Walking in Kyoto: Horikawa

Walking in Horikawa in the western suburb would be unique and you will find a less tourist place.

River bank footpath is located alongside Horikawa Street between Oshikoji Street (near Nijo Castle) and near Horikawa Imadegawa.

Nijo Castle

It's a small river and you will hear calm sounds of flowing water. Then you will relax and it's a good place to read as peace and quiet.

On hot days, putting feet onto the water would be nice to cool down yourself.

Stairs towards river bank footpath

Horikawa riverbank footpath

Also seeing an old arch bridge close to the north end could be interesting making walking the unique one.

Old arch bridge

Enjoy your Kyoto my loyal supporters!

Ryokan in crisis?

It's a shocking title but we have to act to keep traditional Japanese culture that is a positive one.

Ryokan, the Japanese Inns have serious problems, a local newspaper reports early last week.

They are struggling to find employees and to fund for the building maintenances.

Working hours are very long and most of these premises are family runs. They get up early to cook breakfasts and stay late to wash up after dinner and to look after premises.

Then these long working hours with such a lot of commitment push away young people to take over the positions. It's understandable because I got stressed due to long working hours and felling under the pressure a lot.

As the premises are small so employers cannot afford to hire many people, I assume.

Working conditions need to be improved to keep such good cultures that Western people will be attracted with.

I guess many locals would be sad to see Ryokan ceasing, so why not setting foundation up to keep nice traditional Inns? Tourism organisations can lead the project and ask relevant organisations such as tourist atttactions and transport operators to help Ryokan.

It's sad to see many independent shops are closed everywhere and losing uniqueness, but Ryokan can be owned by chains so that they can afford to hire more people to reduce working hours and stresses for their valued employees, I think.

I wish Ryokan survives forever.

Walking in Kyoto: City Centre and Imperial Palace

In the afternoon on another day in March, I went on a walk from Kyoto Station to Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Today's story is walking around City Centre and Imperial Palace. From Kyoto Station to City Centre (Shijo Kawaramachi), you can just walk alongside Kamo River that I have written about in the previous blog. Alternatively you can take Kawaramachi Street on the east of Kyoto Station where buses numbered 4, 17, 104 and 205 are travelling, or Karasuma Street (the main street adjoining Kyoto Station) and Shijo Street.

Shijo Kawaramachi is extremely busy on weekends with shoppers and tourists. And traffic around there is so busy too.

Busy Shijo Kawaramachi Intersection

Heavy traffic on Shijo Street in the city centre

Loads of department stores, restaurants, cafes and shops are located in the city centre and you can buy presents to your family and friends. Kimono, yukata (Japanese dresses similar to kimono; mostly wore when seeing firework displays and joining obon dances) and geta (Japanese shoes) can be purchased.

Roofs are installed on Shijo Street between Karasuma and Kawaramachi, and arcade shopping malls are located, so don't worry about getting wet!

Shinkyogoku Shopping Mall

Not only traditional Japanese items but also owl cafe and Japanese restaurant where you will be served by ninja are very unique at Shinkyogoku Shopping Mall.

The Owl Cafe

A Shrine called Nishiki Tenmangu is located alongside the shopping mall and you can visit to pray your wishes. And the famous Nishiki Market is located on the other side of the shrine over Teramachi Shopping Mall.

Nishiki Tenmangu 

Nishiki Market 

Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Shopping Malls are established south to north. Another arcade shopping mall called Sanjo Shotengai runs from west to east and adjoins those two shopping malls.

Sanjo Shotengai with streamers of cherries

It only lasts a few hundred metres between Kawaramachi and Teramachi but has nice restaurants, cafes and shops too.

At the north end of the Teramachi Shopping Mall, you can visit Honnoji Temple where a famous Samurai Nobunaga Oda was killed by the fire he lit up. Oda had been staying at the temple and was attacked by Mitsuhide Akechi who had served as a warrior for Oda but ended his loyalty and faithful to Oda. Oda set a fire attempting Akechi's attacks. The historical event is called "Honnoji no hen" in Japanese.

