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Step 9/18: Japan -
Kyoto
About Kyoto
Price: 5 €
Traveling time: 1 hours
From Osaka or Nara train is nice and quick.Tips & Tricks
- Rent a bike to enjoy Kyoto and avoid the expensive subway
- Rent your hostel in advance because the cheap ones are booked really quickly
Things to see
User's opinion
Kyoto tower is 133 meters high and can be easily visited by day or night. You can enjoy a view of the city and understand the geographical position of the main buildings. By night, it is really nice to see all the lights on the temples or pagodas.
User's opinion
Chion-In temple was the first of our long cycling day trip. Good to begin, traditional japanese temple under renovation. The main interest was the color of the trees and the big bell on the top of the site.
User's opinion
This temple, the second of the list, was original because behind the temple there is an aqueduc in roman style. The temple was nice and is one of the big Zen temple of Kyoto. However, the entrance for the garden (300 JPY) and the second floor (500 JPY) are not free.
User's opinion
Ginkaku-ji is also known as Silver pavillon. It was my favorite temple and garden of Kyoto. The site is not big but really charming and you have a nice view of Kyoto. The trees and the pond are really well suited and you should not miss this temple.
User's opinion
The Golden Pavillon or Kinkaku-Ji was the last of our list for the day. It is a really nice buddhist temple recovered of golden leaves. The temple has a big pond and a nice garden. This is also a to do temple.
User's opinion
Nijo Castle is a great site to visit to change of temples visits. This castle can be visited and you will be able to see the 4 mains rooms of the castle, which was used by the emperor. The garden is the best part of this visit.
User's opinion
The park of the Imperial Palace are open all the time and you can go there to relax after your hard visiting day. The park is nice and not crowed so really relaxing. You can feel the fresh air without car noise or pollution.
User's opinion
Kiyomizu-Dera is a famous temple thanks to its view of the center of Kyoto. The temple itself is not so nice, except a little red pagoda a bit further which really worth it.
User's opinion
This is the highest pagoda of Japan. The complex is really nice with a beautiful pond and two others nice buildings. But 8 euros for this was quite expansive. If you want to see the pagoda only, you can from the street.
User's opinion
The Nishiki Market is a place where you will be able to buy a lot of strange and smelly things. However, the market is not big (only one street) and the variety of things to buy limited. Good to change from temples visits.
Practical
6/10
Japon Préfecture d'OsakaOsakaChūō-kuNishishinsaibashi
This hotel is in Osaka. I just slept here for one night because of my late arrival in Osaka. It is ok to try the capsule style but you don't sleep so well. Wifi is available in the basement
188-1 Kadowaki-cho, Higashiiru, Gojo-agaru, Ymatooji-doori,, Higashiyama-ku,
605 Kyoto
This guest house is ok and cheap for Japan. Rooms are ok, shower and toilets are clean. However, the staff is not present all the time.
9/10
Japan, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward
Daikokucho (Kawaramachidori)
This nice sushi restaurant is not so expensive (143 JPY for 1 plate) and the sushis are really nice. You can feel the fish is fresh.

