Japan: Food crawl and Cafes in Kyoto

 

Let's fill-up our tummy with the options we found in Kyoto. 

Japan: Book cafes in Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka

If you are adding libraries, bookstores, or book cafes in your itinerary, you may want to look at these places. 

Kyoto, Japan: 9 things to do in Uji

 

What are the places and things we can do in the home of the famous matcha, Uji in Kyoto?

Kyoto, Japan: Night viewing at Eikan-do Temple

 

Travel Date: 19 November 2023 

The Autumn night exhibition at Eikan-do Temple runs for a limited time between November and December.  Guide will be posted a few days before the open date. Regular open hours can be seen here. 

Kyoto, Japan: A day in Arashiyama

 

Twelve years ago when we first visited Arashiyama.  We failed to ride the Sagano romantic train as some parts of the train tracks were hit by a landslide.

Japan: Kyoto Station

We are visiting Kyoto Station for the night lights and overlooking the view of the city. 

Kyoto, Japan: Nishiki Market

Reminder go to Nishiki Market with a hungry tummy.  But before we go to the list of snacks we tried at the market, we'll also share what to see beyond the food.

Kyoto, Japan: Kuramadera Temple and Kifune Shrine in Kibune town

Visited Kuramadera Temple, hiked  and Kifune Shrine in Kibune town

Kyoto, Japan: ShinPuhKan

New complex shopping place in Kyoto, ShinPuhKan is a combined area for Ace Hotel, cafes, restaurants, and stores.

Kyoto, Japan: Gion and Yasaka Shrine

I have recently watched Makanai on Netflix and that makes me want to visit Aomori and revisit Gion.  But for now, let's visit places we missed last on our 2012 trip and places where we can find Kiyo, the character in Makanai.

Kyoto, Japan: Hotel Ms Est Shijo Karasuma

 

Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma

41 Motoakuojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8091, Japan

https://hotelms.jp/msestkarasuma/

Travel Date: November 2023

Japan: Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka - 9 days Itinerary and Expenses

Japan: Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka - 9 days Itinerary and Expenses

Japan: Osaka, Okayama, Kobe, Kyoto: 3 days Spring Itinerary

Destinations: Osaka, Okayama, Kobe, Kyoto, Japan
Travel Date: May 16-19 2014 (3d3n)

Temperature
May 17 (Kobe): 19.3 (mean), 22.5 (max), 14.8 (min)
May 18 (Kyoto): 21 (mean), 28.2 (max), 13 (min)
May 19 (Osaka): 21.6 (mean), 26.7 (max), 16.6 (min)

Osaka Weather History (2013-2015)
http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/10-2015/ws-477720.html
http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/10-2014/ws-477720.html
http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/10-2013/ws-477720.html

If its nearly 2 weeks upon your visit, check the weather forecast or sunrise/sunrise timings: 

Osaka - http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/osaka/ext

Kyoto - http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/kyoto/ext
Kobe - http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/kobe/ext


Accommodation: Where to stay in Osaka?
Hotel IL Cuore Namba
Address: 556-0011, Osaka Naniwa-ku Nambanaka 1-15-15
ホテルイルクオーレなんば   556-0011, 大阪市 浪速区難波中1-15-15
Hotel Review

Food and Restaurant Tip - Kampai!

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do in Osaka?
Saturday
-From Osaka, go to Okayama by train
-Visit Wake Wisteria Park, Wake Folk Museum
-Go to Kobe by train
-Visit old Western-style buildings in Kitano area
-Walk along Flower Road
-Return to Osaka by train

Sunday
-From Osaka, go to Kyoto by train
-Visit Mimuroto-ji Temple (Azalea)
-Kawaramachi Catholic Church
-TOEI Kyoto Studio Park
-Return to Osaka by train
-Namba Parks

Monday
-In Osaka, visit Nakanoshima Park (Roses)
-Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park
-Departure in Kansai International Airport (KIX)

2014 May: Japan: Kyoto: Toei Studio Park

Travel Date: May 18, 2014 Sunday
Toei Kyoto Studio Park Japan
〒616-8161 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Uzumasa Higashihachiokacho, 10
9:00am-6:00pm ・March-July,September(Sat,Sun&Holidays)
Admission: 2200yen
Map: http://www.toei-eigamura.com/en/pdf/parkmap_en2014.pdf

From Nijo take the San-In line, drop by Uzumasa.  There is only one exit and has a sign going to TOEI Studio Park.

The area is big, but you can spend half a day or 3-4 hours to enjoy and see what's worth of the entrance.

Anime Museum

Hero Land in Padios

2014 May: Japan: Kyoto: Kawaramachi Catholic Church

Central terminals are really confusing. Due to sudden change of itinerary, it took me more time to figure out the name of the line and which platform in Kyoto is going to Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae station.  

Arriving at the station and taking exit 1, it took around 10-15minutes to reach the Roman Catholic.  Starting May 2014, English mass will only be on 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.

Kawaramachi Catholic Church (Kyoto Diocese Cathedral)

Kawaramachidori-sanjoagaru, Nakagyo-ku, KYOTO, 604-8006

Patron Saitn: The Holy Mother of the Capital

http://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/eng/ediocese/kyoto.htm

2014 May: Japan: Kyoto: Mimuroto-ji Temple

Travel Date: May 18, 2014 Sunday 

Location: 

Mimuroto-ji Temple, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0013, Japan

三室戸寺 21 莵道滋賀谷 Uji,

Open: 8:30 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from November to March)

Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time; Admission: 500 yen

http://www.mimurotoji.com/ 

Aside from Umeda in Osaka, there is another option to reach Kyoto.  I took Keihan Line from Yodobashi station to Chusojima.  Then, exchange to Uji line going to Mimurudo station.

In early weeks of May, you'll see full bloom of azaleas in Mimuroto-ji Temple.  It is about 20 minute walk from the station.  

Check if you can see the signage and directions while being covered by the branches.

2014 May: Japan: Oishi (Delicious), Itadakimasu! (Let's eat!)

Your Japan trip can be inexpensive if you know where to find an affordable meal.  It is a balance between being thrifty and having the Japanese experience. 

Convenience stores - Bento boxed meals or rice covered with seaweed are available in Mini Mart, 7/11, Family Mart, etc.  

Supermarket - Few minutes before closing, supermarkets would offer dimsum or suchi for half of its price.  You could also buy cheaper drinks and omiyage in supermarkets. [Read more tips]

Street Food – Try toasted dumplings.  Just like Kenshin.  Mitarashi dango is a traditional rice dumpling with sweet soy glaze and is normally skewered on a bamboo stick.

TOEI Kyoto Studio Park

Japan: 5 days Autumn Itinerary in Osaka and Kyoto

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do in Osaka and Kyoto?

2012 Dec: Japan: Trains

Are you ready to get lost?  Are you up to the challenge to see these signs?

Will you be able to locate where you are or going to if you are given less English maps?

I don’t want to confuse myself on getting a ticket each time I use the train, and I need to have a ticket that can be used on all types of trains in Osaka and Kyoto.  Do you have the same issues on mind, ICOCA is the answer!

2012 Dec: Japan: Bicycle

Bicycles are widely used in Japan for everyday life by people of all age groups and social standings.[Reference]

All I wanna do is... I want to ride my bicycle,

I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle,

Bicycle races are coming your way,

So forget all your duties oh yeah! --queen