Kyoto Travel Forum

I thought I saw a page on this site somewhere of a person who is living in Kyoto who offers to guide visitors around Kyoto (for little or no cost). Now of course I can no longer find the page or remember where I first saw it, although I recall that the person had a cute photograph of an orange cat sleeping on a park bench in Kyoto...So, does anyone besides Hillwalker offer a tour around Kyoto? I was hoping to find someone who will take me to the west side of Kyoto to explore the Sagano/Arashiyama area. I've already toured the eastern area of Kyoto on a previous trip, and I didn't want to join a group. Plus, I'm a little wary of just googling up a guide as I am female travelling solo. PS I'm from Canada.

I will be in Kyoto in November for 5 nights and am going to a Jrock concert at the Kyoto Dai-ichi Kaikan Hall. What is the normal etiquette for attending a JRock concert here? Is it normally general admission or assigned seating? I can't tell from the ticket (I don't read kanji!) however the ticket doesn't look like it's assigned seating? Should I arrive early? Will I be swatting hysterical teenagers around?? Do fans rush the stage like they do sometimes here in Canada? Can I be pushy and try to move closer to the stage? This is all so new for me! I am 39 and have attended a few good rock concerts so I've wondered about the comparison. Also, does anyone know where this concert hall is? I will be staying at the Kyoto Royal Hotel and may need to catch a taxi back to the hotel, depending on how late this concert goes. If anyone has had experience with indoor jrock concerts, or has been to this venue, please speak up!

My wife and I are planning to a trip to Kyoto in early Nov. To our horror the hotels/ Ryokan in Kyoto are really packed! No vacancy at all for our dates!

So I am thinking out of the box. Maybe we can try our luck at Love Hotel? But difficult to find and book such accomodation in advance. Do u think it will be appropriate? We are bring our baby too!

Required time from Kyoto JR station to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) by Bus?
For example...10 min/20 min/30 min.....or 1 hr./2 hrs....
Please answer like this.....I want to visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) but I have time limitation.

My fiance and I are planning a honeymoon in Japan. We are thinking we will stay mostly in Kyoto, and if we can save enough money we will take a trip to Tokyo as well.

I have been to Japan before, but never had to plan for two people. My current plan is to stay in J-Hopper's Japanese style room so that we can pull the futons together.

I am trying to find good place for long term accomodations. I found OSB House, but I am always a little apprehensive about places I haven't actually seen. On a previous trip I rented a room from someone in an apartment, I might try to do that again.

Any suggestions? The J-Hoppers option is 6000 yen per night for us (3000 each). I am comfortable with this because I have stayed there before with good results... I am just hoping to find something cheaper.

ANy idea where I can get the above in Kyoto or Osaka? Thanks!

Have found 3 Toyoko Inn hotels in Kyoto - Shijo Omiya, Shijo Karasuma and Gojo Karasuma. Which if these 3, if any, are well located for sightseeing ? Thanks for the help.

Any one know of any onsen or hot spring in Kyoto. I know there is a Arima hot spring in Kobe, which is kind of far away. thanks!

Can I know which are the most convenient districts to stay in Kyoto for tourists with Ryokans? Easy to travel around to the tourist sights.

I'm considering Ryokan Shimizu. Is it convenient to visit the tourist sights?

Thanks!

Does anyone know where I can find a Porter store or a shop carrying Porter bags in Kyoto or Tokyo?

Is there any 100 yen shop in Kyoto? If yes, where are they located. Thanks!

Hi, I'm leaving for Japan this Sunday, the 12th of August, and will arrive in Kyoto on Wednesday the 15th after spending a few days in Tokyo. I recently met with my uncle who travels frequently to Japan, and he suggested visiting Saiho-ji, which he has been to many times and enjoys greatly. I looked into it and found that you had to make prior reservations by mail. I won't have enough time to send and receive a response and was wondering if anyone in Japan would be willing to help me by mailing a "send and return" postcard to the temple. The hostel I am staying at in Kyoto is unable to help me with this, but said that I could use their address for the reservation. If you could help, please e-mail me at mnvirgilio [at] yahoo [dot] com. Thank you very much.

but first off, where to stay?
i'm finding a ton of varying bits of info thru these forums.
would like to find the most for the least.
no bed-bug infested hostels.
no five-star hotels.
something close to sights, but not noisy.
if it had a spa, and was less than 80 USD per night (for a couple), traditional decor, simple, clean, that would be great.
thanks for your help, all.

Hi,

I am planning to visit Kyoto via Tokyo in Sep. (I will be purchasing a 7 days JR pass) There will be a party of 5 (including a 3 years old toddler). I plan to make Kyoto my base and will travel to Kobe, Nara etc. Any recommendatin where to stay?

Am looking for place to stay where I can get easy access to JR line to Kobe, Nara etc.

