Kyoto, Japan (京都、日本）

Kyoto – Getting there (Train) Most visitors arrive at JR Kyoto station by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Nozomi trains make the trip in approximately 2 1/4 hours and cost ¥13520. Hikari trains, which run less frequently and make a few more stops, cover the trip in around 2 3/4 hours, but only the Hikari and the Kodama trains can be used by Japan Rail Pass holders at no charge. Travellers can also take advantage of the Puratto Kodama Ticket (in Japanese), which offers a discount for the all-stopping Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a free drink on board. With this ticket a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto costs ¥9800 and takes 3 3/4 hours. Note that there is only one Kodama service per hour from Tokyo, and a few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket. For travel in the Kansai region, a cheaper and nearly as fast alternative is the JR shinkaisoku (新快速) rapid service, which connects to Osaka, Kobe and Himeji at the price of a local train. Slightly cheaper yet are the private Hankyu or Keihan lines to Osaka and Kobe, or the Kintetsu line to Nara.

Kyoto – Getting there (Bus) Day time buses from Tokyo There are four daily round-trip departures from Tokyo Station. Two trips operate via the Chuo Expressway (8:40 and 10:50), making pickup stops at Shinjuku Station (9:20 and 11:30, respectively). The other two trips leave Tokyo Station at 10:20 and 12:20, running directly via the Tomei Expressway. Return trips from Kyoto to Tokyo depart via the Chuo Expressway at 9:00 and 11:00 (discharging at Shinjuku Station enroute), and via the Tomei Expressway at 10:20 and 12:20. All runs cost ¥6000 one-way and ¥10000 round-trip. Nighttime buses from Tokyo The nighttime bus service from Tokyo to Kansai is called Dream. This route name has several variants. The Dream Kyoto is a bus that runs from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station via the Tomei Expressway. There are two nightly departures from Tokyo at 22:00 and 23:10, with a third departure at 22:10 on Fridays, weekends and holidays. Returning buses leave from Kyoto Station at 22:00 (Fridays, weekends and holidays only), 23:00 and 23:40. The Ladies Dream Kyoto is a special bus for women only, running from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. The bus departs at 23:10 in either direction. The Chuo Dream Kyoto runs from Shinjuku Station to Kyoto Station via the Chuo Expressway. The bus departs from Shinjuku at 23:50, and departs from Kyoto at 23:10. An additional bus departs at 22:30 in either direction on Fridays, weekends and holidays. The Seishun Dream Kyoto runs from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station via the Tomei Expressway. There is one nightly departure from Tokyo at 21:50, and one departure from Kyoto at 22:40. The Seishun Chuo Dream Kyoto runs from Shinjuku Station to Kyoto Station via the Chuo Expressway. It departs from Shinjuku at 23:10, with the return run leaving from Kyoto at 22:50. The ride costs ¥8180 one-way and ¥14480 round-trip, except for the Seishun buses, which cost only ¥5000 one-way and ¥9500 round-trip. The notable difference is that Seishun buses use four-across seating found in standard buses, while the others use more comfortable and wider three-across seating. An overnight bus, the Harbor Line Kyoto, serves Yokohama. The bus leaves from Yokohama station's east exit at 22:40, with the return trip leaving Kyoto at 22:40. The cost is ¥7950 one-way and ¥14310 round-trip.

Kyoto Location: Nestled among mountains in Western Honshu, Kyōto (京都; [2]) has a reputation worldwide as Japan's most beautiful city. History: Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. During its millennium at the center of Japanese power, culture, tradition, and religion, it accumulated an unparalleled collection of palaces, temples and shrines, built for emperors, shoguns, and monks. Almost alone among Japanese cities, Kyoto escaped the Allied bombings of World War II, although it could be argued that the concrete redevelopment that turned city centre of Kyoto into an ordinary metropolis did just as thorough a job.