Also Kyoto City Hall (Kyoto City Council Office) is located across the road from the north end of the Teramachi Shopping Mall.

Kyoto City Hall

Even the arcade shopping mall is ended, shops, restaurants and cafes are still established on Teramachi Street towards north until Marutamachi Street that connects with Kyoto Imperial Palace Park.

Shop built as traditional Japanese building on Teramachi Street 

Turning left onto Marutamachi Street, you will get in Kyoto Imperial Place Park in a few minutes. Big black gates with roofs welcome you.

A Gate at Imperial Palace Park

The park is approximate 700 metres width and 1,300 metres length. It's a good place to relax and get refreshed as well as picnics. As there are many benches and some with benches, you can have meals in the park.

Imperial Park - Good place to relax

Visiting shrines and dropping by the lake will calm down and soothe you. It's a good relaxation in the post dealing with the busy city.

Nice views over the lake

In the north of the park, the Imperial Palace, the former residence house of Emperors (13th Century to 1869) is located. The palace is open to view to the public. You can view from 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday except 28 December to 4 January. The last entry is 4.20 pm. In the autumn and winter, early closure may occur due to early sun set.

Please note that the Imperial Palace is closed on Tuesday when a public holiday falls Monday.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Throughout the park, greeny trees bring you fresh air and relaxes you. Foods will be more delicious with fresh air in the park.

Plum trees and blossoms

Leaving the park in the north end near Doshisya University, I still saw trees planted between the park and Imadegawa Street that I was walking. It was a nice end of walking before boarding a bus at Kawaramachi Imadegawa going back to Kyoto Station.

Trees on Imadegawa Street

Walking in Kyoto: From Kyoto Station to Ginkaku-ji

I am a bike guy exploring Kyoto - mostly for exercises in many cases though. But on a Sunday in March, I spent a day walking around Kyoto to see places from different angles.

Today, I am writing the walking journey from Kyoto Station to Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion).

Walking on the river bank brings fresh air and relaxing. Does it happen in your city or town? I feel refreshed while walking alongside Kamo River, the biggest one in Kyoto streaming from North to South.

Snowy Mountain and Kamo River

Kamo River

Off the river bank pavement and bike way, Gion is the must to see place as you may see Geishas walking around.

On the way to the traditional dining and entertainment suburb, I walked through a temple called Kenjin-ji. Over there, Geishas were photographed walking around with photographers.

Kenjin Temple

Geishas at Kenjin Temple

Then Gion was just at the corner. I entered the suburb at Gion Corner that is the theatre offering daily Geisha shows throughout the year except some days off. Tickets are available at their ticket office.

Hanami koji Street stretching Gion offers many luxury local cuisine restaurants (ryotei in Japanese) and red flamed street lights keep the street safe at night. Ryotei is the place where VIPs enjoy meals and entertainments, as well as to hold meetings for politicians.

Gion

After walking on Hanami koji Street, I walked on Shijo Street, the busiest street in Kyoto to go back to Kamo River bank footpath. The pavements are packed with horses of tourists at the weekends.

Unique traditional buildings with wooden balconies are the symbol of Ponto-cho, the other side of the river between Shijo Street and Sanjo Street.

You can enjoy foods and drinks at restaurants with wooden balconies from spring to autumn. These balconies are called Kawadoko in Japanese. Not only Japanese cuisines but also western foods are served at the restaurants with Kawadoko.

Restaurants with Kawadoko

Walking alongside the river bank for another 15 minutes, I got off the footpath and walked east towards Heian Shrine. It adjoins the Okazaki Park where flea markets are open occasionally. The shrine is quiet and peace.

Heian Shrine

Having sandwiches with coffee outside a convenience store near the shrine, the next destination was Nanzen-ji Temple. I went through the street surrounded by trees and a small river and a zoo was across the river.