Budget is around 15000 to 20000 Yen per night for twin sharing.

Thanks!

Hello,
Is there anyone that can help me that lives in Kyoto Japan?
I would like to visit this year and I am very interested in buying a lot of geisha dolls but I dont know where exactly to go when I get there? any suggestion? please help me? I want to see a different geisha dolls, I am very interested in geisha dolls.
Please email me back..thanks guys!
Charity

What is the fax or email address of Ryokan Uemura

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably priced ryokan in Kyoto? I am a single traveler looking to pay 5,000-6,000 yen per night.

Thank you!

Hi everybody,

I'm a female from germany and I'm going to travel to Kyoto in September.
How can I book a temple lodging in Kyoto (without calling... would be very expensive from germany)?
I wanna stay at Hiden-in with a female friend of mine.

Can anybody help me?

Thx in advance,
genex13

We'll be in Kyoto in September and would like to visit the Katsura Imperial Villa and the Moss Gardens. Can they be done in the same day? I know they both need reservations.

I'll be in Kyoto on 15 May, which coincides with the Aoi Matsuri festival. Where is the best place to catch the action? and at what time? Would it be better to station ourselves at one place or to follow the parade?

Also, what will the transportation situation be like during such an event? Road closures?

thanks =)

Hey all, I lived in Tokyo for 7 years, and am now coming back to visit, staying in Kyoto for Golden Week. I am bringing my girlfriend, and this is her first time to Japan, so I'd like to show her some traditional aspects of Japanese life and customs.

I thought of maybe the following as some examples:
- Visit temples/shrines in Kyoto
- Day-trip to Nara (maybe also Arashiyama)
- Go to an onsen
- Stay in a traditional ryokan
- Eat modanyaki

Are there any festivals around the Kansai region during GW that anyone can recommend?
Or, any other ideas on traditional activities?

What image comes to mind you you think "Japan"?
I lived there for so long, I need to step outside the box to grasp what might be interesting for a first-time visit to Japan.

Cheers for any suggestions, damon

i want to know address and phone number gion district,kyoto japan...please help me...

I am in Kyoto now and have been searching and searching for an adapter plug to charge my camera, mobile and use my hairdryer :). Can anyone tell me please a specific store in kyoto that i can buy one from and how to get there. I am staying just a few metres from Kyoto Station. Although willing to travel anywhere...I have just been looking around in JR Isetan and cannot find where I would get one...

thanks!!!

I'm planning a trip to the Kansai area and wondering where should I pick my base. All things considered like accomodation and transpo costs, should I pick Osaka or Kyoto for my base of operations? I plan to visit Nara, Himeji and Kobe as well (other than Osaka and Kyoto itself).

Thanks!

My daughter and I will be travelling from Tokyo to Nara in mid April and we hope to stopover in Kyoto to visit the Kinkakuji temple. Is there anywhere at Kyoto Station that we leave our lugguages; a locker perhaps? Is there are lockers, are they big enough for 60cm lugguage bags? We need the same info for Hiroshima station too, so if anyone out there that can help I will be most grateful.

Hi there!

We are planning to visit Kyoto in May 21, 2007. We heard so much about Nishiki Market. How do i go there?
I always fascinated about flea market. I heard there is a flea market at Toji temple. May i know which day are they open and how to get there?

Your reply would be appreciated.

Regards
Bee Ling

Hi -
I'll be in Kyoto at the end of march, and having a hard time finding a hotel room for one of the 4 nights I'll be there.

Can you recommend any good, reliable hotel websites for hotels in this area? Expedia, Hotels.cm, and Orbitz are of no use at this point.

Thanks in advance for any tips you may have!

Can anyone give an idea of the average cost of comfortable single accommodation, preferably close to Doshisha University?

We are coming to Kyoto at the end of March and are urgently loking for a nice, quiet, comfortable Ryokan. We are sophisticated travellers requring a certain level of finesse, but it seem not easy to be able to find a compromise. Either it's very modest with implicit limitations or much more expensive. Is there a middle ground selection anyone can recommend?

i'll be in Kyoto at the beginning of April.

Will be there for 2 full days.

My hostel is very very near Heian Jingu and is the next street from Sanjo Street.

I will reach Kyoto as early as 6.30am in the morning cuz i'm taking a night bus there.

I plan to visit:
Nijo Castle
Kiyomizudera
Heian Jingu
Kinkakuji

Yasaka shrine
Maruyama Park
Gion

on the 2nd day, i plan to take a short trip to Nara Park for a while, then perhaps back to Kyoto to visit Fushimi Inari shrine.

I also want to walk around Kyoto Station and Shijo street for some very very light shopping and exploration.

Can someone advise if my plan is too rushed or not?
and is buying a bus pass worth the price, cuz i think i'm able to walk to some of the destinations from my hostel.

and which destination should i visit first and all?

thanks alot!