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Travel to Kyoto
How to get Kyoto/ economical way
 From Tokyo to Kyoto
Take Shinkansen:
At the Tokyo Station, you take the Shinkansen for the western part of Japan.
Remember, it takes around five minutes on foot from the exit of the subway station
to the entrance of the Shinkansen.
(From Hiroo/Azabu to Tokyo Station:
Take the Hibiya Subway Line and get off at Kasumigaseki Station to
transfer to the Marunouchi Subway Line and then get off at the Tokyo Station,
taking 20-30 minutes.)
By the Shinkansen, you can arrive at the Kyoto Station in 2 and half hours.
It is suggested to have a reserved sheet on the Shinkansen, especially in
the busy seasons of the year, at the year end/new year time, golden week
period in May, Bon Festival/summer vacation period in August, sight seeing
trip season in Autumn.
As for the booking of the Shinkansen ticket, ask to the travel agents or the
JR(Japan Rail Ways) booking office.
The booking can be made in advance of your trip.To save your money,
buy a combination booking plan of the Shinkansen ticket and hotel in Kyoto.
Booking a combination trip plan
The combination booking plans of the Shinkansen ticket and hotel are provided
by major travel agencies here. For instance, the Tokyu Kanko
(Tokyu Tourist Corporation) makes available this service under the travel
plan of " Top Ture Free Plan Kyoto"with the charge of 24300-30500 yen.
The same type of services have been provided for other places, including Kobe,
Osaka , Nara, Kanazawa and other famous spring resorts.
Other travel agencies and Japan Railway Corporation offer the similar
combination trip plans.
With the Free Plan Kyoto, you can choose your favorite hotel in Kyoto
among the listed hotels. Listed hotels include the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
( Web master's favorite one), Kyoto Park Hotel, Kyoto Miyako Hotel,
Kyoto Shi-Hankyu Hotel ( close to the Shinkansen station), Kyoto
Zen-Nikku Hotel, Kyoto Royal Hotel(located in the central/shopping area),
Holiday-Inn Kyoto(convenient to visit the temples in the north
-east part of Kyoto), etc. With the selection of the hotel, the charges
for the plan vary.
For example, when you choose the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, the cost for
the combination plan is 33000-35000yen. The costs per person vary
by the time you make trip and number of persons who share your hotel room.
Make sure the total cost for your plan when you make the booking.
The plan includes the Shinkansen ticket( Hikari express), hotel room
charges for one night, a breakfast at the hotel and taxi charge from hotel
to the Kyoto Station. The length of stay can be extended by paying around
7000-13000yen per night. Booking for this service can be made on the
homepage (in Japanese).
(Tel.: 5704-3031)
Tokyu Kanko's Tranomon Office:
Tel.: 3591-9101
Open: 9:30-18:30, Closed on Sat. & Sun.
Located at: 1-26-5, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
The Japan Railroad and other travel agencies provide the almost same
combination plan including Shinkasen ticket and hotel room.
Visit the booking office(Midori-no-madoguchi ) of the JR.
Their major statons have the booking office for train tickets and hotel
accommodations.
Japan Travel Bureau(JTB):
This travel agency which has a branch office in Hiroo has the Free Plan
for Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Osaka. The Plan is the same as the
combination trip plan being provided by the Tokyu Kanko. If you choose
the Kyoto Royal Hotel and use a hotel room by yourself alone, it costs 34300 yen.
This plan includes room charge (one night)and breakfast, and Shinkansen tickets
for a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Of course, you can select Japanese inn. In case of the" Hiragiya-Bekkan
"Japanese inn, it costs 37000yen per person. This plan includes
dinner and breakfast at the Japanese inn, and Shinkansen tickets.
Heian-jingu Shrine
Transportation in Kyoto
There are two subway lines in Kyoto. Karasuma Line runs from south to north,
starting Takeda and terminating at Kokusai Kaikan via Kyoto Station.
Another line, Tozai Line, runs from Nijo to Higashiyama and Daigo, via
Sanjyo-Keihan. Another important mean of transportation in Kyoto is
bus services.
The City Bus Services has excellent networks of bus services covering
the whole areas of Kyoto. The buses show their destinations in front of
bus and make English announcement for major stops.
As for the fare of bus services, they have flat fare of 220yen in city zone areas.
