Visiting Japan

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Can you be a little bit more specific about your interests? That's like saying "I like food. What do you recommend I eat?"

I like Osaka and Kyoto, though they could hardly be more different. The fact that they're only 14 minutes apart on the Shinkansen makes that fact especially delightful. Kobe is an interesting place too, often overlooked.

I know Kyoto has a lot of temples and shrines. I'd like to go to some of the popular temples. And you mentioned Philosopher's Path. I would like to go there. There are already a few temples I will visit in mind like Kiyomizu Temple and Kinkakuji. Are there any more famous ones that I should visit? I also want to know if Manga museum is in Kyoto. For now all I want to do is visit any well-known place in Kyoto. I can't visit them all, since I'm staying there for only a week or so.

AS for Osaka, I do know where to go as far as I'm aware, I don't know any historical place in Osaka. Also I wonder if it's cheap getting around in Shinkansen.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

I know Kyoto has a lot of temples and shrines. I'd like to go to some of the popular temples. And you mentioned Philosopher's Path. I would like to go there. There are already a few temples I will visit in mind like Kiyomizu Temple and Kinkakuji. Are there any more famous ones that I should visit? I also want to know if Manga museum is in Kyoto. For now all I want to do is visit any well-known place in Kyoto. I can't visit them all, since I'm staying there for only a week or so.

AS for Osaka, I do know where to go as far as I'm aware, I don't know any historical place in Osaka. Also I wonder if it's cheap getting around in Shinkansen.

Kyoto has endless worthwhile temples and shrines indeed. Among the "greatest hits" I adore Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari, and I'd skip the overrated Ginkajuji and Kinkajuji. Less well known is the sublimely beautiful Ishiyamadera (Lady Murasaki lived there for a time while writing Genji Monogatari) in Otsu, about 20 minutes by train. The manga museum is very worthwhile if you love manga - there's no other place like it. I also highly recommend Uji, where the Phoenix Pavilion is located, just about 15 minutes by train.

If you don't have a JR or Kansai Pass no, Shinkansen isn't worth it between Kyoto and Osaka. You can get there on an express in about 25 minutes much cheaper. It's true that Osaka doesn't have that much of historical significance compared to Kyoto, but there is some stuff - while the castle is concrete, there are some historically important sights surrounding it. There's also Jinaimachi, a very well-preserved district a short train ride from the center of town. The headline in Osaka, really, is great food and some interesting nightlife. There's also Den-Den Town, Osaka's Akihabara.

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Kyoto has endless worthwhile temples and shrines indeed. Among the "greatest hits" I adore Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari, and I'd skip the overrated Ginkajuji and Kinkajuji. Less well known is the sublimely beautiful Ishiyamadera (Lady Murasaki lived there for a time while writing Genji Monogatari) in Otsu, about 20 minutes by train. The manga museum is very worthwhile if you love manga - there's no other place like it. I also highly recommend Uji, where the Phoenix Pavilion is located, just about 15 minutes by train.

That was the info I needed. Thank you. Ok, I'll probably ignore the Kinkakuji if I don't have the time to look at everything.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

That was the info I needed. Thank you. Ok, I'll probably ignore the Kinkakuji if I don't have the time to look at everything.

How many days will you be in Kyoto. I wouldn't purposely skip anything, although there is no way to see everything. first research shrines & temples in Kyoto & see what interests you, not everyone is going to have the same tastes.

Actually there is a wealth of information at Kyoto station telling you which buses to take to get to different temples. Kyoto is very tourist friendly.

Be prepared to spend a good anount of time at Fushimi Inari & Kiyomizu Dera.

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

How many days will you be in Kyoto. I wouldn't purposely skip anything, although there is no way to see everything. first research shrines & temples in Kyoto & see what interests you, not everyone is going to have the same tastes.

Actually there is a wealth of information at Kyoto station telling you which buses to take to get to different temples. Kyoto is very tourist friendly.

Be prepared to spend a good anount of time at Fushimi Inari & Kiyomizu Dera.

About 9-10 days I'm going to be in Kyoto. Kiyomizu Dera has already been recommended a few times, I'll be definitely going there and one of the other historical spot I'd go is Toji-ji. There are a few other temples I had in mind, I will have to keep checking the guidebook.

[AmeNoJaku]

How could I forget Kiyomizu-dera Along with Fushimi Inari, Nijo-jo and the two Pavilions are the must go if one has only one day in the city... but Hell 9-10 days, you can really see everything

Anyway, I strongly recommend at least a day-trip to Nara, and another to Hiei monastery complex. Also if you want an original flatland castle Hikone is a little more then an hour train ride (since Himeji is still re-innovated), otherwise you can stick to Osaka Castle, and make Aohige proud

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

About 9-10 days I'm going to be in Kyoto. Kiyomizu Dera has already been recommended a few times, I'll be definitely going there and one of the other historical spot I'd go is Toji-ji. There are a few other temples I had in mind, I will have to keep checking the guidebook.

If you're in late in the month - 25th I think - To-ji has a huge temple market that's a fascinating cultural education and a great place to hunt for bargains.

I don't want to imply that Kinkajuji and Ginkajuji aren't beautiful, but they're so swamped with tourists and so sanitized for your protection that I never feel any inspiration from them. If you're a fan of Chihayafuru you might also want to check out Omi-Jingu, also in Otsu.

[Kirarakim]

Yeah 9-10 days in Kyoto is awesome. If that's the case I definitely wouldn't skip Ginkakuji & Kinkakuji.

Nijo castle is also kind of fun to walk through.