Kyoto - Map

Kyoto – Railway and Subway Map

Kyoto – Subway Map

Kyoto - Weather *Weather forecast from MSN

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) – Getting there How to get there: Bus:101 or 205 from Kyoto Station (but metro is faster) Metro: Karasuma Line to Kitaoji Station, then short bus ride Address: 1 Kinkakuji-cho Kita-ku Telephone: 075-461-0013 Hours and Fees: 9am-5pm daily. Office closes 4:30pm Cost: ¥400

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), also known as Deer Garden Temple Location: Located in Kinkakuji-chô, Kita-ku, in the northwester corner of Kyoto. It is a beautiful area, with the mountains Kinugasayama to the west and Hidari Daimonjiyama behind it. The range of mountains running along the northern part of Kyoto is known as Kitayama, but the area around Kinkaku-ji is sometimes referred to as Hokuzan, an alternative pronunciation of the characters used to write Kitayama. Origin: Kinkaku-ji's Relics Hall (Shariden), commonly known as the Golden Pavilion, is so well known that the entire temple has come to be called Kinkaku-ji, but the temple's official name is Rokuon-ji. It was named after the third Ashikaga shogun Yoshimitsu (1358-1408) and was part of his private Kitayama villa. Kinkaku-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple belonging to the Shôkoku-ji branch. Rokuon (Deer Park) was the site of Shakyamuni's first sermon after attaining enlightenment, and Rokuon'in was Yoshimitsu's posthumous name. Founder: Kinkaku-ji, like Ginkaku-ji, is a popular tourist destination. Both temples belong to the Shôkoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen and, like their head temple Shôkoku-ji, regard Musô Soseki (also known as Muso Kokushi, 1275-1371) as their honorary founder. Though not located within the Shôkoki-ji precincts, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji are regarded as branches of Shôkoku-ji, and at present the abbot of Shôkoku-ji is simultaneously administrator of both temples.

Tetsugaku No Michi (The Philosophers Walk) The term tetsugaku-no-michi translates to "Philosophers Walk" or "Philosopher's Path," designates a 1 kilometer scenic walkway that was built along the foothills in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. The path connects the Ginkakuji Temple "Temple of the Silver Pavilion" at the north end, to the Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine and Eikan-do Hall at the southern end. When Kyoto was designated as Japan's capital in the 700s, one of the negative aspects of this location was its geographic location and topography. During the summer months, ocean humidity traveling from the south backs up into the Kyoto valley, which is surrounded by mountains on the west, north, and east. To mitigate the high temperature and humidity during the summer season, a system of canals called 'yari-mizu' or "fashioned streams," were constructed to bring water closer to dwelling in order to provide irrigation and a sense of coolness. The Philosopher Nishida Kitarô The "Philosopher's Path," was named for famous philosopher Nishida Kitarô's (1870 to 1945) favorite path to stroll while viewing the spring cherry blossoms, or watching the fireflies during a summer evening. Getting there: Start the walk at either Ginkakuji or Nanzenji. Note that the path starts/ends a 5-10 minute walk north of Nanzenji.

Gion Gion (祇園) is a district of Kyoto, Japan. From the end of the Nara Period (794), Kyoto has functioned as the crossroads of Japanese history. From its beginnings as the Kunikyo and Nagaokakyo settlements until the Emperor moved to Tokyo, it was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. Home to many geisha houses and traditional tea houses. Gion originally developed in the middle ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. Gion is the best place in Kyoto to see geisha and maiko in the streets. This part of Kyoto has two hanamachi (geisha districts): Gion Kobu and Gion Higashi. Despite the considerable decline in the number of geisha in Gion in the last one hundred years, it is still famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment. Part of this district has been declared a national historical preservation district. How to get there: Gion can be reached by bus from Kyoto Station in about 20 minutes. Take number 100 and 206 and get off at Gion bus stop. The closest train stations are Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line. Gion Odori (Gion Dance) This dance is performed by maiko and gekoi of the Gion Higashi Kabu-kai. First performed in 1953, the dance is distinguished for its original planning and composition.

