Kyoto Travel Guide Free Travel

Kyoto, an ancient city with a very long history and traditional cultural heritage, is also the cultural center of Japan. It preserves a large number of ancient Japanese architectural relics and traditional cultural elements, making it a very good tourist destination. Let’s introduce it in detail below.

Travel Essentials

Navigation: Google Maps

Communication: Three Forms. First, it is economical and affordable to rent WIFI for three or four friends to travel at the same time. The second is to order a Japanese phone card on the travel platform in advance. The third is to enable domestic mobile phone roaming. The disadvantage is that you cannot use Google Maps.

Japan visa application: Currently there are three types of personal tourist visas, you can choose according to your own needs: 1. Single visit in three months; 2. Multiple-visit visa for three years (first place of entry is Okinawa or Sendai); 3. Multiple-visit visa for five years.

Children can choose the visa form according to their own needs. Note that you must book your visa in advance so that you can book hotels and air tickets, and there is still a chance of visa rejection!

Kansai Airport Immigration Guide:

Immigration process: disembark - car ferry - baggage claim - fill in the immigration card - border inspection - entry.

1. After the plane arrives at Osaka Airport, follow the airport instructions and follow "Arrival" to the arrival hall.

2. Fill in the immigration card first (some flights will issue immigration cards on the plane, so fill it out in advance). (Note that there are windows for Japanese and foreigners in the arrival hall, and you have to queue up at the foreigners' passage.)

3. Show your passport and "Foreign Entry-Exit Registration Card" to the immigration officer. Use both index fingers to take a photo and collect fingerprints.

When filling out the immigration card, it will contain your name, passport number, hotel address and hotel phone number in Japan, so the hotel address and phone number should be prepared in advance.

4. The immigration officer will stamp the passport and return it to you.

5. After entering customs, go to the baggage hall to pick up your luggage.

6. Fill in the customs declaration form and declare the goods. (A customs declaration form may be provided on the plane to fill out in advance.) Note that if there is no declaration, fill in "none".

7. After the inspection is completed, go through customs formalities and go to the destination.

8. If the plane arrives at Terminal 2, take the free car ferry provided by the airport to Terminal 1.

How to get from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station:

There are two recommended ways to get from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kyoto: 1. Take JR,2. Take the airport bus.

How to take JR to Kyoto Station:

1. After arriving at Terminal 1, find the "domestic line", take the elevator to the second floor, and turn left. Cross the street to "Kansai Airport" and find a blue sign that says: JR Ticket Office is the ticket office.

2. Show your passport and buy an ICOCA and an express ticket. Icocaharuka (express) one-way price: 3,600 yen. What a great buy.

Aito Ai (Express) has only three stops from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station: Amanoya-Shin-Osaka-Kyoto Station. This is the fastest way, taking about an hour and a half.

3. After buying the ticket, follow the "Exit" door to the blue door B on the opposite side, insert Chunxiang, then take it out, and take the elevator to the Shinkansen platform. Wait for the bus according to the ground timetable and available seats on the ground (if you have a reserved seat, you will have to pay more). The bus stop is blue and is usually Platform 4. Pay attention to the sign on the public car: Aihu Ai's car.

4. If you have enough time, you can use the ICOCA card to take a regular train or express train directly to Kyoto Station, but it takes too long.

How to get to Kyoto by bus: Purchase a one-way ticket to Kyoto directly from the driver at the airport bus station. Determine the stopping place and insert your ticket after getting on the bus. About 20 yen.

Transportation in Kyoto: 1. Rail transit, electric railway, and subway are very convenient and fast. 2. Public transportation. 3. It’s a taxi, which is more expensive.

Recommended shopping places in Kyoto:

The third and fourth places in Kyoto are the best shopping places. There are many small shops where you can eat, drink and have fun at buybuy.

Shinkyokuni Shopping District, Temple Town, Kyushu, Nishitani Marudori, Nishitanihara Town, Takashimaya, LOFT, Kyoto BAL, etc.

