Kyoto Favorite Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Bring cash instead of credit cards

Favorite thing: Most of the stores in the outskirts of Tokyo and/or Kyoto don't accept credit cards so it is best to carry the yen all the time. Also, even the bigger stores and malls, they are not used to taking credit cards and it is difficult to buy an item using a credit card. It gets easier though in Tokyo where a lot of business transactions are done in credit cards.

There are some questions the seller ask from you like I-kai, ni-kai, etc. When you put in your charges, they ask you whether you wanted it to be charged the whole amount to your credit card or being split into two. An example: If you purchased an item that costs 50000 yen. They can either charged the whole amount of 50000 yen or divide it into two parts 25000 for the first charge and then 25000 for the second charge. Then when you receive your bill at home, you will find that you have two charges totalling 50000 yen.

Fondest memory: I love the dichotomy of the traditional Japanese life and the technology-advance lifestyle of the Japanese. They can put these two together somewhere in their lives.

Buy prepaid Cards

Favorite thing: Kyoto City Bus One Day Card
The price for this bus card is 500 Yen for adults and 250 Yen for children. It can be used on all the Kyoto City Bus lines withing the central city for one day.

Kyoto Sightseeing Card (one day or two days card) The price for this car is 1,200 Yen (one day card); or 2,000 Yen (two days card). The price for children is half. This can be used on all the Kyoto City buses, subways and main lines of Kyoto-Bus run by the private company.

Fondest memory: Where to get the card

This bus card is available at any automatic subway ticket machines (except for Kyoto City Bus One Day Card), at Kyoto City bus an dsubway information centers, transportation ticket dealers, and some automatic ticket vending machines.

Map out your travel plan into five areas City Districts Review

Favorite thing: Depending on how many days you are staying in Kyoto, map out the places you are going to see. The temples are located in different areas:

1. Higashiyama Area - The attractions around this area includes Chionin Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Kodaiji Temple, Ryozen Kannon Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, Jishu Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Myohoin Temple, Chishakuin Temple, Sennyyuji TempleTofukuji Temple, Tobakaido, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Fushimi Momoyama Castle, kajuji Temple, Suishinin Temple, Daigoji Temple, Hohkaiji Temple, Hino-Tanjoin Temple, and Daizenji Temple.

If you just have a few days in Kyoto, just go to Kiyomizu Temple.

2. Ginkakuji Area - The attractions in this area are the Sekizanzenin Temple, Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Rinkyuji Temple, Manshuin Temple, Enkoji Temple, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Ginakkuji Temple and Honenin Temple. The other attractions include: Kamigamo Shrine, Kamigamijinja-mae, Kyoto International Conference Hall, Takaragaike Park, and Takaragaike Children Park.

3. Okazaki Area - The attractions here are the Nyakuoji Shrine, Eikando Temple and the Kyo City Zoolgical Garden.

4. The Kinkakuji Area: The attractions here include the Shinkoin Temple, Shodenji Temple, Genkoan Temple, Ketsuji Temple, Bukkyo University, Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, Kosanji Temple, Jingoji Temple, ADasino Nenbutsuji Temple, Daikakuji Temple, Gioji Temple, Takguchi Temple, Seiryoji Temple, Nisonin Temple and Rakushisha Temple

5. The Arashiyama Area: The main attractions include Jojakkoji Temple, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenyuji Temple, Iwatayama Park, Horiji Temple, Matusnoo Grand Shrine, Kegonji Temple, Saihoji Temple, Nishikyogoku Sports Park, and the Katsura Imperial Villa.

Fondest memory: 6. The Central Area includes the following attractions: Nijo Castle, Kyoto International Manga Museum, Nishijin Textile Center, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto Imperial Park, Kyoto City Hall, Shokokuji Temple, Doshisha University, Hoyoji Temple, Myorenji Temple, Funaokayama Park, Kenkun Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Shrine, Shinnyodo Temple, Kurdani Konkai Komyoji Temple, Heain Shrine, Myoshinji Temple, Hanazono University, Kyoto Foreign Language University, Hirano Shrine, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Mibu Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple, Umekoji Temple, and Toji Temple

Get a free Tourist Map of Kyoto Tourist Information Center Review

Favorite thing: The Kyoto SGG Club,Goodwill Guide Volunteer Services of Kyoto, and the Rotary International District 2650 Club of Kyoto are giving away free maps to tourists in Kyoto. The map is in black and white and back to back.

The tourist map can be taken at the Information Center at the Kyoto Station where you buy the bus tickets.

Fondest memory: The front page of the map is the map of the train and the list of the hotels in Kyoto. The back of the map is divided into six sections. It shows the areas in Kyoto and the drawings of the temples.