Nishiki Ichiba Market – Getting there The Nishiki Market street runs parallel to Shijo Avenue, one block north of Shijo Avenue. It can be reached on foot in less than 5 minutes from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Subway Line (4 minutes, 200 Yen from Kyoto Station) and Karasuma or Kawaramachi Stations on the Hankyu Line. How to get there: City Bus: Shijo-Kawaramachi / Shijo Takakura Hankyu Railway: Karasuma Station Subway: Shijo Address: 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kyoto, 26 603-8361 Japan Telephone: +81 75 461 0013

Nishiki Ichiba Market History: Nishiki Ichiba Market (錦市場 also known as Kyoto’s Kitchen), the most important market in Kyoto, is a 1500-meter-long covered arcade of shops on Nishikikoji Avenue between Teramachi and Takakura Streets. Called “The Kitchen of Kyoto” (Kyo no daidokoro), it is rich in original and seasonal foods of Kyoto which a lot of people often use for their dishes. Nishiki has a long history that originated about 400 years ago, but its true beginnings go back even further. When Japan’s capital was first transferred to Kyoto, the distribution network for goods was undeveloped and citizens couldn’t enjoy eating a wide variety of foods. In 1573, a lot of local merchants visited Kyoto’s Imperial Palace to dedicate local products, such as fresh fish and game for meat. Gradually, they got used to cooperating in order to keep these products fresh by utilizing the abundance of freezing underground water beneath Nishiki, which remains 15 degrees C even in summer. Even today, this water guarantees the freshness of fish sold in the market. However, it took a long time for Nishiki Ichiba to reach its current conditions. At first, it was little more than a fresh fish market. Between 1615 and 1624, Japan's feudal government officially accepted it as a wholesale dealer in fish. In 1779, Nishiki’s fruit and vegetable market too was accepted officially and opened beside the fish market at last. Since then, many shops have opened and competed with one another, and some of them failed. As a result, merchants instituted a trade association to help support each other. In the early Showa Era (1926-88), Kyoto’s Central Wholesale Market was established and many shops moved there, but those which remained and other new shops worked together for the prosperity of Nishiki Ichiba. Currently, there are about 130 shops. They each have a unique character but they share a commitment to quality. If you walk in Nishiki Ichiba, you will smell savory aromas and hear the brisk voices of vendors snaring customers everywhere. We are sure you’ll enjoy strolling, shopping and coming into contact with a vital part of Kyoto. Address: Teramachi-dori St. to Takakura-dori St. along Nishiki-koji St. Nakagyo-ku Telephone: 075-211-3882 As they say in Kyoto, 'There is no kind of food you cannot find at Nishiki ichiba'.

Nishiki Ichiba Market by Bento.com The Aritsugu knife shop dates back to 1560, and the hand-crafted knives here are truly works of art. Beyond knives, you may be interested in picking up a new grater or one of Aritsugu's delicate strainers. If you cook at home, consider stocking your spice rack at Dintora. The goodies here include essential Japanese spices like shichimi, dried yuzu, sansho powder and yuzu kosho. If you're ready for a quick snack, pick up some osembei (rice crackers) at Mochiyaki Sembei. If you're brave, dive into the fiery red chili pepper; if you've got a sweet tooth, try the sugar-coated zarame. And for something completely different, check out the nurusembei - a gooey, chewey rice cracker that's been soaked in soy sauce. Unlike ordinary doughnuts, the ones at Konnyamonja are made with soy milk; you'll also find soy-milk soft ice-cream cones - a nice summertime cooler. And everything here is supposed to be good for you,, so these are guilt-free treats! The shop also has a small sitting room if you need a break. Fu, a staple in the Buddhist vegetarian diet, is made from pure wheat gluten and is produced in long cylinders that come in pretty pastel colors. Fuka offers the traditional fu found in sukiyaki as well as modern versions like bacon, cheese and basilico. You'll know you've arrived at Takakuraya when the tangy smell of Kyoto pickles permeates the air. A feast for the eyes, the shopfront is filled with vibrant red French radishes, diminuitive Japanese eggplants, and the local specialty - delicate, almost paper-thin white Japanese senmaizuke radishes. Takakuraya is just one of the many pickle shops waiting to be discovered in the arcade. 1. Aritsugu 2. Dintora