Among them, there are many small shops, pharmacies, bookstores, and gourmet restaurants in the Xinjingguo Business District, Tsu City Kyushu, Sitokumarutong, and Situhara Town. In fact, according to my experience, as long as you browse through one of the three stores, you can buy what you like. My favorite place is the Shinkyo Valley shopping area where there are many shops, varieties and pharmacies.

Takashimaya is a large shopping mall with high-end brands. Remember to make a Takashimaya membership card

Uniqlo is also a check-in point for shopping in Kyoto. The top floor of Sanjiao Mina store is the largest Uniqlo store. There are many more products than in China and they are not expensive.

LOFT has three items, various daily necessities, stationery, and small accessories.

Kyoto Plaza: This is a shopping mall with Nordic design. There are many designer clothes and trinkets. The fifth floor and the first floor are both MUJ’s favorites, so you can shop around more.

If you want to buy small things like porcelain, go to Zhiyuan.

If you want to experience wearing kimono, there are many places where you can rent kimono shops in Higashihara Town, Hanajian Road, and Zhiyuan. It is best to make a reservation in advance to avoid wasting time.

Especially when shopping in Japan, UnionPay, WeChat, and Alipay all offer discounts, so be sure to make the payment clear.

Main attractions

Punch in to enter the attractions:

Kiyomizu Temple: Tickets are required. Beijing-Osaka line. It is relatively close to Zhiyuan and you can play together.

Fu Daohe: No ticket, Keihan Line.

Jingu Temple: Tickets required. It's very convenient to go there by bus.

Kyoto Imperial Palace: No tickets. On the Beijing-Osaka line. There are free explanations.

Kanhua Path: A Japanese-style old street, it is the best place to take photos and shop while wearing kimono. It's very close to the Shinkyo Valley shopping area.

Arashiyama: Take JR from Kyoto Station directly to Arashiyama. It is Sano Station. You can take the Arashiyama train from here. You should book in advance during peak season. It is recommended to rent a bicycle in Arashiyama. There is a car rental place at the end of the station. No, it is charged by the hour. There are many places to visit in the Arashiyama Scenic Area: Aino Bamboo Forest (the location of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Tianlong Temple, Du Yue Bridge, Changjiguang Temple, Wangwang Temple, Xueyuan Temple, Huaye Nianbutsu Temple, Saihe Temple, etc. all the way to ride It's very convenient there and the attractions are not far apart.

Nara: It’s an hour’s drive from JR. When leaving Nara, don’t take a car, just walk slowly. There are many deer along the way and you can buy biscuits to feed them. The main attractions in Nara include: Todaiji Temple, Nara Museum, Nara Park, Kasuga Club, Kofukuji Temple, Yewan Botanical Garden, etc. These scenic spots are not far from each other and can be walked slowly.

Special attention should be paid to bringing some snacks and water when visiting the main scenic spots in Nara. There are not many restaurants and convenience stores on the road.

The following are the attractions that are not on the classic line:

1. Shixian Hall, Yuanguang Temple, Jinfu Temple, Heli Valley Mountain and the Eight Great Shrines. These five attractions are all in the well area, and the attractions are all very close. For example, when I arrived at Shixian Hall, I found the Temple of the Eight Saints, and then I found Heli Gushan. Walking to the opposite alley is Yuanguang Temple. Jinfu Temple is a 20-minute walk from Shixian Hall. Among them, Shixiantang, Yuanguang Temple and Jinfu Temple are the best places to watch the drought phenomenon.

2. Miho Art Museum: It is a private museum designed by architect I.M. Pei, located in Kaga, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. This museum is in a county below Kyoto, and it takes a day to get there. The Keihan Line leads to Kaga City, Shiga Prefecture, and there is a shuttle bus to the Miho Museum of Art in front of the station. When I came back, there was a shuttle bus to the station.

Note: Meixiu Art Museum is not open year-round, only half a year. Please check the opening hours on the official website before going.

3. Silver Pagoda Temple: also in Jingzuo District. Ganshanshui is a classic and highly recommended. There is a direct bus from Gintaji Temple to Jinguji Temple.

4. Owl and Cat Store: In the Xinjingguo Shopping District, there are pictures of owls and cats at the entrance, making it easy to find. If both of them have coupons, it is economical after all.