The payment will be done at the time of geting off the bus. It will be useful
to get the English written route map of the City Bus Services at the Information
Center at Kyoto Station( Karasumo Exit, north side exit ) or at your hotel.
To get bus route map and sightseeing information, access the following
Internet site and get the PDF files. The City Bus provides " Card Tickets"
for frequent users including sightseeing visitors and with the Tickets you can save
your transportation costs in Kyoto. As for the details, access the following web site.
When you visit Arashiyama, western part of Kyoto, you may take the
Keifuku Arashiyama Line, running from Shijyo-Ohmiya to Arashiyama.
If you are going to visit Kurama or Kibune, northern part of
Kyoto, you may use the Eiden-Honsen Line/ Eiden Kurama Line.
Kyoto City Bus/Subway Services-Web site in English
How to use the subway and bus services
Card Tickets for frequent riders
Bus route and sightseeing maps
One-day/two-day tickets are available. Save your money with
such tickets.
Kyoto City Bus Service/how to use, including sightseeing bus tour
Kyoto Subway Map
Kyoto Sightseeing Bus Tours/Kyoto City Bus Service
075-672-2100, Open: 7:40-20:00
Providing various types of bus tours
Half-day bus tour /visiting 4 temples/a shrine
5350-5880yen for adults, 2950-3220yen for children
One-day bus tour/visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Rrashiyama,
Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Heianhingu Shrine
7000-7350yen for adults, 3820-4090yen for children
Temples & Gardens in Kyoto
Following temples and shrine are worthy-to-visit with
gardens and colored leaves in late autumn.
Please access the following web sites with pictures of the
temples/gardens.They may attract you to visit the temples.
Eastern part of Kyoto/Higashiyama area
Kiyomizu-dera Temple/ Pictures of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Open: 6:00-18:00
Kiyomize, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Nanzen-ji Temple/Konchi-in/ Pictures of Nanzen-ji Temple
Open: 8:30-17:00
Nanzen-ji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Honen-in Temple/ Pictures of Honen-in Temple
Open: 6:00-16:00
Shikagatani-Goshonodan-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Chishaku-in Temple/ Pictures of Chishaku-in Temple
Open: 9:00-16:30
Higashioji-shichijo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Sanju-Sangen-Do Temple/ Pictures of Sanju-Sangen-
Do Temple
Open: 8:00-16:30
Sanju-sangendo, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Eikando Temple/ Pictures of Eikando Temple
Open: 9:00-17:00
Eikando-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Ginkaku-ji Temple/ Pictures of Ginkaku-ji Temple
Open: 8:30-17:00
Ginkakuji-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Heian-Jingu Shrine/ Pictures of Heian-Jingu Shrine
Open: 8:30-17:00
Okazaki-Nishitenno-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Higashiyama Area/Good spot for walking
North-eastern part of Kyoto/Ichijyoji area
Manshuin Temple/ Pictures of Manshuin Temple/
Pictures of Manshuin Temple 2
Open: 9:00-17:00
Ichijyoji-takenouchi-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Shisendo/ Pictures of Shisendo/Pictures of Shisendo2
Open: 9:00-17:00
Ichijyoji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
North-western part of Kyoto/ Kitayama area
Kinkakuji Temple/ Pictures of Kinkaku-ji Temple
Pictures of Kinkaku-ji Temple at night
Open: 9:00-17:00
Kinkakuji-machi, Kita-ku, Kyoto City
Myoshin-ji Temple/ Pictures of Myoshin-ji Temple
Open: 10:00-16:00
Hanazono-myoshiji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Northern part of Kyoto/Ohara area
Sanzen-in Temple/ Pictures of Sanzen-in Temple
Open: 8:30-16:30
Ohara-raigoin-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Western part of Kyoto/Arashiyama, Sagano area
Jojako-ji Temple/ Pictures of Jojako-ji Temple
Open: 9:00-16:30
Saga-ogurayama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Gioji Temple/ Pictures of Gioji Temple
Open: 9:00-17:00
Saga-toriimoto-kosaka, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Adashino-Nenbutsu-Dera Temple/ Pictures of Nebutsu-
Dera Temple
Open: 9:00-16:30
Saga-toriimoto-adashino-machi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Tenryuji Temple/ Pictures of Tenryuji Temple
Open: 8:30-17:30
Saga-tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Hokyo-in Temple/ Pictures of Hokyo-in Temple
Open: 9:00-17:00
Saga-syakado, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Rakushisya/ Pictures of Rakushisya
Open: 9:00-17:00
Saga-ogurayama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
 Togetsukyo Bridge at Arashiyama
Map of Kyoto and Temples/ in English
Gardens in Kyoto/ Web site in Japanese
Four Seasons for Gardens in Kyoto/ Pictures by Temple
Museums in Kyoto
Kyoto National Museum
Kyoto Sannen-zaka Museum
Restaurants/Bars in Kyoto
(With their web site: it is fun to visit them.)