Nishiki Ichiba Market by Bento.com Chinami offers excellent-quality kombu for making dashi at home, and you'll also find intensely flavored kombu tsukudani, kombu which has been steeped in a sweet soy sauce. Another local specialty is chirimenjako - tiny sardines that have been par-boiled and then dried - and in Kyoto they're often sprinkled with fiery sansho pepper. If you're curious to try some of the local sweets, Kitao has a small sitting room in the back. You can grind your own dried soybeans to make kinako powder as a topping for traditional wagashi sweets such as warabi mochi (made from powder from the bracken plant) and mochi dango (a glutinous sweet rice that has been pounded smooth and then shaped into small balls and set three to a skewer). Among Kyoto's local specialties is gossamery yuba - the fragile skin that is gently gathered from soy milk that has been heated. Fresh yuba is creamy, and best enjoyed on its own with nothing more than wasabi and soy sauce. Yubakichi offers both fresh and dried yuba. One product that may seem especially familiar to foreign visitors is the Japanese egg omelette. If you can catch the staff at Miki Keiran while they're in production, you can observe the process of making the fluffy, savory dashimaki tamago. The plain one is a delight, but for a real treat try the "umaki" - it looks like a maki sushi made of eggs with unagi in the middle. Pictures are from top to bottom, left to right. Credits: http://www.bento.com/phgal-kyotomarket2.html 3. Mochiyaki Sembei 4. Konnyamonja

Nishiki Ichiba Market by Bento.com 5. Fuka 6. Takakuraya 7. Chinami 8. Kitao 9. Yubakichi 10. Mikikeiran

Nishiki Ichiba Market by Bento.com - Map Map of Nishiki Market

Nishiki Ichiba Market - Restaurant

Self guided tour – Higashiyama A This course starts in the tranquil stillness of the raked gravel garden of Ginkaku-ji Temple or Silver Pavilion, from where the path leads you to Hakusa-sonso. As you tread the moss-covered stones of the Path of Philosophy in the footsteps of many a great thinker, it isn't hard to see why the intellectuals of old would come here to seek their inspiration. In spring, the riverbank is ablaze with the ethereal pink of cherry blossoms, the breeze carrying fallen petals down stream as you reach Kumano Nyakuo-ji Shrine. On to Eikan-do Temple where the attendant watches you like a hawk, should you forget to remove your shoes before you tread the sacred hallways, then down to the Nomura Museum with its exquisite hanging scrolls and ceramics. A little further, the scent of offerings of incense surrounds you as you enter Nanzen-ji Temple through the grand Sammon Gate. Credit: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/area/kyoto/course/01/index.html

Self guided tour – Higashiyama A

Self guided tour – Downtown Kyoto This course takes you through the bustling streets of Nishikikoji, Teramachi-dori, Shinkyogoku, and Kawaramachi. Head downtown to the dizzying sights and sounds of modern Kyoto, where the glaring electrical goods shops, huge department stores and banks stand alongside dusty old book shops and printmakers. Wander down the narrow backstreets of Ponto-cho, Hanamikoji-dori and Miyagawa-cho, and you might just catch a fleeting glance of a geisha sitting inside with a measure of refinement befitting the ancient city doorways. Shijokawaramachi is the main place in Kyoto for restaurants and department stores. From here, it's only a short walk to Gion where old town houses have been transformed into stylish boutiques. For a break from shopping, wander down the tiny alleys that link the main streets and see a fascinating contrast of two worlds. Stroll around here at dusk and in the darkness watch the traditional lanterns gradually come to life, glowing gently against the blazing neon backdrop. End your day with a performance at Gion Corner, the famous stage for traditional arts. Performances are twice daily from 7:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Note that there are no performances from November 30 to the end of February, nor on August 16. Credit: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/area/kyoto/course/05/index.html

