Kyoto-fu Travel Forum

Hi,
I'm currently planning a trip to Japan with 6 nights scheduled in Kyoto. I've been looking at staying at the Ryokan Shimizu for all six nights. My question is concerning sleeping on the tatami mats. How comfortable are they? Should we expect trouble sleeping on the mats since we are not in the best shape? I'm also looking at going to Koyasan after Kyoto and staying 3 nights in a temple with sleeping on the floor also.
Mike

I will be leaving for Kyoto in a little over three weeks. Staying at Hearton hotel. Any comments regarding the hotel is appreciated. Are there Bikram studios in Kyoto? Tennis courts open to the public? Hourly rates?

Thank you so much.

Well, looks like all decent accomodations in Kyoto are fully booked! I checked all types of ryokans (well, there were some I did not care to stay in) - then I gave up and looked at the Westin - well, it's also booked!

I am quite upset at this - if this is the height of tourist season, I am thinking of just cancelling my trip and doing at a different time. I never imagined I would not find a hotel a month before the trip! If all hotels are packed - then Kyoto, no matter how bit it is, will be packed.

Is this normal for this season, or are the hotel people just holding on to rooms until the last minute?

On the good side ... maybe I can go back to Spain this year after all ;-)

We arrive in Kyoto midday on Nov 29, we are there all day 30th and depart midday on Dec 1. (Sun pm, all day Mon and Tues am) We would like to do a half day tour to the Bamboo Groves. It seems that the guided tours I've found only go on Wednesdays and Saturdays? Is there a reason for this that makes travel on other days impossible? If not how would I go about getting from Hotel Monterey Kyoto to the Sagano and Arashiyama districts and back in half a day. The guided tours I've seen take approx 4 hours.
Thanks

By now I have established I will not be purchasing a rail pass. I arrive in Tokyo around 15:00 on a Tuesday and would like to take a Shinkanzen (sp?) into Kyoto.

I have been messing around with a site called 'jorudan' to find routes. It yielded several options, with the "E" - easy option to (1) take the Narita Express #36, then (2) the Nozomi No.249. This Nozomo appears to be part of the Tokaido Shinkanzen. Check wiki. This is part of the Central Japan Railway Company, orange member of JR. Great.

So ...

- No Japan Pass. Can I buy this ticket some place on line like I do when I go to Europe?

- Can I use a credit card (I understand some US cards don't work) - or how could I find out how much this ticket will be? It will be a round trip.

- How reliable is this site http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

I'm sure this is a piece of cake - but I'm used to having my ticket.

Hi

Can anyone advise how long does it takes to walk from Kiyomizu temple to Gion?

Help is much appreciated.

This festival begins ,I believe, on 14 October 2010. On that day we leave our Kyoto hotel and fly out of KIX at 11:00 PM. How feasible would it be to try to go from Kyoto to Himeji and on to KIX by flightime? Has anyone experienced this festival? Train times seem doable as I begin to investigate, but I have never been to Japan before, nor to any such event. Are there really large crowds? Could transport be a problem? Or is this too much to try to do and still be at the airport around 9:00 PM. Any opinions and insights would be appreciated. Thanks.

Could you suggest a nice ryokan that is centrally located with a friendly staff? I am -not- looking for a budget place, I need a place that is very clean, comfortable, peaceful (but not at the expense of being far from transportation). I also prefer not to be using shared bathrooms, rather have my own bath. Perhaps I should not say prefer - I don't want to share ;-)

It would be a plus if the place had a reservations system where you can reserve with a credit card and had a good cancellation policy. Because sometimes I need to cancel my travel I would prefer not to have to pay up front. At least, the option to pay with a credit card is welcome.

Also, any comments on the food or otherwise would be welcome. I've done a little checking around and it seems there's a big range of differences, some offer private facilities, others do not.

Hi
Can i know where to find a budget priced geisha/maiko make up?