Staying at typical/traditional Japanese inn in Kyoto
If you wish to experience of staying at traditional Japanese inn, it would be a
good choice to do it in Kyoto.
Generally, Japanese inns offer dinner and breakfast and their room
charge includes these meals. Some traditional Japanese inns in Kyoto
provide only breakfast and you can dining out for your dinner at your favorite
restaurant.
Tips: Traditional Japanese inns listed below have a limited number
of guest rooms, so it is necessary to make room booking in advance.
High seasons for Kyoto sight seeing are April-May and October-
December. If you want to stay at Japanese inn during these period,
you have to make room booking before 6-12 months in advance.
(Following inns are famous Japanese inns, so it is suggested to make
booking in advance, at least 6 months, even during other seasons.)
For booking, your travel agent can not handle it, you do it yourself,
and call the following phone number. If there is no English speaking
staff at the inn, ask for their fax number ("fax bango" in Japanese)to
send your booking request by fax or use e-mail.
Kichyu-an: Japanese inn, Maruyama-koen
Tel.: 075-533-0210
Check in : 15:00pm,Check out: 10:00
Located at: Maruyama-koen-nai, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
In the east part of the Maruyama-koen Park, three minutes
from the Yasaka-Jinjya Shrine
Room charge: 7000yen, with breakfast
Inakatei: Japanese inn, Gion
Tel.: 075-561-3059, Make reservation in advance
Check in: 17:00pm, Check out: 10:00am
Located at: 463 Gion-shimogawara-eshibeikoji, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
West of the Kodaiji Temple, Higashiyama
Room charge: 8500yen-, with breakfast
It has a small Japanese garden and a tea house.
Hanaya-Riyokan: Japanese inn, Kiyamachi
Tel.: 075-351-4398, Make reservation in advance
Check in: 16:00, Check out: 10:00am
Located at: 201 Nishi-kiyamachi-dori-shijyou-sagaru-sendoumachi,
Shimogyou-ku, Kyoto City
Two minutes walk from the Shijyou-Kawaramachi Crossing
Room charge: 7000yen ,with breakfast
Mifuku: Japanese inn, Bontocho
Tel.: 075-221-5696, Make reservation in advance
Check in: 13:00, Check out: 12:00am
Located at: Sajyo-sagaru, Bontocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Five minutes walk from Sanjyo Station
Room charge: 13000yen ,with breakfast
Shiraume: Japanese inn, Gion
Tel.: 075-561-1459
Located at: Gion Shinbashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Charge: 18000yen-, with dinner and breakfast,
13000yen-, with breakfast
Small Japanese inn, but serve excellent dishes
Murasaki : Japanese inn, Gion
Tel.: 075-541-7004
Located at: Gion-Hanamikpuji-Shijyou-Kudaru, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
Charge: 8000yen-, with breakfast
Small Japanese inn(five rooms), but provides excellent/ traditional
service in old/traditional Japanese house
Kyo-Chitose: Japanese inn, Gion
Tel.: 075-533-0550
Located at: South of Yasaka-Jinjya Shrine, Gion, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
Charge: 15000yen-, with dinner and breakfast,
10000yen-, with breakfast
Small Japanese inn next to the Shrine, serve excellent dishes
Hatanaka in Gion: Japanese inn, Gion
Tel.: 075-541-5315
Located at: In front of the south gate of Yasaka Jinjya Shrine, Gion, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Charge: 30000yen-, with dinner and breakfast,
18000yen-, with breakfast
Kanamean-Nishitomiya : Japanese inn
Tel.: 075-211-2411
Located at: Sagaru, Rokkaku, Tomikouji-dori, Nakagyou-ku,
Kyoto City
Charge: 18000yen-, with breakfast
Fukuya : Japanese inn, Higashiyama
Tel.: 075-561-4661
Located at: 443-3, Shimogawara-Kami-Benten-machi,Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
Near Kodaiji Temple, five minutes walk from Yasaka-jinjya Shrine
Charge: 13000yen, with breakfast
Yamashita : Japanese inn, Higashiyama
Tel.: 075-561-7528
Located at: 501-3,Shimokawara-yasaka-jinjya-mae-Gion-minamigawa,
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Near Kodaiji Temple, three minutes walk from Yasaka-jinjya Shrine
Charge: 13000yen, with breakfast
[Expensive but Refined Japanese Inn in Kyoto]
Hiiragi-ya: Japanese inn, Fuya-machi
Tel.: 075-221-1136
Located at: Anekoj, Fuya-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Charge: 30000yen-, with dinner and breakfast
This Riyokan is a leading Japanese inn in Kyoto with long history.
