 %Eat first before you start exploring Kyoto!%c* by joiwatani | Tips and photos of Kyoto tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Kyoto locals. Kyoto Map |
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 Andy's Cam by devmicha
On your way down there is a long slide that monkeys and humans alike want to play on. you may have to wait your turn while the monkey babies have their fun!
Watch the locals... They are afraid of the monkeys... and check out the great view!
As I said. Arashiyama is full of great hikes. You may still see some monkeys and these ones will not have been so domesticated by all of the visitors. Leave a Comment
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Many guidebooks and travel sites talked about the Philosopher's Walk from Ginkakuji to Nyakuzutsuji, 2 kms away. It was named after Nishida Kitaro, a Japanese philosopher who walked the route daily engrossed in deep philosophical thoughts surrounded by lovely cherry blossoms in spring and the natural stream (or canal?) running alongside.
I was there in the summer, and decided to try walking this renowned path from Nanzenji. After walking 1/2 the distance, and having my view of anything lovely blocked by rows and rows of parked cars, I have to say this "so-called" attraction is a disappointment. There is nothing romantic or lovely about walking 2 kms seeing nothing but cars and cafes lining the tiny road beside it.
There are many hidden gems along the route of the Philosopher's Walk - namely shrines and temples. With less crowds and more peaceful surroundings, do pay them a visit as that could be well worth your time.
There will be wooden signboards indicating whenever there is a temple/shrine in the vicinity.....just follow that direction and explore.
You can either visit all the Big 5 temples in Kyoto, or visit lesser known but equally beautiful temples like Sanzen-in Temple, Chion-in Temple, or Tofukji Temple. Leave a Comment
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 Tourist pose at Kyoto Station by BorderHopper
If you need help find one of many tourist booths set up to help the wayward traveller. Leave a Comment
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 %Eat first before you start
exploring Kyoto!%c* by joiwatani, 4 more photos
Make sure to have a good hotel reservation before you get to Kyoto!
If you didn't have a reservation, request from the hotel staff if you can leave your belongings to their safety locker and come back at 3 pm and check in. At least, you have time to go out and eat or do some exploring before 3 pm.
Make sure to get your passport, money and other valuable items. I know that the staff are honest but it is best to take your valuables with you. Don't bring the heavy stuff items.
Hang out at the hotel or leave your belongings at the hotel after you paid for your reservation. They don't accept your luggages to be left behind if you don't have reservation and paid in advance.
Ask information at the Kyoto Station what would be your best alternative if you don't like to go hang out at the hotel, which is a waste of time.
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If you are a picky eater, make sure to point the food at the window gallery if you wanted a particular food. Don't choose the food that you don't know how it looks like or taste like. The reason why? You end up wasting your money!
I am not a picky eater but still, there are some food that are new to me especially when I am travelling. My stomach can't handle anything that has lactose on it. I won't be able to enjoy my trip if the whole time I will be spending my precious time in a bathroom or being miserable from stomach ache!
I pick and choose the food that I see a lot of people are eating. I just ask the waitress: I want that kind of food they are eating. Or, something...
In Kyoto, they have displays of different food. They look really good on the window - look like real food but they are made of plastic. They can imitate the real color of the food!
So, enjoy your trip by eating the food that your stomach can handle! Also, choose the food that you are already used to so you won't be wasting the food and your money to the drain!
Ask questions, ask around the people in the restaurant what is the especialty of the restaurant even before sitting down. It is best to ask the locals...
Ask the servers what is the most popular food ordered at the restaurant. Don't ask, what is the most delicious food they serve. It might not be delicious to you but delicious to them! So, it is best to ask the most popular food ordered...
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 The choices of food at a local
restaurant by joiwatani, 4 more photos
I sat on a table close to smokers and they whole time, I was eating - I was also feeling sick because of the heavy smoke going to my eyes and worst breathing it!
The Japanese people are heavy smokers. You will see them smoking all the time. They have places to smoke at parking lots, hotels, etc. but at restaurants, they don't have designated areas...
Make sure that you choose a table closest to where the ventilation is. Otherwise, you won't be able to enjoy your good meal because of the cigarette's smoke!
I don't really have an alternative besides asking the smoker to stop smoking- politely that is. However, it is best to just choose a restaurant and check it out first, then get in and choose a table closest to the open window for ventilation!
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OK. I first heard about a guesthouse called Toji-an from a tip on VT. Then I saw the website - very cheap and looks nice. But when we arrived there, it was not like what I saw on the website...
First impression: the noren (the cloth hung up in front of the door) was torn and dirty. The toilet stinks and the smell reached the hallway where the rooms are located. There is no key, so the room cannot be locked. When we entered "our" room, there is a used towel on the hanger. The bed wasn't made and the blanket was not neatly folded--I think they didn't clean the room and changed the sheets and blankets; they didn't even removed the used towel.
The guesthouse was a small wooden house and the rooms were seperated by thin wooden walls so we could hear the people in the next room giggling...
In their web site they said they had free shower. What they meant was: they didn't have any shower, so guests must go to a public bath nearby, pay 100 yen and they will reimburse.
Anyway, we never spent a night there.
So you were still curious and checked in????
(Should I say "I told you"?)
Always have a list of alternetives. Do as we did. With your mobile phone, call other accommodations that have good ratings or that are listed in your guide book.
If you cannot find an available room yet or you don't have any functioning mobile phone:
* Prepare your day pack with clothes for the night and the next day, leave your big packs if you can't endure carrying them any longer (for the sake of your shoulder and waist) but don't leave any valuables, because the room cannot be locked.
* Walk 2 blocks North to JR Kyoto Station--it will be your base. Find a public phone, open your guide book and try to call the accommodations listed there, book a room.
(If money is not a problem, there is Granvia Hotel upstairs JR Kyoto Station.)
* Have a good sleep at the other accommodation.
* The next morning, go back to Tojian, get your other bags and check out.
Find accommodations with acceptable guest ratings. All accommodations we stayed at in Japan were listed and rated in sites such as Rakuten and Hostelworld, except Tojian (we only saw their website without checking other sites for ratings).... and look what we got. Leave a Comment
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 Kyoto tower by tompt
I t is built in 1964 and is 131 m high. The observationdeck is 100 m high.
The admission fee is like the tower: skyhigh!
If you go to the top of Kyoto station there is a free observation deck. And the views from the skywalk in Kyoto station are also great! Leave a Comment
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dont go to the tourist show in gion. its a total tourist trap, unless your tired and want to sit for a while. its expensive , and i really didnt think it was worth it. i dont remember the exact name of the show. its all about the geisha though. i think i couldve figured out the history of the geisha in other ways!
check out the nightlife in gion, instead, which i didnt get to do becuase my mom hurt her foot at the temple while stepping wrongly on a stone!
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 Inside the Park by pammo
My Japanese friend took us here with her son, so I couldn't say no, but I urge you to be more assertive.
At least you are not too far from some other places worth checking out. Ganbatte! (Good luck) Leave a Comment
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