I'm making a day trip from Tokyo to Kyoto in Dec. Immediately after I arrive at Kyoto Station, I will proceed to the pier in Kameoka for the boat ride.

I need help on the directions and transport from Kyoto station to the pier.

Can someone help?

Thanks!

I am arriving in Kansai international on Oct 24 around 930 PM (Saturday night) and i have reservations in a hotel in Kyoto. I will be there for a week. I know about the trains between Kansai and Kyoto but i am arriving late on a weekend. Will i miss the last train going out? Taxi Cost? By the time i get out of customs it may be an hour.

Thanks so much.

We have longer in Japan as a whole - but will be there from October 27 for 3 weeks. We just don't know the best use of our time. Is Kyoto heavily congested? Are the trains difficult - we don't speak Japanese, but will learn some language before we go in October. Is it better to stay in larger hotels where english is more likely to be spoken. Or perhaps say, 8 days in Nara or nearby and do day trips. Help ! Many thanks in anticipation.

Hi everyone...

We have been lucky enough to get cheap flights to Osaka , so are going to spend a week in Kyoto starting the end of next week. Last time we were in Japan we had JR passes, which were great then, as we travelled to so many cities. This time we are planning to stay only in Kyoto, exploring as much of the city as we can, with a day trip to Nara and possibly Arashiyama.
Can anyone advise me of our best transportation options? I have been looking at the Kansai Thru Pass, which seems like a good deal. Has anyone used it? or does anyone have agood knowledge of how it works? I would appreciate any and all help.
Thanks,
Tracey

I'm visiting Kyoto in Sept for 7 days. Stayed at guest house last time (3 years back) and would like to try home stay this round. Any recommendation?

How should I can to Kyoto from Narita airport by the most economical way? Planning to go stright to Kyoto upon arrival to Japan. Understand that there is over nite bus but not sure how to get to the city pick up points from Tokyo airport.

Tks.

Hello
My partner and I are going to Kyoto from July 5-7th. I really want to stay in a traditional ryokan, we are looking to pay around $10,000-$15,000 yen per night.
Does anyone know of an authentic ryokan to stay at for that rate? I'm so excited to go to Kyoto and I really want a guesthouse experience outside of a generic hotel!
Thank you so much!
Amy

hello,

when does autumn normally start in kyoto? travel guides and weather sites generally mention autumn as september to november. i'm planning to visit kyoto from september 28 - oct 1 and i'm wondering if the leaves will be red and gold already by then.

thanks a lot.

Hello VT'ers:

We are presently staying at Banana Guests House here in Osaka. Costing quite affordable at that in mind for a private bedroom, Japanese style which is just so adorable and wonderful management, not to mention many other addition....such as free internet, free bike usage, your own telephone in your bedroom, your own medium size refrigirator and clean fully equipped kitchen...and many other good things.

Now time is coming closer and we received letter from K's House that they are fully book for the 3 nights we need. Would there be another or semilar guests house, such as Banana Guests House located in Kyoto?

Many thanks to all ! and big cheers for the VT'ers here in Osaka such wonderful Osakans VT'er we had met, namely Yoko, Eiji and Mitchico! WE hope to meet with you folks again! Domo Arigato !

We will be travelling to Tokyo and Kyoto. We will be reaching Narita airport at 7 am (29 May 2009) and leaving on June 11. There are 3 of us, 2 adults and a 5 year old son. This is our first trip and basically we want to spend several days in Kyoto and rest would be in Tokyo. Now I am lost as how to plan to trip from Tokyo. Is it better to start with Kyoto first and then focus on Tokyo. We will spend a day in Disneyland too. I am planning to stay in Shinjuku area in Tokyo.

Some time ago I visited Uji-Kyoto a very pleasant city famous for their tea,
I'm planning to go and visit it again sometime this year and I'd like know if a store called Itokyu still there.Thanks in advance for any information.