Refined manner of hospitality and excellent/typical Japanese
inn from the stand point of its traditional building and atmosphere.
Sumiya-Ryokan: Japanese inn,
Tel.: 075-221-2188
Located at: Anekoj, Fuya-dori-sanjyo sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City,
10 minutes walk from Shijyo-Karasuma Subway Station
Charge: 30000yen-60000yen, with dinner and breakfast,
Internet booking: 25000yen
This Riyokan is a leading Japanese inn in Kyoto with long history,
as Hiiragiya.
Refined manner of hospitality and excellent/typical Japanese
inn from the stand point of its traditional building and atmosphere.
Staying at temple's lodging facility in Kyoto
In Kyoto, as well as other sightseeing areas in Japan, famous temples
provide lodging facilities for visitors.
Room charges are cheap than usual hotels. Number of rooms
available is limited. At there, you can experience the Zen
exercise in the morning. For booking, you may call directly or
ask your travel agent.
Nanzen-ji Temple/075-771-2846/5200yen with breakfast
Chionin Temple/075-541-5141/5500yen with breakfast
Ninna-ji Temple/075-464-3664/5040yen with breakfast
Miyoshin-ji Temple/075-461-5714/ 4500yen with breakfast
Nishihongan-ji Temple/075-361-4436/5000yen with breakfast
Menu of the typical breakfast at Japanese inn
Following is a typical menu for the breakfast you may have at
Japanese inn. The maid of Japanese inn will visit your room
and say " Asagohan-desu"that means your breakfast is ready.
You can have your breakfast in your room, but some Japanese
inn may serve it in dining room.
1 Yakizakana: a slice of broiled fish
2 Hiyayakko: chilled bean card
3 Nori: a few sheets of seasoned laver
4 Tamagoyaki: a few slices of roasted/cooked egg
5 Nimono: boiled vegetables
6 Gohan: a bowl of boiled rice ( It is allowed to ask for another
bowl of rice.)
7 Misoshiru: a bowl of miso soup
8 Omiotsuke: Japanese pickles
It is also a fun to see the different chinawares for each of the above
menu items. When you stay at an expensive/famous Japanese inn,
they use old/expensive chinawares. Handle them with special care!!!
Various Kyoto Foods at One Place!
Visit the basement floor(food section) of department stores in Kyoto.
It is the surprise box of Kyoto foods and confectionary!
Takashimaya Department Store, Kyoto
Tel.: 075-221-8811
Open: 10:00-19:30
Located at: Shijyo-kawara-machi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City
Beside the Shijyo-kawara-machi Crossing (Central point of the
downtown Kyoto)
Kyoto foods collection on the basement floor:
Kyoto pickles prepared by noted pickles shops (Daiyasu, Nishiri),
Kyoto dishes prepared by well-known Japanese restaurants
(Minokichi, Warabino-sato, Nishiki), Kyoto confectionary
(Surugaya, Tawaraya -Yoshitomi, Suetomi, Tsuruya-Yoshinobu,
Kanoh-Shojuan)
Japanese Traditional Confectionary/Sweets in Kyoto
 
There are many famous confectioners in Kyoto.
In the past, Kyoto was the capital city governed by the Emperor and aristocrat.
They contributed very much to the development of the traditional Japanese
confectionary/sweets. Also, Kyot has contributed to the dissemination of tea
ceremony. Japanese sweets are important element in the tea ceremony.
Confectionary and sweets are served with tea.
Famous confectioners's products have been used in the tea ceremony.
