Kyoto Travel Guide

Haru Cooking Class -Kyoto-

2011-12-29T02:48:47Z

Haru Cooking Class -Kyoto- offers Japanese home cooking in both regular menu and vegetarian menu. The class is run by a young friendly Japanese family living in Kyoto. You will be invited to their home to cook a meal together, which gives you a great insight to a normal Japanese life.

Fee: starting 4,500yen per person
Duration: approximately 3 hours

Haru Cooking Class -Kyoto-
Address: 166-32 Shimogamo Miyazakicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City 606-0802
Website: http://www.vegetarian-food-kyoto.com

HOSHINOYA Kyoto

2011-10-18T09:30:06Z

"Experience Authentic Japan with Modern Comfort"
HOSHINOYA offers the world the ultimate in relaxation and comfort, blending the ancient Japanese cultural tradition of the ryokan with the latest in modern architecture. A picturesque nobles' retreat in the millennial city of kyoto. HOSHINOYA Kyoto offers a truly private retreat in Arashiyama, the most beautiful hideaway in Kyoto, Japan's most culture rich city.

Address : Genrokuzancho 11-2 Arashiyama Nishikyo-ku Kyoto City 616-0007 Japan
Tel : +81-(0)50-3786-0066
Fax : +81-(0)75-871-0003
No.of rooms : 25 rooms
Website : http://www.hoshinoyakyoto.jp/en

Exclusive Kyoto Tour

2011-08-16T12:31:51Z

Exclusive Kyoto Tour
Local artists and machiya owners present the "Kiyomizu Machiya Walking Tour"

With a local Kyoto resident as your guide, explore the fascination of mysterious and historical side of Kyoto! You can have a glimpse of a Maiko's daily life as well as inside of a machiya townhouse.
This is a walking event for foreign tourists who are visiting Kyoto and foreigners who take up residency in Kyoto.

Date: Every second and fourth Wednesdays
Note : August: Only on the fourth Wednesday. December: Second and third Wednesday.
Note : A tour on another date is also possible depending on the request.

2011 August	September	October	November	December	2012 January	February	March	April
24th	14th & 28th	12th & 26th	9th & 23th	14th & 21th	11th & 25th	8th & 22th	14th & 28th	11th & 25th

Guide services will be provided in Japanese and interpreted in English.
French and Chinese speaking interpreters are also available on request.
Note : A Chinese interpreter is not available on September 28th.

For more details, please contact us here.

Aoi Matsuri

2011-05-13T12:13:20Z

The Aoi Festival is a festival of both the Shimogamo Shrine and the Kamigamo Shrine held in Kyoto City on May 15th. The official name of the festival is the Kamo Festival. In the mid 6th century, a serious famine occurred. Emperor Kinmei asked a fortune teller for guidance to handle the problem. The fortune teller told the emperor that the famine was caused by the gods' anger. Therefore the emperor ordered a ceremonial festival to soften their anger. The festival today is known for its elegant parade with people dressed in classic costumes of the Heian-period.

Aoi Festival's highlight is its parade with people dressed in classic costumes of the Heian-period. Special carriages called 'Gosho Guruma' and oxcarts, which were common 1000 years ago,can be seen. The name of the festival was derived from the fact that everything in the procession, such as the people, carts and the oxcarts, is decorated with hollyhock leaves, which are called "Aoi" in Japanese. The parade starts from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and proceeds through town to the Shimogamo Shrine, and then on to the Kamigamo Shrine. It seems like a reproduction of a historical scene from an ancient scroll.

The Course of the Parade :
Starting from Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 → Arriving at Shimogamo Shrine at 11:40 → Leaving from Shimogamo Shrine at 14:20 → Arriving at Kamigamo Shrine at 15:30

The pre-festivals of the Aoi Festival are held in May. Especially, the famous 'Yabusame Shinto Ritual' , in which people shoot arrows while wearing kimonos and riding horses. (Shimogamo Shrine on 3rd May). Another pre-festival is the 'Kamo Kurabeuma', in which horses compete for speed at the riding grounds. It begins after the ceremony. (Kamigamo Shrine on 5th May)

Yabusame Shinto Ritual

Kamo Kurabeuma

©Yuka Hoshino

Gion Matsuri

2011-05-13T11:40:16Z

"Gion Matsuri" is a large festival held at the Yasaka-jinja Shrine with over 30 events in the month of July. The origin of this festival is a religious ritual to calm the plague that spread all over the country in 869.