Sign up for cellphone at Narita Airport

Favorite thing: If you are in Japan for business or for sightseeing tour and wanted to have a cellphone where you can get in touch with your family, friends or business partner, you can actually sign up for a cell phone at the Narita Airport Terminal 1, 1st Floor, Arrival Lobby.

The cell phone booth is there close to where you can rent cars. There are sales representatives over there who could barely speak English. The ame of the cell phone company is GRP (Global Rent-A-Phone).

When I signed up for a cell phone, they required me to show them my passport, driver's license where it shows my address and a credit car.

Here's more information of the cell phone rental:

Telephone Numer is 043-243-6662 (From Japan)
+81-43-243-6662 (From Overseas)

Fax Numer: 043-243-2241 (From Japan)
+81-43-243-2241 (From Overseas)

URL: http://www.tokyoay.co.jp/worldphone

Narita Airport Termina 1 rth Floor:Garden Square - 17:30-19:30
Narita Airport Terminal 2, 3rd Floor; Departure Loby -17:30-19:30
Narita Airport Terminal 1, 1st Floor; Arrival Lobby- 17:30-19:30
Kansai Airport 4th Floor, International Departure Lobby - 18:30-19:30
GLOBAL Rent-A-Phone (GRP) - Kansai Airport 1st Floor; International Arrival Lobby- 17:00-22:00
Central Japan Chubu Centrair Airport 3rd Floor: Arrival Lobby - 17:00-20:30

Fondest memory: I love the temples, shrines and culture of the old Japan (Kyoto). I love the courteousness and politeness of the Japanese people.

If you have three days in Kyoto, skip the Sansumo

Favorite thing: There are so many things to see in Kyoto, so why not explore them first. I specifically wanted to see all the temples. My biggest mistake on the first day was actually visiting the Sansum National Museum of Art. I wasted almost half of my day over there - basically falling in line with hundreds of local tourists! I should have done a better itirenary!

Fondest memory: All the temples are extra-ordinary exquisite and beautiful. I would love to go back to Kyoto in Spring time when everything is blossoming especially the cherry blossoms. I was there in the Fall of 2007 and the change of season makes Kyoto different. Still beautiful, but different.

Also, it was freezing cold when I was there. I wasn't prepared to be walking with light jacket on.

Start early when going to the National Museum

Favorite thing: Get up early so you can catch the bus if you wanted to get in to the National Museum. During the Spring time and Fall season, Kyoto is a famous destination for local tourists so make sure that you get to the National Museum before eight o'clock in the morning.

Believe me, we were there early, but there were more local tourists earlier that us! The line was so long, it took us an hour to just buy a ticket to get in the musuem. There were four lines once we got to the ticket line! It was absolutely unbelievable!

Visit the museum last. You don't like to waste your time falling in line. Make sure to visit the shrines and temples first. You do this when you don't have a lot of time spent in Kyoto!

Fondest memory: The preservation of the papers and other art work is amazing. The government of Japan preserved a lot of their cultures and traditions.

Take the bus and just hop around

Favorite thing: Depending on how long you are visiting Kyoto. The most that you should stay in Kyoto is three days so you can see all the temples and not just skim it. There are so many shops to look and shrines to visit.

Taking the bus is the easiest way to hop around the Kyoto area. Make sure to go to the Kyoto Station Information Center and get maps. You can also buy you bus pass there. Make sure to get your daily bus pass so you don't have to pay each time you get in to the bus. The daily bus pass covers your daily trip in one direction/destination.

Plan ahead of time. Some temples are scattered and some are in one direction, so you might as well check out the shrines in one location to save you time.

Then check the rest of the shrines at some later time.

Fondest memory: I love the food in Kyoto and scouting the stores. There are tons to buy but it is so expensive. Besides, those stuffs that I wanted to buy are difficult to carry and they are very delicate.

I love the fact that the Kyoto residents are still practicing their traditions and culture. I saw a lot of Japanese who are still in traditional dresses - wearing kimono on special occasions.

Bring a map, Jap dictionary and go to Info Center Tourist Information Center Review

Favorite thing: There are so many things to see in Kyoto. The temples and shrines are very beautiful. I actually stayed there for two days and one night and it was not enough to see all the shrines and temples.

If you go to Kyoto, make sure to plan at least three days in Kyoto and side trip to Nara and Osaka. It is just about 30 minutes away by shinkansen.

Kyoto has the old beauty of Japan. Some of the residents still wear their old costumes and it is so much fun to see them. It is very good to know that despite the modernization of Japan, you can still see how their people value their culture, tradition and values.

I love Kyoto. The locals are very courteous and polite. Kyoto is also a very safe place to travel-no worries about thieves and crimes.

Fondest memory: I love the food in Kyoto! I also love shopping in most of the stores! My sisters and I had a great time walking around the temples and the shrines which are mostly nestled on top of the hills! It was like walking three-miles per day! It was exhilarating and invigorating!