With these historical environments, confectionary/sweets in Kyoto have
been refined and obtaind good reputation.
When you tarvel to Kyoto, it is possible to have famous
confactioners' products/sweets at the following places in Kyoto.
Confectioner's Shops
Department stores(foods section on the basement floor)
Shops in Kyoto Station's Building
The most convenient place is the department stores. In the
foods section which located on the basement floor, you can see
many famous confectioners' shops at one place.
Takashimaya Department Store/ at Shijo kawara machi
Hankyu Department Store/ at Shijo kawara machi
Famous Confectioners' Shops
Also, it is fun to visit the famous confectioners' shops.
It is interesting to observe the externals of the building of
confectionaer's shop and exhibited confectionary/sweets.
Some shops have tea room and you can have tea there with
your favorite confectionary/sweets.
Kagizen Yoshifusa/Gion
075-561-1818
Open: 9:00-18:00
Located at: 264 Kitagawa, Gion, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
(Tea room available)
Bontocho Surugaya/Bontocho
075-221-5210
Open: 10:00-21:00
Located at: Sanjyo-Sagaru, Bontocho-Dori, Nakagyo-ku,
Kyoto City
Sanjo Surugaya/Kawaramachi-Sanjyo
075-221-1447
Open: 10:00-21:00
Located at: Sanjyo-Kawaramachi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
(Tea room available)
Tawaraya Yoshotomi/Muromachi-dori
075-432-2211
Open: 8:00-17:00
Located at: Muromachi-dori-agaru, Tateuri-agaru, Kami-Gyo-ku,
Kyoto City
Tsuruya Yoshinobu/Imadegawa-dori
075-441-0105
Open: 9:00-18:00
Located at: Imadegawa-dori, Horihawa-Nishi-iru, Kamigyo-ku
Kyoto City
Sasaya Iori/Nanajyo-Ohmiya
075-371-3333
Open: 9:00-18:00
Located at: Nanajyo-Ohmiya-Nishiiru, Shimogyo-ku,
Kyoto City
Shimogawara Azuki/Gion-Shimogawara
075-561-3977
Open: 9:00-18:00
Located at: Gion-Shimogawara, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Gion Komori/Tea House with Japanese Sweets
075-561-0504
Open: 11:00-21:00
Located at: 61, Gion-Shinbashi-Motoyoshi-cho,
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
(Tea house in Japanese traditional house)
How about a cup of coffee in Kyoto?
Inoda Coffee
Tel.:075-221-0507
Open: 7:00-18:00
Located at: Sakae-machi-dori-sanjo-minami-iru, Nakagyo-ku,
Kyoto City
Five minutes walk from Shijyo-kawara-machi Crossing
Coffee: 440yen-, "Kyo-no-chyosyoku (Breakfast in Kyto): 1000yen
Rokuyousha
Tel.:075-241-3026
Open: 8:30-23:00
Located at: Kawar-machi-sanjyo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Five minutes walk from Shijyo-kawara-machi Crossing, beside
Kawara-machi-sanjyo Crossing
Coffee: 400yen-
Ginkakuji Temple
Kyoto Related Web Sites
Welcome to Kyoto/Kyoto Pref.Government/in English
(Kyoto Sightseeing Information)
Traditional /Japanese Architectures in Kyoto/in English
(Temples and Shrines with pictures)
Traditional Events (Festivals) in Kyoto/ in English
Kyoto Prefectural Government Website / in English
(Overview, Data, Sightseeing, Business and Kyoto Life Information)
Food Topics in Winter in Kyoto
Yudofu: Boiled Tofu(Bean Curd)
This warm dish is especially popular in winter in Kyoto. Tofu is
cut into small pieces and it is boiled in Yudoufu box (or pot),and
served with soy source. A piece of Tofu will be eaten after
depping into soy source. Usually, at Yudofu restaurants ,Yudofu
is served as course menu with some side dishes. Famous Yudofu
retaurants in Kyoto are Okutan at Nanzenji , Higashiyama which is
located near the Nanzenji Temple and Yudofu Sagano at Sagano,
Arashiyama.
A course menu of Yudoufu costs 3500-3800yen.
If you stay at Japanese Inn(Riyokan) in Kyoto, breakfast often
includes Yudofu in winter.
Yudoufu/How to cook
Yudoufu Restaurant Okutan /Higashiyama, Kyoto
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