Sightseeing>Vicinity>Kyoto
Waking around Kyoto
Kyoto is an ncient capital of Japan with over 1000 years history.
A temple with Golden Pavilion
For typical tourists, A temple with Golden Pavilion is the popular sightseeing spot. It's called "Kinkakuji" or "Rokuonji" and this temple belongs to Shokoku-ji temple. So you can find their website under Shokoku-ji's website, but it's written only in Japanese.
It's located northern part of Kyoto city.
It takes 30 min from Kyoto station
by bus.
Addmission fee: 400yen
Open everyday (Actually I was kicked out from the temple when it rained and the pond flooded.)
Geiko & Maiko
Have you heard of the word "Geisha?" Geisya is a female attendant at dinner party.
They perform Japanese traditional dance and entertain customers.
In Kyoto, instead of Geisha, there are called Geiko and Maiko.
Maiko are young Geisha.
You may spot them around 5:30 evening when they go out their dormitories to their working venues in Gion. Some restaurants offer you chances to see them. It usuall cost between 5,000yen and 30,000yen.
Maiko Hana no Mai offers you reasonably priced setting with Maiko. The price of 4800yen includes chatting with Maiko and green tea. You can also take photos.
2:00-2:45,3:00-3:45 on Sat, Sun & holidays.
http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~photon/index.htm (only in Japanese)
Costume Museum
Kyoto has a long history. You may be interested in people's life hundreds
years ago.
Costume museum offers you to see the life of court nobles in the 11th century
by displaying dolls.
"Costume Museum" http://www.iz2.or.jp/ (Sorry, only Japanese
website)
400yen,
Open:9:00-17:00, Closed:Sunday and holidays
5min from Kyoto station by taxi
It's more enjoyable that you visit the museum after you read "Tale of Genji.
Sakura (Cherry Blossom Flower)
Kyoto has many flower spots. One of the popular
flower is cherry blossoms
or "Sakura."
This pink tree attracts many people in April however they live only one
week. Don't miss the opportunity.
My favorite Cherry Blossom Viewing spots are Kiyomizu-dera, Maruyama Koen, Sewari-zakura, Nakaragi no michi, and so forth.