Travel Answers

Hi. Pls comment on my itinerary. Thanks.
Day 1 - KIX arrival 7:55pm. Purchase 1 way ICOCA & Haruka package at airport. KIX - JR Kyoto. Walk to Backpacker's Guesthouse Budget Inn.

Day 2 - Eastern Kyoto Full Day (bus/walk)
Get 500 yen 1-day bus pass.
Kyoto Station Karasuma exit (bus 5/17 Ginkakujimichi or bus 100 Ginkakujimae) - Ginkaku-ji temple→(walk)→Philosopher's path→(walk)→Higashi-Tenno-Cho bus stop→(bus#5, 32, 46, or 100)→KyotoKaikan Bijutsukan Mae bus stop→(walk)→Heian-Jingu Shrine→Kyoto Kaikan Bijutukan Mae bus stop→(bus#5, or 46)→Shijo-Takakura bus stop→(Walk)→Nishiki Food Market→(walk)→Gion→(walk)→Yasaka Shrine→(walk)→Maruyama Park→(walk)→Kiyomizu-dera temple→(bus 100/206)→JR Kyoto station - back to hotel.

• You can get the Bus Map when you buy the 1 day pass!!! Also there is the route map at each bus stop!! So before you ride, you should check the bus map!!

Day 3 - Arashiyama Full Day (bus)

JR Kyoto Station - JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Arashiyama) - Bamboo Forest - Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street (lunch) - Tenryu-ji Temple - Togetsukyo Bridge - Monkey Park - JR Saga-Arashiyama Station - JR Kyoto Station – Hotel
Note: In Arashiyama area, the way to travel there is just to walk!! You don't need to take any bus or taxi in Arashiyama. You can just walk around. It takes a lot of walking. Sagano Scenic train's round-trip fare is 1200 yen. A bit expensive, so I'd recommend if the weather is beautiful.

Day 4 - Northern Kyoto (bus)
Get 500 yen 1-day bus pass.
Kyoto Station (bus 101 Kinkakujimichi) - Kinkakuji (bus #59 Ryoan-ji mae stop) - Ryoanji -(bus#59)- Ninnaji -(bus#59 and #12 at kinkakujimichi stop)- Nijo Castle (subway Nijo Station -Keihan Sanjo station (Subway) - Sanjo station (Keihan Railways) - Shichijo Station) – Sanjusangendo 4:30 pm last entry (Keihan Railways Fushimi Inari Station) – Fushimi Inari Shrine (JR Kyoto station by JR line) - back to hotel

Day 5 - Nara Day Trip (subway/walk)
JR Kyoto Station - JR Nara (900 yen, 1 hr 5 mins)
Join a walking tour:
- Great Buddha, Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine, Isuien Garden, Yoshikien Garden
JR Nara - JR Kyoto - back to hotel

Day 6 - Osaka (subway)
JR Kyoto - JR Shin Osaka - Shin Osaka (subway) - Namba Station (red line). Exit 3 & 4, 10 mins walk to Hotel Hillarys
Umeda:
- Osaka Station City - Umeda Station (red line)
Namba:
-Shinsaibashi - Shinsaibashi Station (red line)
- Shinsekai/Tsutenkaku Tower - Dobutsuen-mae Station (red) – walk to
- Nipponbashi Denden Town - Ebisucho Station (brown) – walk to
- Dotonbori - 5 min walk from Namba Station (red line)
- Walk back to hotel.
Shinsekai – Denden Town – Dotonbori (walkable for 1 hr). Denden Town is between Dobutsuen mae (subway) station and Nipponbashi (Subway) station.

