offered me directions and recommendations for lunch (free coffee offered, alas I don't drink coffe). There's also a pastry shop with pretty confectionery.

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