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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 11:21 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Kyoto Off the Beaten PathTips 11 - 20 of 107  
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (107)
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Kyoto: Kiyotaki-gawa Hike Pt. 1
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  • Updated By Intrepidduck on February 2, 2006
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  • A restaurant's foot bridge. - Kyoto
    A restaurant's foot
    bridge.
    by Intrepidduck
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    This is an excellent and easy enough hike to do all year round. Much of the trail follows the beautiful wild river. Take note of the near aligator sized giant fresh water cat fish. I saw people swimming in this river so they can't be to much to be afraid of although do so in more open settled areas of the stream to avoid dangerous currents.

    Start the walk at the Jingo-ji shrine, buses from Central Kyoto, and follow the stream all the way to Kiyotaki village and on towards eventually reaching a road tunnel. Go through it and one has two choices of train stations for the return trip into Kyoto, Hozukyo the easier one to reach.

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    Nanzenji Temple
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  • Updated By naruto on January 30, 2005
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  • Sanmon of Nanzenji Temple - Kyoto
    Sanmon of Nanzenji Temple
    by naruto
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    This is a huge temple complex situated in the eastern part of Kyoto at the foot of the hills, and can be considered off the beaten track as it doesn't seem to get as much visitors as the other more "celebrated" world heritage site.

    Nanzenji Temple is a very attractive temple situated on the Philosopher's Walk route and entrance into the temple complex and grounds are free.

    The admission you need to pay for are:

    SANMON
    The two-storey main gate to Nanzenji that charges 500yen for you to climb to the second floor to enjoy the surrounding views.

    NANZENIN ZENJI
    This is a smallish temple just behind the aqueduct. It charges 300yen and is of interest to those who likes Zen Buddhism.

    HOJO
    This is the abbot's quarters which charges 500yen.

    Visit my Nanzenji Temple Travelogue

    GETTING THERE
    Nearest bus stop: Nanzenji, Eikando-michi. You can take bus 5 from Kyoto Station

    Nearest subway station: Keage. From here, it is a 10 mins walk to the temple

    HOURS
    Open daily, 8.30am-5pm

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    Make a Japanese doll in Kyoto
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  • By ClareyD on April 2, 2005
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  • Spot the difference - Kyoto
    Spot the difference
    by ClareyD
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    You come to Japan for a different experience so why not make your very own Japanese handicraft to take back as a present or as your very own memento of your trip in Japan. The Kyoto handicraft center located behind the Heian Shrine (on Marutamachi) is not particularly off the beaten track as such and is in fact located in a tourist haven containing various shops where the tour buses come in their droves however for 1500 yen (including tax) between 1.00-4.00pm you can participate in your very own handicraft class where you can make either a Japanese doll, Cloisonne, an incense bag, do woodblock printing or paint a dorei doll. They advertise that classes as taking about one hour per class although the Japanese doll classes take usually 1 hour 10 mins on average. And when i mean a class even one person can participate - there was just my boyfriend and myself in ours. We tried our hand in Japanese doll making. See if you can spot the difference between our amateur efforts and the experts. Note that it isn't really advertised in the center so you will need to ask at reception.

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    Shosei-in Gardens, a k a Kikoku-tei
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  • Updated By Pixiekatten on November 19, 2006
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  • Shosei-in Gardens II. - Kyoto
    Shosei-in Gardens II.
    by Pixiekatten, 2 more photos
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    I stumbled upon this garden on my way from my guest house (K's House) one day. Beautiful little garden well worth a visit. Just watch out for the bees ;) (See pic.)

    Make sure to register at entry and give a donation! I wandered right in slightly confused and got chased after by the guard.

    Address:
    Shimojuzuyamachi
    A short distance east of Higashi Honganji temple to which it belongs.

    10min walk from Kyoto station
    5 min walk from city bus stop
    7 min walk from Gojo-eki subway station


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    Make your VERY own Japanese Sweets @ Yoshihiro!
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  • Updated By phoebelosophy on June 18, 2004
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  • traditional japanese sweets - Kyoto
    traditional japanese sweets
    by phoebelosophy
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    Just outside of Kyoto's main city area is a local village called Nijo where you can find a modern little shop. And inside this shop you can make your own Japanese sweets (like the ones they use during the traditional tea ceremony!)

    Under the careful instruction of an experienced and certified 'sweetmaker', you will receive full step-by-step procedures on how to make your own sweets.

    Each season has a different type of sweet you can make. Since I went in Spring, we made a pink and white flower which blooms in Spring.