Day 7 - Universal Studios (subway)
Namba - Umeda (red line), JR Osaka - Universal City Station

Day 8 - Osaka Castle (subway)
Namba - Hommachi (red line) - Tanimachi 4-chrome Station (green line)

Evening flight 8:40pm
Hotel Hillarys (6 mins walk) - Nanba Station (Nankai line) 38 mins – KIX
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Hi. This is my Arashiyama itinerary:

JR Kyoto Station - JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Arashiyama) - Sagano Scenic Railways walk? - Tenryu-ji Temple – walk? - Bamboo Groves - strongly recommended interesting walk - Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street – bus to Hankyu Arashiyama station (#28), and walk to Monkey Park – Togetsukyo Bridge walk - JR Saga-Arashiyama Station - JR Kyoto Station – Hotel

My question:

Do we walk from Sagano Scenic Railways to Tenryu-ji Temple? Is it also a walk from Tenryu-ji Temple to Bamboo Groves? Also from Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, we take bus #28 to Hankyu Arashiyama station and walk to Monkey Park, from Monkey Park walk again to Togetsukyo Bridge, from bridge walk again to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, is this correct?

Also, do you recommend to ride the Sagano Scenic Railways? How much is it & is it worth it?

Thanks!

Do you know a small wine shop in Kyoto where the owner's on cooks marvelous dinners? I ate there about 6 yrs ago and would love to know if it's still there and he's still cooking?

We stayed at the Motonago ryokan during our trip to Japan late last year. They unscrupulously decided to help themselves to an extra $200 from our credit card that was unauthorised. Since this is obviously fraudulent behaviour, does anyone know if we can report them to the police or any other tourism agency in Japan? They have refused to refund the money they stole from our account.

Hello, Will be arriving in Kobe via Cruise Ship on April 28, 2013. Would like to take the Speed train to Kyoto where we will stay the night and take the speed train back to the ship on the 29th. I Have looked at the train schedules online but cannot figure them out. Here are my questions: Are there readily available taxis at the port to take us to Shin-kobe train station? How far is it and how much is to this station? How do I find the correct train to take, the times, and the cost? Same questions in reverse. Our Hotel does offer a shuttle to the station so we should be ok there. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I have acupuncture regularly in the states and am interested in experiencing the Japanese version. Looking for a place that is well-recommended. English isn't necessary, but would be helpful. Central Kyoto is best.

Just posted regarding housing. Forgot to ask about child friendly activities/places to visit in Kyoto and Tokyo. Have been told about the aquarium in Kyoto and of course Kitty-land outside Tokyo (a must see with 2 girls...!!). Any playgrounds, nice parks etc. Maybe a place where we can rent bicycles even for the girls.

We are a Danish family with 2 small girls aged 2 and 3. We will be in Japan for 6 weeks from March 8 to April 20 2012. We are looking for a child-friendly place to stay in Kyoto. Preferably an apartment. Our budget is around2,000 - 2,500 a month. Any suggestions (and yes, we have tried airbnb but the places we have been offered are way over our budget).

Me and my partner plan to spend our honeymoon in Kyoto during November from the 22nd to the 28th. I’ll cut to the chase, looking around at hotels and it seems that almost every single one in the Kyoto/Osaka area are very heavily booked out for the Labour day weekend on November 24th/25th /26th with no rooms at all available in any hotel for these areas. My questions are, what would be my alternatives to try finding accommodation for this period, or what other areas would be good to stay in? (that would still be close enough to visit Kyoto from) Also, what other websites/methods are good for booking hotel rooms in this area? Some advice would be much appreciated, as I am at a loss on what to do at this point.

Hi, I am travelling to Japan in September, to be part of a teacher exchange program with my school and a school in Shizuoka. I have a free day however in Kyoto before I travel on and wondering if anyone could give me suggestions of the best places to visit in Kyoto. I am staying near Kyoto station and will have already had a day visiting Nijo castle, Kinkakuji tmeple, Kyoto imperial place and Nara. I am thinking maybe somewhere to do some shopping a market maybe? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

Hi there, I’d try online booking for Shimizu Ryokan near the JR Kyoto station for dates: 8, 9 & 10 Jun. But it's fully book. Can anyone here able to recommend or name me few nice and cost effective hotels near the JR Kyoto station or the hotels located in Kyoto centre which less than 10 min walk to JR Kyoto station? Thank you. Rgds/Dorothy Looi

Any thoughts on Matsue and is it a day trip from Kyoto?

