By Car
20 minutes from JR Kyoto Station (Shinkansen)
1 hour, 30 minutes from Osaka International Airport
Nearest Train Station
12-minute walk to Marutamachi Station (subway Karasuma line)
■Location
281 Yoneya-machi kamigyo-ku KYOTO 602-8034 JAPAN
■What to see & Do
Kyoto is bounded by mountains to the west, north and east. Many of the best
monuments and gardens can be found in the foothills, such as the Higashiyama
district east to of the Kamo River.
Fall is the best season for sightseeing. With over 200 Shinto shrines, 1,600
temples, three Imperial palaces, nine major museums and countless classic
gardens, Kyoto easily meets the criteria of a full, cultural experience. Tour
services with the Kyoto City Taxi are available upon request and reservations
can be made through the hotel.
Kyoto is also famous throughout Japan for the quality of its crafts and food
products. It is one of the best places to buy crafts and souvenirs, many of them
local specialties.
Sightseeing Nearby
Gion- Kyoto's best known district is full of contrasts: Classical Japanese
arts are performed next door to a betting shop, which may be adjacent to
the side of a temple. The Gion Festival is a major attraction annually
(July 16 - 17). (15 minutes by car)
Daikakuji - Headquarters of one of Japan's most popular schools of ikebana (flower
arranging). (15 minutes by car)
Sagano - Home of rice fields, bamboo groves, temples and cemeteries, this picturesque
city is famous for its maple leaves in the fall. (20 minutes by car)
Arashiyama - A lot of unspoiled natural beauty can be found here with the center
of attraction being the timeless Togetsu-kyo, the graceful "moon-crossing"
bridge.
Temples and Shrines
Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion - A glimmering legacy to medieval Japan, the graceful
three-story structure is totally covered in gold leaf and topped with a
bronze phoenix.
Ginkakuji: The Silver Pavilion - Said to be a masterpiece of garden design, Ginkakuji
is set within a remarkable garden with ponds, raked gravel mounds and pine
trees.
Kyoto Gosho - This was the former Imperial Palace when Kyoto was the capital of Japan.
Kiyomizu Temple - For over 1,000 years, pilgrims have climbed the slope to pray to the
11-headed Kannon image and drink from its sacred spring. Famous for its
cherry blossoms in the spring, maple trees in the fall. (20 minutes by
car)
Daitokuji Temple - Famous tearooms and jewel-like gardens continue to promote the ways
of Zen and tea.