    You work from a previously made sweet, and listen to the Japanese instructions. Don't worry if you can't speak Japanese (I can't), because the instructors use great hand gestures and help you if you're stuck!

    Lot's of fun and not too expensive! (Around 2,000 yen for the 1 hour class and you get to eat your sweets with traditional Japanese green tea!)

    LOCATION and DIRECTIONS:
    The name of the shop is "Yoshihiro" in Nijo.
    You have to change trains(JR Sanin Line) at Kyoto station.
    You get off the train at Nijo station (2 stops from Kyoto).
    It's about a 5-minute walk from the station.

    But you should reserve it at least TWO days beforehand!

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  • Phone: 075-811-5554
  • Other Contact: Opens at 10am, closes at 6:30pm

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    A Thousand Surprising Buddhas
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  • By mishkah on May 2, 2006
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  • Kyoto Off the Beaten Path
    by mishkah, 4 more photos
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    What's the collective noun for Buddhas? A flashmob of Buddhas?

    Otagi Nembutsuji is an hour out of Kyoto on the number 72 bus, beyond the Arashiyama hills and obviously not marked on most tourist maps as there was not a soul in the entire place. Well, besides me and the Buddhas.

    There are nearly 1500 carved Buddhas here, from drinking Buddhas to a surfing Buddhas, and even an Akibahara geek Buddha, complete with glasses and calculator.

    Mossy, misty, and silent, this was my favourite place in Kyoto.

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    Graveyard on the walk up to Kiyomizu Temple
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  • By ClareyD on May 16, 2005
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  • Japanese Graveyard - Kyoto
    Japanese Graveyard
    by ClareyD
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    A little unusual, but we found this by accident. Rather than following the main route up to the Kiyomizu Temple with all the usual stalls selling souvenirs we found a path at the bottom of the hill just by the main freeway intersection that took us up the hill through a graveyard.

    Space being at a premium in Japan the graveyards are built on the side of hills/mountains where they can't build houses. Walking up through the graveyard was very peaceful and it was interesting to see the wonderful variety of grave stones and quite a few crows hanging around.

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    Fushimi-Inari Jinja
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  • Updated By DirtyRudy on June 13, 2003
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  • Fushimi-Inari Jinja - Kyoto
    Fushimi-Inari Jinja
    by DirtyRudy
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    This really isn't a famous shrine, but I think it's special because of the long rows of Torii, the gate-like structure located in front of many temples (often orange in color). Walking through it is a bit eerie, especially at sunset, but it's worth the trip if you've never really got a good look at Torii before. This shrine is especially good for bringing prosperity to your business.

    There's no admission fee to visit.

    Located Southeast of Kyoto St., take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari St.

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    Go to a spa
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  • Updated By yukisanto on February 1, 2007
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  • Outdoor pool area - Kyoto
    Outdoor pool area
    by yukisanto, 4 more photos
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    Near Kyoto, in Sonobe there is a Rurikei Spa. Not an onsen but same concept (See my sonobe page for explanation) You can take a 2D1N package, with dinner and breakfast thrown in and it's really good. They even have a shuttle bus service from the train station. For me it costs around SGD120.

    Directions: Take a JR train from Kyoto station to Sonobe station. Once there, a pre-arranged shuttle bus will pick you up.

    What to do for the spa area:
    Go to the counter, they will give you a locker key, a set of clothes, a swimsuit, and 2 towels. Go into the changing room (separate for guys and gals from this point onwards), put your own clothes into the locker room and one towel into the locker. Walk into the pool area with the small towel, go to the corner where everyone is sitting along the wall on stools and fine one empty spot and do your own bathing. After you have bathed, you go to the warm pool to soak, then the hot pool, then the cold room, then the sauna if you want. no particular order actually.

    No swimsuit needed unless you are going out into the outdoor pool area where both men and women are there. The indoor pools are separated. Everyone I saw was in the nude.

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    Down the Hozu river
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  • Updated By CliffClaven on September 13, 2002
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  • Kyoto Off the Beaten Path
    by CliffClaven
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    Old Cliffie is a bit too old for white-knuckle pastimes such as bungee jumping or whitewater rafting. But he did enjoy the 'Hozugawa Kudari' - trip down the river Hozu - near Kyoto. Take the train (20 minutes) from Kyoto to Kameoka, from where it's a ten-minute walk to the river. The trip lasts just under two hours along a deep, twisting gorge through mildly exciting rapids to Arashiyama on the west side of Kyoto. At about 40 dollars (25 for children), the trip is not cheap. Poor old Cliffie had to dig deep into his pocket when he volunteered to take five junior members of the Claven clan on the trip one day.


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