The highlight of this festival is "Yamaboko Junko" held on the 17th. In this event, over 30 decorated wagons called "Boko" and "Yama" are pulled by people and paraded around town. It is registered as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Children and adults ride on Yamaboko and play the festival music with whistles and bells to boost the festival mood. In the evening after the Yamaboko Junko is over, Shinkosai is held at Yasaka Shrine. Seeing over a thousand men wearing Happi and carrying Mikoshi is sheer excitement.

Also, we recommend event packed Yoiyama, which is the pre-festival of "Yamaboko Junko". From the 14th through 16th, Yamaboko are built on the street for 3 days, and you can see inside of the Yamaboko during that time. "Byobu Maturi" is held where old families and long established stores present their treasured byobu, kimono, and paintings and calligraphic works. There will be roadside stands that sell snacks and sweets unique to Japan.

Main events
July 14th through 16th Yoiyama at Shijo Karasuma Area
17th 9:00~ Yamaboko at Junko Shijo Dori, Kawaramachi Dori, Oike Dori
17th 16:00~ Shinkosai at Yasaka-jinja Shrine

Kyoto Regular Tour Bus

2011-05-10T02:33:39Z

Our Tour Bus is one of the most efficient ways for tourists, whose time is limited, to visit historical temples and shrines dotted around Kyoto.
The tickets usually include other fees and admission fees, etc, so tourists can just go directly to the tourism sites.
If you are visiting Kyoto for the first time, why not visit the main historical heritage sites, and if you have visited many times, why don't you try to look deeper into the essence of Kyoto?
The "Kyoto Regular Tour Bus", which is jointly operated by the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau and Keihan Bus Co., Ltd., leaves from in front of the JR Kyoto Station everyday. Since we have our English, Korean and Chinese websites, it is easy to book the tour. (The booking will start from the middle of May). Please pay the fee when you get on the bus.

"Sample Course"
The "Kyoto Half-day Tour" is a course for visiting the most famous historical heritage sites in Kyoto, such as Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji (the silver Pavilion) and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Tour Time: 4 ½ - 5 hours. Fee: Adults 4,950 yen, Children 2,780 yen.
The "Quick Look around Kyoto" tour is also available.

Keihan Bus Official Website
http://www.kyoto-regulartourbus.com/
Enquiry: +81-75-672-2100 (Keihan Bus Co., Ltd, Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau.)

Another bus tour company: JTB Sunrise Tour
http://www.jtb.co.jp/shop/itdw/info/e/

IYEMON SALON KYOTO

2011-02-01T02:15:01Z

The varying types and production methods of Japanese tea give it a rich variety of characteristics and flavors. Iyemon Salon Kyoto brings you 'scenery with tea' , a new way to enjoy tea, savoring it together with a meal or snack, or as a luxury item.

The café features seating designed to allow customers to enjoy their tea with meals or desserts, as well as a tea counter, where you can savor tea carefully prepared by a Japanese tea instructor. New ways of enjoying tea are brought to you by the Chakai event, which is held regularly.

IYEMON SALON KYOTO

Address: Chiso Building 1st Floor, 80 Mikura-cho, Sanjo-dori Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City 604-8166

Business hours: 8:00 - 24:00 (tea counter from 11:00)

Tel: 075-222-1500

Access: 2 minutes on foot from Karasuma Oike Station exit 6, on the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines

Okakita

2011-02-01T02:12:47Z

Kyo-udon, or Kyoto-style udon noodles, are one of the traditional flavors of Kyoto. With a history that stretches back over the 70 years since its establishment, the time-honored udon restaurant 'Okakita' allows diners to enjoy traditional flavors that are meticulous in their use of dashi fish stock and ingredients.

This steaming hot udon served in a pot is the perfect dish for the cold winter days to come!

