Travel notes: Kyoto - Temples and Toilets
Oct. 26th, 2010 09:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seichanDuring our first two days in Kyoto, we visited the popular shrines, temples and other ancient buildings. This included Kitano Tenman-gu (mainly for the Tenjin-san Market), Ryoan-ji, Ninna-ji, Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace (we joined a tour group to get in), Kinkaku-ji, Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizu-de Temple and Heian Shrine. I think most people without a vested interest in the religions and/or history could skip Tenman-gu (if you are not there the 25th), Ryoan-ji and the Imperial Palace (unless you are there a rare day they let people inside). The Palace grounds aren't too impressive considering what else the city has to offer. With the traffic in the city, operation hours of the sites and distances between the sites, I think it would be hard to get more than 5-6 in in a day. Out of the city's 2,000 or so shrines and temples, let me know if I've missed a good one, though I'm pretty much all temple'd out.
To get around, many travel sites recommend you getting the 1-2 day sightseeing pass (1,200 yen), but you only need the 1-day city bus pass (500 yen) for whatever days you are there. The subway doesn't really cover much. The bus system is fairly easy to use. Get a card & map in English from Kyoto Station (a small building near the area where all the buses are), run the card through the card machine on the bus, it stamps a date, and you flash the card with the stamped date to the driver on subsequent rides that day. The buses are pretty speedy and prompt. A single ride will usually cost you 220 yen, so the 500 yen card pays for itself several times over when you are a tourist. We only took the wrong bus once. :D
Regarding toilets, several people were very correct when they recommended you carrying pocket tissue. This was also true in certain areas of Korea. I'm sure it's a consumption issue when they want your to pay for toilet tissue in public areas, but it's kinda funny that they will give your fancy moisten disposable towelettes wrapped in plastic before you eat, or that they go out of your way to wrap your purchases in paper/plastic/string. Also, don't drink too much unless you are comfortable using a hole in the ground toilet; also something I avoided in Korea. Go for the stall with writing on the door. I think it says 'foreigners' or 'western'. I think it is some sort of joke on foreigners to have the writing in kanji.
Tomorrow, cute, fluffy, deer!
To get around, many travel sites recommend you getting the 1-2 day sightseeing pass (1,200 yen), but you only need the 1-day city bus pass (500 yen) for whatever days you are there. The subway doesn't really cover much. The bus system is fairly easy to use. Get a card & map in English from Kyoto Station (a small building near the area where all the buses are), run the card through the card machine on the bus, it stamps a date, and you flash the card with the stamped date to the driver on subsequent rides that day. The buses are pretty speedy and prompt. A single ride will usually cost you 220 yen, so the 500 yen card pays for itself several times over when you are a tourist. We only took the wrong bus once. :D
Regarding toilets, several people were very correct when they recommended you carrying pocket tissue. This was also true in certain areas of Korea. I'm sure it's a consumption issue when they want your to pay for toilet tissue in public areas, but it's kinda funny that they will give your fancy moisten disposable towelettes wrapped in plastic before you eat, or that they go out of your way to wrap your purchases in paper/plastic/string. Also, don't drink too much unless you are comfortable using a hole in the ground toilet; also something I avoided in Korea. Go for the stall with writing on the door. I think it says 'foreigners' or 'western'. I think it is some sort of joke on foreigners to have the writing in kanji.
Tomorrow, cute, fluffy, deer!