Across the main street called Shirakawa Street, we can see restaurants located along the street and traditional region cuisine of yudofu, putting tofu and vegetables into the boiling water in a pot and taking out into soy based sauce.

Yudofu Restaurant near Nanzen-ji

Nanzen-ji is a quite big and relaxing temple. At the main temple building, you can light incents by kind donations and flow its smoke into your head praying for good.

Nanzen-ji 

A traditional Japanese Garden is adjoining the temple (admission fee will be charged), and waterway is on the small hill right to the temple.

My walking journey continued to the north heading to the Philosopher's Path. Surrounding area is peace and calm. In the middle way to the path, another calm temple called Eikando is located. Don't miss out if you go around there!

The south end of the Philosopher's Path is surrounded by a small shrine and trees with benches under trees. It's like a small park. Also you may be able to see cats at the 'park'.

Small Shrine by Philosopher's Path

A small river alongside the path relaxes and calms you. You can sit on the bench seeing the river and resting from a long day exploring Kyoto.

Small River alongside the Path

Also cafes in traditional Japanese buildings are located along the path to relax with coffee or tea, plus restaurants. You might find some lovely presents for your family and friends at one of shops alongside the Path.

Restaurant alongside the Philosopher's Path

Finally you will get to the small street towards Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion). It's time to see more and more people heading to the temple and who enjoyed seeing the temple.

Busy Street towards Ginkaku-ji 

As I had been to the temple before, I didn't get in this time. I just walked around to see how the area was busy. My long walking for day was supposed to end at the sign of the Philosopher's Path. But warm weather made me wanting an ice cream, so I ended up going to a supermarket hundreds metres down the road before catching a bus to Kyoto Station.

The sign of the Philosopher's Path 

How do you think about walking in Kyoto? Quite many western tourists do, especially young people. Or are you rather a cyclist? Riding a bike is great in Kyoto. Or do you rely on public transport? No matter how you travel, enjoy exploring Kyoto!

See you next time. Happy planning!!

Why not having double decker buses?

Many tourist attractions including Golden and Silver Pavilions can be reached only by bus if going there by public transport. Personally I ride a bike to explore Kyoto.

But many tourists rely on public transport and buses are often packed and queues at major stops are so long. During the busy seasons, they are massive. So today, I would like to take a suggestion for better public transport in Kyoto.

The long queue for the Express 100 buses at Kyoto Station

City Bus employee pushing passengers onto bus

Passengers left at the bus depot for busy Express 101 bus

Seeing the above pictures, Japanese buses are smaller than those running in the western countries. Therefore all passengers waiting a bus service sometimes cannot accommodated on a bus at once. Even the city council offers extra services on the busy seasons, some passengers are left at bus stops because buses are full.

Beautiful cherry blossoms attracting many tourists

When I went to York in England to see my girlfriend, I was surprised to see double decker buses being served in a small city; its population is approximate 200,000.

Then Kyoto has around 1.3 million people, so why not having double decker city buses? These buses accommodate many passengers so tourists would face shorter queues and be able to visit more places. And their trips will be more pleasant.

On the other hand, some tour buses are operated in Kyoto.

Sky Bus offers tours exploring tourist attractions with double decker buses. But prices are not reasonable. An afternoon four-hour tour visiting Golden Pavilion and Kiyomizu Temple costs 4,000 yen. Admission to the Golden Pavilion is included; however passengers are charged extra cost to get into the latter temple.

Sky Bus

A tourism organisation runs tourist bus services called K-Loop. Passengers need a one day K-Loop pass and then can hop on and off anywhere and anytime on its routes. But it costs 2,300 yen with English audio guidance while a Japanese counterpart is offered at 1,800 yen. And their vehicles are city buses and not coaches. Also their drivers seem not to speak English.

K-Loop

As many tourists purchase Kyoto City one-day bus passes, I strongly suggest city council to purchase double decker buses serving on busy routes such as to Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, Silver and Golden Pavilions.


Please do not hesitate to comment with your experience travelling on the bus in Kyoto as well as your general opinions. Happy travel everyone!!