In addition to udon, 'Okakita' offers an extensive menu featuring dishes made from carefully selected ingredients unique to Kyoto, including don-mono (rice-bowl dishes), ankake (a thick starchy sauce), tamago toji (egg drop soup), nama-yuba (a dish made by boiling soy milk) and Kyoto vegetables.

'Okakita' Kyoto Udon and Soba

Address: 34 Okazaki Minamigoshocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Tel: 075-771-4831

Business hours: 11:00 - 20:00 (last order)

Closed: Tuesdays

Website: http://www.kyoto-okakita.com/

Discover Kyoto's New Autumn in Kimono!

2011-01-27T05:33:03Z

In the relaxing days of autumn, put on a kimono and feel your mood elevate as you enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto. While meandering the small city streets, temples, shrines, historical buildings, and the famous Geisha district, try stopping for a green tea parfait.

(About 7 hours)

1. Kimono Shop Kitamura → 10:00 - 18:00

Choose from a variety of appropriate seasonal kimono designs and be fitted for a complete rental set. Without any difficulty, you can soon be enjoying Kyoto sightseeing on foot. A small Japanese present is also included!

Details

Address: 470 Shimogawara-cho Kodai-ji Omotemon-mae Shimogawara-dori Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Access: 5-min walk from the city bus stop Higashiyama-Yasui

Tel: 075-531-3981

Website: http://www.sensho-kitamura.jp/info/english.html

Fee: 5250 yen (*Reservations required)

<10-minute walk>

2. Stone Wall Streets → 13:20 - 13:50

Built from the Meiji through the Taisho periods, these stone walls pave the way to gourmet restaurants and traditional Japanese inns. At designated building preservation sites, the traditional elegance of Japanese architecture remains firmly in place. Pedestrian traffic is scarce and one can sense the Japan of days gone by.

Details

Address: Shimogawaradori-cho Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Access: 7-min walk from the city bus stop Higashiyama-Yasui

<5-minute walk>

3. Gion Tsujiri Kodai-ji Branch → 14:00 - 15:00

Gion Tsujiri is the finest tea store in Kyoto! High class tea ceremony matcha is used extravagantly in specially selected Tsujiri parfaits which start at ¥1200. Many other types of matcha sweets are also on the menu. In comparison to the long lines at the main store in Gion, this locale is relatively quiet but highly recommended.

Details

Hours: 11:00 to 17:00 Last Order (Varies according to the season)

Address: Neneno michi kodai-ji Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Access: 10-min walk from Keihan Gion Shijo Station

Tel: 075-541-1228

<15-minute walk>

4. Shoren-in Temple → 15:30 - 17:00

The teachings of this temple originate from a humble Buddhist monk who lived on Mt. Hiei. After the son of a retired emperor entered this temple at the end of the Heian Period, it flourished in its role as an imperial household temple. Gazing over Kirishima Garden (built in the Muromachi Period) while drinking tea is the highlight of any visit.

Details

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Address: 69-1 Sanjo Bo-cho Awadaguchi Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Access: 5-min walk from Higashiyama Station on the Tozai Subway Line

Tel: 075-561-2345

Entrance Fee: 500 yen

Website: http://www.shorenin.com/english/

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

2011-01-25T06:32:56Z

Though Japanese rice wine is often referred to as sake in English, sake in Japanese refers to alcohol in general. In Japan, the preferred word for rice wine is "Nihonshu."

Nihonshu has a very distinctive aroma and fruity sweet taste. It is usually 14 to 19 percent alcohol. Drinking chilled nihonshu in summer helps you feel refreshed after working and increases your appetite. In winter hot nihonshu makes you feel warm and relaxed.

There are approximately 2,000 nihonshu breweries in Japan producing more than 10,000 products. Every brand of nihonshu has a unique aroma and taste of its own. If you would like to find out more about nihonshu and brewing, the museum below may interest you.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

Website: http://www.gekkeikan.co.jp/english/index.html

Marukyu-Koyamaen Makishima Factory　

Website: http://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/eng/index.htm

Contact: Horino Memorial Hall

Address: 172 Kameya-cho Nijo-agaru-sakaimachi Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

Tel: 075-212-9993

Fax: 075-212-9994

Entrance Fees: 300 yen

Experience Fees: 5,250 yen including tax/person

Reservations Necessary

Nijo-jo Castle

2011-01-24T05:48:23Z

The ostentatious style of this castle was intended as a demonstration of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's prestige.

