Planning a Trip to Kansai Region

If you like it hot, then go to Kyoto in summer! It's incredible! But anyway, the best way to come along in Kyoto is by bike. It's really comfy and you can go everywhere this way. You can rent it in most of the hostels there. And: don't forget to stay in a hostel with tatami.! It's so much fun to feel like the japanese felt before a short time ago...

The best place to stay in Kyoto is for sure the Tani House! This guest house started in 1970; it's a very traditional japanese house and the area is very typical! The owner, Mrs Seiko Tani is very friendly and her guest house provides some bicycles (best way to discover the city). All my family stayed there (from the 70ies) and we all enjoyed a lot the time spent in the Tani House!

Bring a camera.  Even in the rain Kyoto is beautiful. Make sure to visit Kiyomizudera (The trail behind the temple has some spectacular views of downtown Kyoto) and Kinkakuji (the famous golden temple).  The lesser known Ginkakuji (silver temple) is nice to see too, but can be skipped if you are short on time.  
When you go to Kiyomizudera, don't miss the love stones just past the red Torii (entrance gate) on the left.  If you can walk from one stone to the other with your eyes shut while repeating the name of your beloved, your wish will come true and you will be together forever.  Also, try to get a bottle of water from the temple.  Follow the train behind the temple.  Just before you leave the temple grounds, you will see a fountain.  No doubt people will be hanging from it attempting to get some holy water from the fountain and so it will be easy to recognize.
Downtown Kyoto offers some great shopping.  Just remember to bring cash.  Finding a place that will take credit cards in Japan can be a bit of a pain.  Post offices will take foreign cards, but they usually close between 4 and 5 pm.  Look for a sign with a symbol that looks like a red capital letter T except that it will have an additional horizontal line over top.  
If you miss the post office, there is a citibank (pronounced "shitti banku"located in downtown Kyoto.
Take an afternoon to have lunch in Gion (part of downtown) and keep an eye out for maiko.  Maiko are geisha apprentice.  Don't be fooled by the impostors all over Kyoto.  When you see a real maiko, the difference becomes apparent.  If you would like a lesson in how to distinguish, simply go to the performance hall in Gion.  The maiko perform there regularly, but the hall also holds a small display that explains their clothing.  The exhibit is free, but performances cost money.

We stayed at the Yuhara Ryokan while in Tokyo. It's a traditional Japanese inn that has been opened for more than 40 years. It's run by Mrs Yuhara and her son, who are very nice and welcoming. They speak English so it's quite easy to get information. You may book by fax or telephone but not online. The rooms are clean and comfy but the walls are very thin. :p Also, they don't provide with food but there's a very nice restaurant right next door. There's a curfew after 11pm so be sure to be back by then otherwise you'll have to sleep in the street.
Kyoto is beautiful and at its best in Spring and Autumn!

Backpacker hotel, UK Osaka

This guesthouse was really comfortable also, the owner, MASA is so kind.
It's clean and quiet also, the location was very good!
It's just two minutes to subway station, shopping streets, post office and there are so many restaurants around there.
You could get everything what you need just walking 1-5 min.


Going to airport from UK Osaka, the best way is getting an airport express from Namba station. (it costs just JPN890)

!! Namba is really huge area and there are many different subway lines. You need to choose Namba Nankai line .

!! There are two different airport expresses, "Rapi:t" and "airport express". Rapi:t costs you JPN500 more just for seat reservation.
But Namba station is the terminal station so, you absolutely get a seat without reservation. I recommend you to take "airport express".


Actually, there are cheaper guesthouses tha UK Osaka close to "Shinsekai" but the area, Shinsekai has huge amount of homeless people.
If you're female travelar, they might annoy you quite a lot.
UK Osaka stays in business shopping area so, there are no homeless people!

While in Kyoto, I highly recommend staying at the New Miyako Hotel. Make sure to get the breakfast option when you book your hotel reservation, so that you don't have to worry about where to eat before heading out. You are given meal vouchers for all the days you will be staying in the hotel. They have three restaurant options to choose from (American buffet style, another buffet, and a Japanese style breakfast). The American buffet breakfast starts at 6:30 AM while the other two starts at 7 AM but all three ends at 10 AM. The concierge staff is very helpful when it comes to booking your tours and helping you navigate your way around Kyoto. The hotel is close to Kyoto Station. Make sure to exit out of the Kintetsu Mall because it will be right in front of it. If you exit out through the JR station side and if you see the Kyoto Tower and Kyoto Post Office Station, you're in the opposite direction. Speaking of the Post Office, there is an ATM inside that will accept your international ATM card. There is also a foreign currency exchange inside the Post Office. You can find almost anything you need inside Kyoto Station. The tourism information desk is on the second floor. You can find the JR line (both local lines and the Shinkansen) and the Kintetsu lines in Kyoto Station.