Self guided tour – Downtown Kyoto

Tokyo, Japan (東京、日本）

Tokyo Subway Map

Tsukiji Fish Market – Getting there How to get there: Tsukiji Market is just above Tsukijishijo Station on the Subway Oedo Line. Alternatively, it can be reached in a 5 minute walk from Tsukiji Station on the Subway Hibiya Line. The closest JR station is Shimbashi, from where you can walk to the market in about 15 minutes. From Tokyo Station Take the Marunouchi Subway Line from Tokyo to Ginza (3 minutes) and transfer to the Hibiya Subway Line to get to Tsukiji Station (3 minutes). The fare is 160 yen. From Shinjuku Station Take the Oedo Subway Line directly from Shinjuku Station to Tsukijishijo Station. The one way trip takes 20 minutes and costs 260 yen. Hours and fees: Hours: Inner Market: 3:00-12:00, best between 5:00-9:00 Outer Market: varies, typically 5:00-14:00 Closed: Sundays, national holidays and some Wednesdays Cost: Free admission It is best to visit Tsukiji Market from 5:00 (when the tuna auctions close) to 9:00 (when the peak of business is over and the action starts to calm down). Conclude your visit with a fresh sushi breakfast at one of the onsite or local restaurants. Most of them open around five in the morning and close between 12:00 and 15:00. From Japan e-Guide

Tsukiji Fish Market The Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as Tsukiji fish market (Japanese: 築地市場, Tsukiji shijō) Moved to this place from Nihonbashi after the 1923 earthquake and its subsequent fire destroyed the old one. The largest wholesale seafood and fish market in the world. It handles up to 450 kind of seafood. A small bridge marks the entrance of the market, just before the bridge is Namiyoke Inari Jinja (Wave repelling Fox shrine). Fishermen and traders come to pray for safety and prosperity. Warning: Watch your own purse. Apparently, pickpockets have been at work here on unsuspecting tourists.

Tsukiji Fish Market – Fish Auction Time table changes may change due to shipment of fish and other conditions.

How to Read and Understand a Street Address in Tokyo Tokyo has a very old and chaotic street-numbering system. Generations ago, the first building in a neighborhood was numbered 1. The second, now perhaps blocks away, was numbered 2. And so on. Still, building 8 can be next door to building number 137. Even veteran taxi drivers get lost. To modernize the system would be forbiddingly expensive. So offices, restaurants, stores and ordinary householders cope by handing out maps to expected visitors, or sending maps by fax. People taking a taxi hand a map of their destination to the driver, who studies it for long moments before nodding "yes" and putting the cab in gear. Some say the chaos is a charming relic of the capital's origins as a collection of villages, a confusion compounded from the haphazard way the city was rebuilt, first after it was largely destroyed by a colossal earthquake and fire in 1923 and again by firebombing during World War II. We will use the address of the JTNO Tourist Information Center(TIC) in Tokyo as an example: 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo The TIC is in the city of Tokyo, in the ku(ward) of Chiyoda; in the area of Yurakucho; in the No. 2 chome(sub-area), in city block number No. 10 and the number of the building is 1

