We are traveling during a Japanese holiday and Kyoto is packed. Any ideas of hotels in a town/city close by, preferably on the way to Tokyo.
We only have 2 days to see Kyoto. What are the highlights?
Thanks.
2006-10-03 08:59:04 · 4 answers · asked by outtahere 3 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Yeah, but a tour might drag you to places best avoided during the holiday season. For example, you might be taken to a lightup and have to stand in line for HOURS (at Kiyomizu!). I went w friends a couple yrs ago at the beginning of Nov. We did our own thing and it was a blast. The thing about Kyoto is, there are SO MANY things to see that you could never see everything in 2 days, even under normal circumstances. So I like just wandering.
Another piece of advice for this time of year--do NOT take the bus. Kyoto traffic is always bad, and in autumn you could get totally stuck in neverending bumper-to-bumper traffic. Take the subway and/or do alot of walking.
Here's my advice re accomodation (if you dare). Kiyomizu is at the top of Higashiyama. At the base of the mt, across the street, is an area of love hotels. If you are a couple then you could stay there, the price is probably the same or cheaper than a ryokan. Of course, once you let yourself in, you can't go out until you're ready to leave for good. You can't pop in and out ala a normal hotel!!!
I always like going to Arashiyama. There are many temples and shrines, the bamboo forest, and the big bridge over the river. There's a little local train that goes there (hankyu).
Another place I've visited in November is Chion'in. You can walk there from the station (if you're feeling genki). It was so awesome at night. There's a whole complex of temples in that area, one place leads into another. If you go to the visitor's center in Kyoto station they'll give you English maps. They usually will make hotel reservations for you too, but at this time of yr everything (respectable) is booked out.
2006-10-04 04:15:00 · answer #1 · answered by tiger lou 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you will only have 2 days in Kyoto, I recommend signing up with a tour that hits up all the highlights.
2006-10-04 00:09:28 · answer #2 · answered by Kaonashi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Kaonashi. If you want to make sure you see everything in two days a tour is a good idea. Just about every place you want to see has an admission fee, you need to get from site to site, and you need to eat lunch. If you can get an all-inclusive day tour for less than 8500 for so, it might very well work out to be cheaper than on your own. Take the guided tour the first day, and then head back to your favourite spot the next day for a closer look. If you buy a tour that includes ryokan, then it's all take care of.
2006-10-04 01:09:28 · answer #3 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend staying in Osaka -- they are close by train.
Check out my itinerary for Japan in August on Yahoo Travel. I believe we hit a lot of the highlights in a day and 1/2.
http://travel.yahoo.com/trip?pid=545524&action=view
2006-10-04 11:49:54 · answer #4 · answered by coldsake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