I will be in Kyoto next week but am going with my parents (70+ YO) and kids (12 YO). Because of this i am a little skeptical about using the public transportation or walking long distances. I have looked into the option of taking a tour or hiring a car for the say. We have a 1 day tour but the car rental is too expensive. Moreover the tour does not cover areas that i would like to see Philosopher's path Walk, Ginkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji Temple's dry rock garden,    FUSHIMI INARI-TAISHA, DAIGO-JI. I know that are close by but how do i get to Ryoan ji from Ginkaku? Also how far are FUSHIMI INARI-TAISHA and DAIGO-JI from each other? Any information will be extremely helpful. Thanx in advance

If anybody knows Kyoto, you might think it would be me, having once lived there in ancient times and visiting many, many times over the years, and have always stayed with friends, but this time I'll be visiting with my same-sex partner which makes it unsure whether the welcome mat will be extended with as much graciousness as in the past. So we need a reasonable (under USD75.00) place to stay, and I know that VT members are the best at knowing if/where that's possible. A place in Yamashina might be nice, but the one hotel in the hotel web sites is (A) too expensive and (B) not available for our dates (May11-15) anyway. Three stars works for us, but we need more than a hostel... Can you send some ideas? Thanks a million!

Hi All, I am new here, but I feel so fortunate to have found a group to talk about my trip with, get advice and eventually be able to give advice. I am doing an artist residency in Kyoto near the Uji River for about 3 weeks, so that will be my home base. I plan to also visit Tokyo, but I haven't decided if I should go there before the residency or after. I am also wondering about how easy it will be to visit other areas while in Kyoto. Here is what I am thinking about trying to find: I want to see a lot of contemporary art. I want to talk to people who practice meditation. I am interested in paper making. SUSHI!!!!! Natural landscapes vs fantastical futuristic places. Fantastical Illustrations Unusual plantlife. So if any of you guys know of must sees based on my interests and ways to get around from Kyoto and the pros and cons of doing Tokyo first or last I would be so very grateful to hear from you!

I have not booked my trip yet because I want to first get a good amount of recommendations as to which Ryokans are best. Hopefully some of you have to stayed in Ryokans throughout Japan. Specifically Kyoto, but I will be traveling about Japan. So if you would be so kind as to reply with great ryokans and your reviews on the Ryokan. While in the smaller more rural cities I want to experience a traditional classic view of japan. Of course while in the bigger cities such as Tokyo and Osaka I will stay in hotels unless any of you know good Ryokans outside of the bigger cities but of course it is nicer to stay in the city you are exploring.

Hi, as part of our trp my wife and I will staying for 3 nights in Kyoto (sightseeing, just looking for reasonably priced accommmodation in a good location? thanks in advance andy

Hey I am traveling to Japan in the month of July and was in need of some help planning. I do not want to book with a group or tour because I want to travel and see shrines and so forth at my own pace. I wish not to stay the entire month in Kyoto but a week or two for sure. Here is a list of places I would like to visit. Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nara I need help which other places to choose those are just a base but I want to get a true understanding of the japanese culture. I am so eager to learn more as I am a young and aspiring chef who wants to learn this beautiful cuisine. I need help planning.