Nijo-jo Castle was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, who ruled Japan for the over 200 years from 1603 to 1868, and it remains an eloquent testimony to their power. The wide moat, massive stone walls, and heavy yet elaborate gates are still impressive, and were the only fortifications the inhabitants felt they needed, so firm was their grip on power. The grounds are large and contain several lovely gardens as well as groves of plum and cherry trees. The palace building itself is imposing, yet upon closer examination, is rich in decorative detail.

Inside the palace are several masterpieces of Japanese art, most notably the painted screens of the main chamber. In this room the shoguns met the daimyo (high-ranking warlord-administrators) who sought their audience. The screens were painted by artists of the Kano school and employ rich colors and large amounts of gilt to depict flowers, trees, birds and tigers. They were meant to impress. Also in the palace are the famous "nightingale floors," which were designed to squeak and thus alert guards to any intruders.

Address: 541 Nijo-jo-cho Horikawa-nishi-iru Nijo-dori Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

Tel.:075-841-0096 Fax: 075-802-6181

Access: City Bus Stop Nijo-jo-mae (from JR Kyoto Station/Hankyu Railway Karasuma Station), Tozai Subway Line Nijo-jo-mae Station

Parking: 30 buses/¥2500, 210 cars/¥600

Hours: 8:45-16:00 17:00 closing

Closed: 12/26-1/4 and every Tuesday (Jul. Aug. Dec. Jan.)

Entrance Fee: Adults ¥600 / Junior High and High School Students ¥350 / Children ¥200

Kyo no Tanabata

2011-01-19T04:39:31Z

In the annual Tanabata Festival (Star Festival), people write their wishes on strips of paper and hang the strips on bamboo branches in the hope that the stars will make their wishes come true. This festival began around the year 700 and originates from a Chinese legend where the lovers "Hikoboshi (the star Altair in the constellation Aquila)" and "Orihime (the star Vega in the constellation Lyra)", separated by the "Milky Way", are only able to meet once a year on July 7.

In the "Kyo no Tanabata" (Kyoto Tanabata) event, Kyoto's unique atmosphere adds to the regular Tanabata Festival. If you write your wishes on a special postcard, your postcard will be used to decorate one of the traditional temples or shrines in Kyoto. You can also rent a "yukata" (casual summer kimono) and receive some help with putting it on. Meanwhile, in areas neighboring the Horikawa River and Kamogawa River venues of the "Kyo no Tanabata" event, a wide variety of events including bamboo and light motif art work exhibitions and concerts are held.

In the Horikawa River area, a "Milky Way of Light" illumination event is held where you can feel as if you are actually walking along the Milky Way. Taking part in the release of the glittering "Inori boshi (prayer stars)" along the Horikawa River is also an activity you should not miss. In the Kamogawa River area, you can stroll along the river beneath the beautiful decorative lights and bamboo, and enjoy some traditional events unique to Kyoto including "Yuzen-Nagashi" (rinsing dye from "Yuzen" silk in the river water) and dining on the "Noryo-Yuka" terrace perched above the river.

Kyo no Tanabata

Date: August 6th-15th, 2011
Location: Horikawa Kaijo, Kamogawa Kaijo, Shrines and Temples
Contact: Kyoto Star Festival Executive Committee (Tourism Promotion Division, Tourism Department of the Kyoto City Industry and Tourism Bureau)
Tel (Japanese) : +81-(0)75-222-4133 (Mon-Fri 9:00-17:30)

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine

2011-01-18T01:21:42Z

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine, also known as Kamomioya-jinja Shrine, is the family shrine of the Kamo clan, who inhabited this area before the transfer of the capital.

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine sits nestled between the fork of the Kamogawa and Takanogawa rivers and is approached along a shady path through an old and scenic forest. With the rivers on either side, and with several small streams flowing through the grounds, Shimogamo is refreshingly cool in summer, and many people stroll there day and night to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and the rich atmosphere of mystical purity.

