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Top Tips to Know Before Travelling to Kyoto

Kyoto Japan cityscape in Higashiyama historic district

Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years and remains its cultural and historical heart. This is one of the great cities of the world and is a place everyone should visit at least once in their travels. Here are some top tips to know before travelling to Kyoto.

Top Tips to Know Before Travelling to Kyoto

Pick up a Bus Pass

Top Tips to Know Before Travelling to Kyoto | Pick up a Bus Pass

Kyoto is a compact city with an excellent public transportation system that makes it easy to get around and explore all of its great sites. Get the Kyoto City one-day bus pass, which will allow you to go almost anywhere in the city. It is very reasonably priced and very convenient to get on and off the bus with just one touch. You can buy tickets at tourist information kiosks on subways and bus stations, and even board buses.

Use Google Maps to plan your route

Google Maps is a great tool to help plan your route and know which bus to catch. Carefully plan your itinerary and the places you want to visit before your trip and then sit back, relax and reap the benefits of this amazing app.

Many attractions for FREE

Many attractions for FREE
Top Tips to Know Before Travelling to Kyoto

Yes, you read that right. Not all, but most temples and even some temples and gardens in Kyoto are free to enter and visit. Some great free places you should visit include Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Yasaka Shrine, Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and Ninna-ji Temple. You can even throw some museums into the mix to spice things up.

Bring a Lot of Coins with Holes in Them

The five yen coin is the coin of choice to be placed in the prayer box when praying at a shrine or shrine in Japan. A small round coin with a hole in the middle is considered auspicious and is said to be best for bringing you good luck when praying. Why? Five yen is “go-en” in Japanese, which means “luck”, so it is used in hopes of bringing good luck in business, love or relationships. You should bring some of them as Kyoto has thousands of temples and shrines, and you are bound to visit at least some of them on any trip.

Bring Comfortable Shoes and Prepare for a Lot of Walking

With all its historic temples, colorful temples, well-preserved old streets, and traditional gardens, Kyoto is a place that requires serious walking. Part of the fun of exploring its attractions is the experience of getting there, which sometimes includes walking down the side streets, crossing pedestrian bridges over the canals, and wandering. on the street. hidden alleys.

Visit on 15, 21 and 25 to find a real bargain

Kyoto has some of the best flea markets in Japan. You can find some real bargains there like kimonos, ceramics, ukiyoe woodcuts, handicrafts and accessories that make great souvenirs. Visit on the 15th, 21st, and 25th of every month to visit the Tezukuri-ichi Flea Market at Chion-ji Temple, Kobo-san Flea Market at Toji Temple, and Tenjin-san Flea Market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

Picking where to stay

Picking where to stay in Kyoto | Top Tips to Know Before Travelling to Kyoto

Choosing where to stay in Kyoto can be the difference between an incredible trip and a perhaps less unbelievable one. If you plan to visit some places outside the city center, your best option is to stay around Kyoto or Shijyo station. These neighborhoods in Kyoto are relatively central and have good access to everything. However, if you want to explore a particular area or if you are planning to go to a particular ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), you must consider travel time – it can take a long time. More time and money due to traffic jams and tourists. However, there are options around the city to suit most budgets and tastes – you can stay at five-star hotels or hostels, or even a traditional ryokan.

Dinner in Kyoto

Kyoto is more than just breathtaking temples and shrines – the food is just as fascinating. There are several types of food that visitors to Kyoto must try, including the attractive kawadoko restaurant style, which is very popular in the summer. If you’re visiting between May and September, don’t miss this magical experience where the floor of a restaurant hovers over the river and you dine on the floor to the tranquil sound of running water the rocks below. Also not to be missed Nishiki Market, affectionately known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, and undoubtedly the best street food market in Kyoto. With over a hundred small shops and restaurants lining this shopping street, you can spend hours trying different Japanese specialties, like takoyaki, fried octopus balls served with delicious sauces and savory sauce. many other coatings.

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