The 2 Minute Rule Between Stations - Figuring Out Japan Rail Travel On weekdays, most of the trains run every 2 to 5 minutes. So, don't panic even if you miss the train, while trying to find out if this train was the right one. It won't be too long until another train comes. And here's another useful tip... Even if you understand how to take trains, it is sometimes troublesome if you can't find out how long it would take to get an destination. Downtown Tokyo is bigger than you expect. You can never figure out how long it will take unless you understand the actual size of the city. In this case, you can find out travel times with this method called "the rule of 2 minutes". Traveling time between, station to station, by train in downtown Tokyo is about 2 minutes on average. It sometimes takes 3 minutes, but I always figure it for 2 minutes, as a rule of thumb. So, you can find how long it will take by the calculation below: Number of Stations x 2 minutes For example, let's suppose I was going to meet a friend at JR Tokyo Station. The nearest station from my place is JR Nippori Station, so I am to take JR Yamanote line from Nippori to Tokyo. From Nippori to Tokyo, there are 6 stations. So, I can calculate the supposed traveling time like this; 6 Stations x 2 minutes = 12 minutes. Plus, I consider extra time, maybe 5 times for walking toward a platform or waiting for train etc. 12 min + 5 min = 17 min. So. I figure out I need at least 17 min. to get to Tokyo station from Nippori station. Following this example, you can find the length of time you need by the proceeding calculation. If I go to Shinjuku station from Nippori, there are 10 stations,v the calculation goes like this; (10 stations x 2 min ) + extra 5 min = 25 min. I can figure out that I would be able to get Shinjuku from Nippori in 25 min! You can use this calculation for subways too. If you have to change trains, you need to add more extra minutes, though, the rule of 2 minutes works for any cases. Note: *If you are a careful person, you can change it to "the rule of 3 minutes". By understanding this, you can become an expert in navigating the transportation systems in Tokyo!

Getting From Narita International Airport to Downtown Tokyo Immigration Procedures at Narita Airport Embarking from your plane you will encounter 2 sections to Immigration: Foreigners or non-residents Resident Japanese and Re-entry visa holders Once in the Foreigner line, due to world wide security concerns and Japanese immigration procedures, it might take 45 minutes to 1 hour. Unless you have had your travel arrangements prepared by an agency providing you will transportation to your accommodation, there is a couple of methods of getting to downtown Tokyo from Narita Airport. Methods of Getting from Narita Airport to Downtown Tokyo You can select the Keisei Express(Skyliner Airport Express) Train, The Airport Limousine Bus or the JR Narita Express Train. Using Keisei Train - Skyliner Airport Express From Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno Station Price: 1920 Yen Time: 50 min - Keisei line From Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno Station. Using Keisei Tokkyu (Express) Train From Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno Station Time: 75 min Price: 1000 Yen *We strongly reccomend avoid taking Express train during rush hour if you have a large suitscase. (Around 7:30 AMto 9:30AM or 4:30PM to 7:00PM) (To go Shinjuku) Fare: 1140 Yen 780 Yen Narita Airport to Keisei Yawata 360 Yne: Moto Yawata to Shinjuku Go to "Keisei Yawata" station, walk to "Moto Yawata" station change to subway "Toei Shinjuku" Line with connections to the closet subway or train station near your accommodations. Using JR Narita Express Train Price 3100 Yen Time 63 min by "JR" line plus 3 min by subway go to "Tokyo" station walk to "Otemachi" station change to subway "Hanzomon" line with connections to the closet subway or train station near your accommodations.

Related links Kyoto http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/ http://www.khulsey.com/travel/japan_kyoto_path-of-philosophy.html http://www.khulsey.com/travel/japan_kyoto_city-map.html Gion http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/travel/kyoto_gion.htm Nishiki Market http://kaiwai.city.kyoto.jp/sightdb/sight-raku/view_sight.php?lang=en&InforKindCode=1&ManageCode=12000001 http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-kinkakuji.htm http://www.kyopro.kufs.ac.jp/dp/dp01.nsf/ecfa8fdd6a53a7fc4925700e00303ed8/bef449425639880c4925703000068251!OpenDocument Tokyo http://www.digi-promotion.com/tokyo-info/info-maps-address.html http://www.digi-promotion.com/articles/transit_rule_tokyo.html http://www.att-japan.net/tinyd3+index.htm