The grounds of Shimogamo contain beautiful vermillion-colored wooden buildings, curving bridges over the little streams, and several smaller shrines. Shimogamo-jinja Shrine is the sister shrine of Kamigamo-jinja, which lies a few kilometers north, and together the two Shrines sponsor the annual Aoi Matsuri, a parade of people in period costume that is one of Kyoto's three big annual festivals and a must-see if you are in the city on May 15th.

* Address: 59 Izumigawa-cho Shimogamo Sakyo-ku, Kyoto

* Tel/FAX 075-781-0010/075-781-4722

* Access: 8-minute walk from Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi Station/Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi Station or City Bus from Kitaoji Subway Station/JR Kyoto Station/Hankyu Kawaramachi Station to City Bus Stop Shimogamo-jinja

* Hours: 6:00-17:00

* Website: http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/

Kamigamo-jinja Shrine

2011-01-18T01:18:44Z

This shrine, also named "Kamowakeikazuchi-jinja", is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, dating back to the 7th century and predating the establishment of Heian-kyo (Kyoto).

A large orange torii (gate) marks the entrance to Kamigamo-jinja Shrine. Beyond it, a straight white path leads through a grassy field to another torii that stands before a large sacred grove. The path then enters a forest and leads to the shrine's main hall which is situated at the confluence of two clear streams. Two white-sand mounds next to the main building are to serve as mountains for divinities to alight upon.

For more than 1300 years it has been the focus of ritual activity dedicated to Wakeikazuchi, a deity originally affiliated with the harvest, yet who in time came to be seen as the guardian of the capital city. Thus the rites at Kamigamo-jinja Shrine came to have significance for the preservation and upkeep of the capital, and by extension, the state.

An example is the annual Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Fetival), which features a long parade of people in costumes of different historical periods. The parade culminates at the shrine where the Emperor's representative reads a message from the Emperor and stands in for him to pray. The Aoi Matsuri is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto and should not be missed

* Adress: 339 Motoyama Kamigamo Kita-ku, Kyoto

* Tel.:075-781-0011

* Fax:075-702-6618

* Acccess: City Bus Stop Kamigmo-jinja-mae

(from Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi Station and Subway Kitayama Station)

5-minute walk from City Bus Stop Kamigamo misonobashi

(from Hankyu Railway Kawaramachi Station and Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi,

Sanjo Stations and Subway Kitaoji Station and Kyoto Station)

* Hours: Open 24hours / Roumon Fate 8:30-16:00

* Entrance Fees: Free

*Website: http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index-e.html

Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple

2011-01-18T01:16:55Z

Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple is designed to impress. The finest example of Momoyama-era(1568-1598) architecture in Kyoto, the temple features large buildings, elaborate gates with gold trim, gilded altars, painted statues, and a host of other items deemed National Treasures, including the oldest Noh stage in Japan.

Nishi-Hongan-ji is the headquarters of the Jodo-Shin sect of Buddhism, which has the largest number of adherents of any sect in Japan. To spend some time on the wide tatami mat before the altar in the main hall and to bask in the splendor of the decoration, is to feel the power of this influential spiritual movement. Perhaps one can even catch a glimpse of the "Pure Land," the Buddhist heaven the elaborate display is meant to evoke.

The temple was founded in 1272 by the daughter of Shinran, the sect's founder. Shinran's teachings were simpler than the doctrines of other Buddhist schools and became very popular with the poor. His influence grew rapidly, and in time the ruling shoguns began to fear the temple's influence. Thus the sect was divided into two schools, with a rival temple, Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, being established close by. As evidenced by its stunning decorations however, Nishi Hongan-ji Temple has continued to prosper.

* Address: Hanauya-cho sagaru, Horikawa-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

* Tel: 075-371-5181/ FAX: 075-351-1372

* Access: City Bus Stop Nishi-hongan-ji-mae

* Entrance Fee: Not specified. Contributions are accepted.

* Hours: 6:00-17:00 (Jan. and Feb.) / 5:30-17:3 0(Mar. and Apr.) / 5:30-18:00 (May-Aug.) / 5:30-17:30 (Sep. and Oct.) / 6:00-17:00 (Nov. and Dec.)

* Closed: Open daily