Hi,

Because of personal problems I haven't managed to get to booking accomodation in Kyoto for a trip at the end of March 'til now.
I am getting everything "fully booked" when I make a request.
Also could the reason be that I put that a triple room will be shared by 1 male and 2 females ????
It will be my first time in Japan.

Anyone knows good websites (possibly local) where to find and book ryokans and the sort on a budget (I.e. btw 5000 and 7500 yen/night/person in triple room with ensuite).

I'm desperate and I start to fear that I will have to sleep on the streets !! :-P

Cheers.

Nick

Where in Kyoto is Kansai Airport Limusine station?
What about its schedule?

Hi,

I'm planning a 14 night (maybe +/- 1 or 2 days) trip to Japan later on this year with Tokyo and Kyoto as the main cities I want to visit.

After doing some reading, these are the places that I would like to visit whilst in Kyoto:

Nishi-Honganji Temple
Higashi-Honganji Temple
Sanjusangendo
Kiyomizu Temple
Kodaiji
Yasaka Shrine
Gion
Chion-in Temple
Heian Jingu
Nanzenji
Ginkakuji
Kinkakuji
Ryoanji
Imperial Palace
Nijo Castle
Toji Temple
Daitokuji Temple
Ninnaji Temple
Daigoji Temple
Kyoto Tower
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kurama Onsen

Day to Himeji
Day to Nara
Day to Iga-Ueno

Can anyone help me with how I can package these places up into a daily schedule? It'll be good to know what places can be seen together easily on the same day without having to do a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. Are there any other places that I should see that I haven't listed above? Any I should omit?

I've listed a lot of temples but at the same time I don't want to get templed-out! So, should I cut it down?

At this point, I haven't decided how long I should allow in each city. So, any help given will give me an idea.

I haven't considered going to Osaka nor Hiroshima would it be a mistake not to go there?

Thanks for any help!

Dear all,

I am going to Uji in March 2009, it's a day trip so I need a place to store bags. Anyone knows if UJI Station Keihan Line got those coin lockers ? I will be stoping at CHUSYOJIMA to change train, so any locker location along that line will be great !

Thanks Heaps !

Heya fellow travellers.
I plan visiting Kyoto soon (last February week probably) but I have some doubts about hotels and how to move there.
I need to be in a place called Pulse Plaza some part of my days and I was hoping you guys could help me arrange an hotel near that place and tip me on how to move myself around (mainly from Osaka Airport to hotel and places to see, how to move myself there).
Thank you in advance and hope to hear from you soon.

I have read that Japanese do drink gream powder tea. Is there a formal ceremony for that ? If so where should I make a reservaton?

Hi,
Aparently this Onsen has an outdoors part that is open to Ladies and Gents on alternate days ?
Is this the case?
if so, which is which, because I really dont want to go on the wrong day.
Thanks,
Pat

Thank you for all of the information.

One more question:
What is the best mode of transportation from hotel in Osaka to Hotel in Kyoto if I travelling alone with one big luggage?

Thank you

I'm traveling to Kyoto soon and am bringing my 15 month old. While siteseeing near the temples in Eastern Kyoto, is it better to have a stroller or a baby backpack? Are there too many cobblestones and no "handicap" access areas that I should not bring the stroller?

I can only choose one on my trip.

-Dore

I will have a conference in OSAKA for five days.
After the conference I want to visit Kyoto. I have two nights left.
Which one is better, should I stay in Osaka and go to Kyoto everyday for two days, or should I go and spent two nights in Kyoto?
Is is difficult to reach OSAKA airport from Kyoto?

Thank you

HI
1) I am taking my partner and her parents to Kyoto beginning of May 2009. We would like a ryokan for 1 or 2 nights and then a hotel ( parents are quite old and not too mobile)

Any recommendations?

2) Also, i have read the rough guide to Japan and kyoto but am still unsure re an itiniery. Can you help with some ideas please.

3) Can we get to Nara on a day trip

4) Is there anywhere in Kyoto we can try KObe beef?

5) What else should we be looking at?
Many thanks