Hi, I am considering buying a 2 week JR Pass for my travels in Japan, but I find it very confusing and have a lot of questions. I've read the entire JR Pass website in English, but still am unclear about some things. For example-- 1) When I start my JR Pass does it record the time? For example if I start it on January 10th at 2:05 pm, does it expire on January 24th at 2:05 pm, or just at the end of the day on the 24th? 2)I plan to use the pass to go from Tokyo to Osaka to Kyoto and then back to Tokyo. Considering the biggest strech is just between Tokyo and and Kyoto/Osaka and back, I wonder if it's even worth it, and individual tickets might be cheaper? 3) Related to the question above, can I just use the pass to get from city to city, or can I also use it within the city (for example Osaka, Kyoto, etc) for the local transport, or will I have to buy additional local tickets to use the local transportation. I get the impression that JR does offer some transportation with cities, but that there are lots of "private" trains, buses, and subways too (which makes this seem very confusing). 4)Lastly, is it easier to maneuver with or without a JR Pass? Meaning regardless of the cost, which is better for ease of travel (buying tickets, making reservations, finding routes etc?). The train stations in Japan look chaotic and intimidating, part of me just wants whatever will be easier. Thanks for any information anyone has!

Hi, I would like to know which is the closest airport to Kyoto?, Thanks

Hello! WE would like to travel from Osaka to Kyoto then Tokyo and from Tokyo back to Osaka to catch our flight. Total travelling perod wiil be from 01january till 08 january 2012. Any suggestion for travelling this period of time ? This is my first time ever visit Japan! Hope to have a good memory and fun time with my family. Thank you. kimy

Hello my friends in Kyoto ... I need some good info please .... Does anyone know if I can buy 2 train tickets from Kyoto to Tokyo online ??? I DON'T NEED A JR RAIL PASS ... all I want is 2 tickets one way !!! Can I buy it online or do I have to buy them in person ??? ... I want to make sure I have ticket's and seat's and not be left behind .... Any good info would help .... Thanks ... jlanza29

We are going to Thailand for a couple of weeks and want to see Japan before. We are very independant travelers and cost conscience. We are going to spend some time in Tokyo and snagged a room with points for 3 nights Oct 28, 2012. We want to see Koyto before or after, maybe 3 days. Before or after depends on Freq Fliers flights and festivals. If we can fly into Osaka we hope to go to Kyoto first and then take the train to Tokyo. A have a few questions. With 4 of us can you recommend transportation from Osaka airport to Kyoto and from Kyoto on to Tokyo? Given we will be suffering from Jet lag, what would be a good first or second day outling? We were hoping to stay in a guest house in Kyoto, any suggestions? If we can change the dates of our rooms in Toyko, is it worth it to get to Kyoto before Oct 22 for the festivals? Thank you.

Best sushi restaurant near Karasuma-Oike? Also Soba restaurant? Within a 4-5 block walk any direction from that cross-street. By best I mean fresh, clean and good at what they do.

I'm asking how to get to Ryoan-ji from near Karasuma-Oike by Bus. It looks as though I can walk west to Horikawa and take the #12 to Ryoanji-mae stop. Has anyone taken this bus? How often does it run? Alternatively I could take the subway to Kyoto Station and take the JR Bus. Who has done what and what do you recommend?

Thanks for your feedback. We felt that it was a bit rush too covering three areas on the same day.

Uji, Nara and Fushima Inari in one day starting at 7:00 or 7:30 am from kyoto station. Is it feasible? How long does it take to get from Nara to Fuhsima Inari? We are planning to see Byodin Temple in Uji, Kasuya Taishi Shrine and Todaiji in Nara, and head to Fushima Inari at about 3:30 or 4 pm? Will we make it to Fushima Inari before 5 pm? Any feedbacks are much appreciated. Thanks.

I would like to travel from Osaka by bus to Kyoto. Could you give me suggestions on bus timings and cost...

Hello All, Just wondering if anyone has had experience staying at The Super Hotel in Kyoto ? I am looking for a Hotel room to sleep 3 Adults for under100 a night does anyone have any recommendations ? Any Must See's or Do's . Thanks in Advance

Hello guys! Can someone tell me what is the best way to get to Kyoto from Nagoya. Train? JR? is train and JR the same? Aprox how much would it cost? Thanks!!!