You can see our traditional Geisha girls walking on the streets of Gion, but unless you're their client, photo shootings are prohibited.

What to pack:
$10,000 (For about 2 Weeks if you want to live like a King/Queen)

$2,000 Will do if you have friends in Japan that can lodge you. Lodging isn't overtly expensive if you're not clostrophobic.

Pay attention to the seasons, it gets cold, wet, hot and humid in Japan, pack accordingly.

Walking shoes. Good broken in walking shoes. Especially some that come off quickly and can be put on quickly. I had the fun of always holding up the party when I was tying my shoes after taking them off. Slip on shoes are almost a must. Elastic Boots for the guys, Gators/Clogs/Flip Flops for the ladies. Pedicures are fun, just don't be too self conscious. We have nasty feet, it's a given but so do they, humanity is universal, after all we all live on Earth. Well at least most of us do, I'm just renting.

A good book! READ! Read up on culture, customs, and habits. Always do this prior to arrival. Even if you learn some simple words and the Japanese see the effort is there they'll bust out some English for you too. As you read and understand Japanese culture might be something of a mystery. Something I always tell my friends is: "Consider Japan's history, for about 2,000 years you've had very violent, highly trained, focused and extremely disciplined people in power. It only makes sense that the language, customs and habits would follow the suit of respect, dignity, and a kind of double talk that's alien to most people." An example all be it a poor one is the nod. Americans nod their heads in agreement, Japanese nod their heads in the acknowledgement of listening to you, and understanding. So while you've been speaking and he/she has been nodding, they might vehimently disagree with you and your observation of what would apear to be agreement is baffeling when they explode into the arguement full force. Just one of many quirky and loveable affectations of Japanese culture. Read and study, don't be a blind tourist in a loud Hawian shirt, culture is always better when you're able to actually see it up close and personal, and have at least a base understanding of it.

Probably one of the better tourist destinations in Japan, just enough of the new world to make you feel comfortable and plenty of the stereo typical old world. Kyoto is home to the Manga museum, while it sounds like a ton of fun it was pretty quick and had me looking for the shops as the gift shop was lacking in what I was looking for. Although they were talking about buying the rights and printing some Mangas directly there. This is just one of the meseums there and you will have a hay day looking through them all. They are reasonably situated but you'll want to plan your route better than I did, but the horde of public transportation makes walking almost obsolete in Japan.

Gambeling. Pachinco is something of a mystery to Westerners but here's the trick. Get the stuffed animal after you've traded in your ball bearings (like poker chips but Japanese) take the stuffed animal, probably around the corner or to a close by "shop" and sell it. There's your gambeling profit right there. Just make sure the animal you have matches the ones already in the shop. It gets kind of awkward if you try to sell it to another shop.

Food: Holy crap! If you like Japanese food get ready to sever limbs! Sushi is expensive! Despite the fact they are surrounded by water sushi is insanely expensive and regardless of what you may think, will cost your friends close to a car payment. If you have friends in Japan get ready for some competition. Don't be a tool and let them pay for your whole trip, because they will. Most Japanese hate the feeling of being in debt, dispite what they're credit card companies say. So if you by your friend a soda, be prepared for the next round or even two to be on him. You'll be caught in a cycle of one-ups-manship for your whole trip. While entertaining to most of us, it's seriouse business, and you can tell when you have become as close as family when you are buying and not being bought for. Sounds strange but that's just part of the trip.

You have to use the bus system to get from Temple to Temple. The bus route map is confusing and they don't differentiate the colours of the routes very well! Â If you're not into Temples I wouldn't go out of my way to visit here.

Kyoto is the perfect setting for photographers or just anyone who appreciates the aesthetic beauty in Kyoto. If you are in Kyoto, you must go to the tourist attractions that shows off the beauty in nature as tea ceremonies, calligraphy, kendo, and flower arrangements. Most importantly, visit the shrines and the ancient palace. Lastly, the bullet train tickets to Tokyo from Kyoto are not expensive and only takes a few hours.

If you want to see more of the "historic" side of Japan, you probably want to visit Kyoto. You won't see all the fancy gadgets and electronics that you may associate Japan with, but where it came from. Sadly, modernisation is creeping in fast, so if you want to see the 1000 year old temples and shrines as it is, without high-rise apartments right next to it, I'd suggest you go quick....

在kyoto一定要用雙腳走才能細細品嚐它的古與美。巷子裡總會有意想不到的街景等著你！即使是一戶平常人家的宅院，也會流露出幽雅的氣息。出奇不異的，會遇到美艷的藝妓也說不定。

Youth hostel with japanese style rooms. Private room available for only 3850yen per night. Booking per email possible, write to naseikan@galaxy.ocn.ne.jp.