Planning a trip to Kyoto from Gifu Posted by keiko on Jun 30, 2016 in Culture, Grammar
Planning a quick short trip to Kyoto from chubu area of Japan.
For the next two weeks or so, I will be writing my posts from Japan. I got here a few days ago, and it’s been great to see friends and family. I still have not had chances to do everything I want to do here yet, but slowly and surely, I will get to it. Weather here in Gifu has been not so great where we have had some rain but for me, rain doesn’t bother me any more after living in the Northwest for a while. Compared to the humid summer weather I have experienced in the past, I would rather want to take a bit rainy weather any day, actually. This time of the year from mid June to mid July, Japan has a rainy season, typically, and humidity with rain is much expected.
However, weather forecast is telling me that it will be sunny for the next two days. So, I decided to take a short trip to Kyoto from here. This will be just two day trip. In the next few blog posts, I will show you the easiest process of getting your travel planned and making it happen in Japan, and will take you with me to Kyoto as I write about our trip to Kyoto.
This trip was decided in the last minute, actually, so I didn’t have much time to look around in terms of pricing etc, but checked out a few web sites for prices, and after getting some ideas, I decided to book this trip with travel agency called “JR 東海ツアーズ” (JR Tokai Tours) that is located at JR Gifu station.
Going to Kyoto from Gifu will be the easiest using Shinkansen 新幹線 (bullet train), using Shinkansen, it only takes about 40 minutes to get to Kyoto. To make things convenient, we decided to book this hotel that is located right above the JR Kyoto station, called “Hotel Kintetsu Kyoto Station (ホテル近鉄京都駅)” .
The main reason we picked this hotel is due to its convenience. We will be arriving close to noon tomorrow, and first thing we will be doing is to drop off our luggage at the hotel so we can start our short tour around Kyoto.
This will be my third time in Kyoto, and I have visited most of the major temples in the past. My main goal of this trip will be shopping and eating.. (but I am not telling this to my hubby as he is looking forward to going to see some of the well known temples..) We will see how things go..
So, just to give you an idea, we will be leaving from JR Hashima station tomorrow morning around 11 am, and including round trip shinkansen ticket and hotel stay, between two of us, the cost is just below 30,000 yen. (About $300) Oh, I forgot to tell you, this package also includes the breakfast buffet for both of us.
What I like about getting things booked with travel agent is, basically the convenience. We were done booking pretty much everything in 30 minutes, within that time, our agent quickly made reservation for shinkansen as well as hotels. Yes, you could probably do this on your own too, but she also gave me some tips on where to shop and where to eat. 🙂
Stay tuned to see where our trip to Kyoto will take us!
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About the Author: keiko
Born and raised in Japan. She currently lives in U.S. with her husband and two kids.
Comments:
Mike:
Hi Keiko-san,
I follow your blog as I find what you post very helpful as I try to learn Japanese. I have been to Kyoto many times – it’s my favourite city in the universe. For a classmate, I prepared a list of food and food-like places that I like. I’ve put it below incase you find something that sounds appealing.
(Since both mu classmate and I dislike cigarette smoke, I had to warn her that there are many places that I could like, but didn’t try because they allow smoking. I don’t think any of the places below allow smoking, but I could be wrong.)
Nishiki Market
Any of the over-the-river restaurants in Kibune
Ponto-cho – kaiseki – $$$$
Gion – kaiseki – $$$$
Aoonigiri on Teramachi-dori – sells it from the back of his bike
Megmilk, Kitayama – it’s just delicious milk from vending machines, not a place to eat
Nitano Tenmanguu Shrine food stalls when they have market days
Tempura Endoh Yasaka, Kyoto (sublime)
Fuji – their cafeteria has great food
Any konbiniya, really!
Hinode (Rising Sun) Udon (near Nazen-ji – little salty)
Yaichi-no-Sato Grocery Store Cafe – a place that grows its own produce on the roof
Cucina Kuramochi – Italian Restaurant $
Le Bouchon Restaurant – French cafe (near City Hall/Ippodo) $
Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki Demachi-yanagi Shopping Street (near Futaba sweets shop)
Omen Noodles (near Ponto-cho and Higashiyama) – so good! $
Zen Okinomiyaki – just down the street at the quiet south end of Philosophers Walk
Syouraian along the river in Arashiyama $$$
Marugame-Seimen Udon, Karasama-dori (chain, but good)
I’ve never met a bakery in Kyoto that I didn’t like. These are the ones I remember:
Liberte Bakery (near City Hall/Ippodo tea)
Shinshindo, Boulangerie, Kitayama (they’re a chain, so you’ll find them all over Kyoto, not just that location)
Comme toujours, Kitayama-dori
Kiki Bakery (around the Saiin Station)
Cafes:
Kamogama Cafe
Kimiya Cafe (Philosopher’s Walk area) – closer to the busy west end of the walk, down the side street across from the public washrooms
Moon & Six Pence Coffee Shop (very hard to find, but a super eccentric readers cafe – no talking allowed, just reading)
% Arabica in Arashiyama or Higashi
Sarasa’s Nishijin and Arashiyama (a chain in funky repurposed buildings – BUT they allow smoking)
Ryokiden Cafe (former “entertainment house” of the former Imperial Palace) just off Shimo-dachiuri-dori
Camphora, Kyoto University cafeteria
Doshisha Biz School Cafeteria
Len Cafe, Bar, Hostel – Kawaramachi (haven’t eaten there, just wandered by – looks cool
Mostly Coffee:
Mo-an cafe, Yoshida-yama
Matsuda Coffee (around the Saiin Station)
Yamakawa Coffee
Matcha: Ippodo – near City Hall (An Ippodo Story – YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=–QVp6QEQwc&feature=youtu.be)
Sake: Gekkeikan Okra Sake, Fushimi (plus the famous vermillion gates temple)
Izakaya: Drinking street across the street from the Saiin Station (all smoking – again. Cool looking after work bar street.)
Mochi and sweets:
Kazari-ya mochi in front of the Imamiya Shrine, Rakuhoku – in business for 1000 years
Ichimonji-ya wasuke mochi across the street from Kazari-ya mochi, but has only been in business for 600 years
Jinbado Mochi, near Kamigamo Shrine
Kofukudo Sweets-ya – Kawaramachi (really, really good stuff)
Futaba sweets shop at Demachi-yanagi (oh my dog, the best junk food!)
Iriyamadofu – just the most amazing tofu
Don’t tell your hubby that I sent this.
keiko:
@Mike Hi Mike,
Thank you so much for the list! This is amazing. I love it. I wish I had more time in Kyoto to enjoy all of the things you listed here. I did check out some of these places. I will be writing about them soon. Thanks again!
Keiko
Lorrie:
Shiver me timbers, them’s some great inoromatifn.