I also agree with Enzo that Otsu City has some nice sites and it's always nice to get off the beaten track.

Btw has anyone done the Kurama to Kibune hike? I am thinking of doing that this time but since I don't have 9-10 days I want to hear other opinions.

[Guardian Enzo]

I did that hike on my last trip there. It was beyond magnificent, but I have to say part of that was because there was a snowstorm happening at the time. Walking through those woods and seeing Kurama-dera ceremonies in the snow was pretty unbelievable. I have a load of pics and vids on the website.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I did that hike on my last trip there. It was beyond magnificent, but I have to say part of that was because there was a snowstorm happening at the time. Walking through those woods and seeing Kurama-dera ceremonies in the snow was pretty unbelievable. I have a load of pics and vids on the website.

I saw your pics, they were lovely. How was the hike itself?

You did Ishiyamadera on the same day right? So that was doable all in one day? Because I really want to visit that temple as well.

I am also finally planning on going to Nara.

Of course this is all more than 6 months in advance so who knows how my mind will change from now and then.

edit: Actually has someone been to both Hiei and Kurama? Of the two I am wondering what people would recommend. I don't think I would have time for both (unless I don't go to Nara).

[AmeNoJaku]

As the boys said, 9-10 days all of us combined haven't spent there for sight-seeing

About the manga museum, my brother went there with a friend of his last year, both are decent at reading Japanese, and found some childhood favorites that both enjoyed... but if you can not read/speak Japanese, there is only one room (out of 20-30) that has some generic info about manga copied/pasted to death on-line by commercial websites as insights of their employees... and if nothing else it would give you an oversimplifying idea targeted to foreigners, instead of introducing you to a historical continuum from medieval folk art into the fascist and occupation suppression of art into the commercial bubble of these days... which is OK for tourists not generally interested in manga (wishing an understandable to them oversimplification without the "boring" details); but personally I think (based on second hand narrative, from a trusted by me source of course) that it doesn't worth it, nevertheless I recognize that one might learn some new stuff from a short visit, but to justify the entrance fee it would be worthy to either be able to read and/or converse with the staff in their or if lucky employing your own language.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by AmeNoJaku

As the boys said, 9-10 days all of us combined haven't spent there for sight-seeing

Well after this upcoming trip if I count my two other trips there I might have about 9-10 days.

Last time I didn't have a chance to see everything I wanted because I went with a friend and I didn't want him to miss things just because I saw them before.

And this time I might still go back to places I've been (like Kiyomizu) because I want to finally see the temple complex with leaves (every time I went before it's been bare).

The problem with Kyoto and the surrounding areas is there is just too much to see and do.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

I saw your pics, they were lovely. How was the hike itself?

You did Ishiyamadera on the same day right? So that was doable all in one day? Because I really want to visit that temple as well.

I am also finally planning on going to Nara.

Of course this is all more than 6 months in advance so who knows how my mind will change from now and then.

edit: Actually has someone been to both Hiei and Kurama? Of the two I am wondering what people would recommend. I don't think I would have time for both (unless I don't go to Nara).

The hike is not especially difficult. It requires climbing a fairly steep mountain, but it can easily be accomplished in a few hours. I did in fact combine it with Ishiyama-dera and it was no problem doing it in a day.

[Soliloquy]

Going there by yourself in Kyoto without knowing how to read or speak Japanese in the first place would be really a bad idea. I do know how to read and since I do like manga, I would probably enjoy the hell out of manga museum.

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

If you're in late in the month - 25th I think - To-ji has a huge temple market that's a fascinating cultural education and a great place to hunt for bargains.

Is it in June and just one day? If so I'll definitely drop by To-ji. I might not be able to make it.

[Guardian Enzo]

I don't see why going there would be a bad idea. They're very friendly and welcoming to international guests, and manga is a visual art. I had a wonderful time at the museum and spoke basically no Japanese at the time I went.

As far as I know the market is every month at To-ji and yes, just that one day. I'm not 100% sure it's the 25th but it's definitely in the mid 20's.

[AmeNoJaku]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I don't see why going there would be a bad idea. They're very friendly and welcoming to international guests, and manga is a visual art. I had a wonderful time at the museum and spoke basically no Japanese at the time I went.

Maybe it's just me then, paying too much attention to the story, and eeing the drawings as a complement to it

[oompa loompa]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

Going there by yourself in Kyoto without knowing how to read or speak Japanese in the first place would be really a bad idea. I do know how to read and since I do like manga, I would probably enjoy the hell out of manga museum.



Is it in June and just one day? If so I'll definitely drop by To-ji. I might not be able to make it.

I found it really strange that in Kyoto, as compared to Tokyo, almost everyone spoke English.

[AmeNoJaku]

Originally Posted by oompa loompa

I found it really strange that in Kyoto, as compared to Tokyo, almost everyone spoke English.

More temporary visitors who are genuinely interested in learning about the Japanese culture and less foreign businessmen and English teachers who are paid to discourage the locals from communicating with foreigners

[Sephi]

I'll be visiting Japan soon, do they still cosplay at Harajuku on Sunday? I've heard they moved to Tokyo dome because cosplay gatherings has been prohibited at Harajuku? Any other places beside Tokyo dome which is comparable to what Harajuku was?

[Guardian Enzo]

Harajuku cosplay isn't what is was, partly because some of the girls started to get creeped out by all the gawking from foreigners and partly because someone decided they should move it to Tokyo Dome and charge 2000¥ (plus 500¥ to take photos). But you still see some cosplayers by the bridge on Sunday if you get there pretty early.