Itinerary (Kyoto-Osaka)
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Japan 2013 Kyoto-Osaka-Nara-Koyasan (Aug 29-Sep 8) Thursday, August 29 – Bangkok 7:00 pm Check-in at Thai Airways (ROP : XXXXXX) Ticket Number: ETKT XXXXXXXX (Seat 14 KN) Reservation Code: XXXXXX TG622: BKK-KIX depart at 23:30 pm from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Kansai International Airport of Osaka-Terminal 1 at 07:00 am. Remark: Things to do at the airport- Get Universal Adapter with USB, Check-in Royal Silk Class Lounge, Activate/Deactivate AIS Data package (*129*1# call) (*129*2# call) Friday, August 30 – Kansai 7:00 am Arrive at Kansai International Airport, Terminal 1. Upon arrival, Pick up Luggage & Buy ICOCA with Return ticket of Haruka (Reservation Number: : XXXXX) 4000 Yen and Kansai Thru Pass (3 day ticket) for 5000 Yen Note: Depending on length and destination of your stay. JR-West Pass is best that you travel from town to town within Kansai (4 days max), Kansai Thru Pass (by Nankai Railway) is best when you want to cover deeper areas and want to use subway as well) ! 1 Day One Friday August 30 – Central Kyoto 9:00 am Take Haruka Express JR direct to Kyoto (77 mins), Go up to Level 2 (Arrival Terminal is Level 1) 11 am Upon your arrival at Kyoto station, Go to Tourist Information to get city map and bus routes & time tables, it is located at the second level next to Isetan. It is advisable that you buy one-day subway pass at 600 Yen. You can get it from here or at the vending machine near ticketing office. Drop bag for Early Check in at New Miyako Hotel (Confirmation number : XXXXXXXXX) 12 pm Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace booked at 14:00 pm (Permission Number: XXXXXXXXX) Kyoto Imperial Palace is a ten minute subway ride from Kyoto Station along the Karasuma Subway Line. Get off at Imadegawa Station. OR Take a bus from Karasuma Imadegawa Station, 10 Minutes Walk to the Imperial Household Agency Office and the entrance gate of the Imperial Palace. (Meet at Seisho-Mon Gate) Remark: Don’t forget to bring your Passport and Notice of Permit with You (It is a free guided tour, it! is recommended that you apply online beforehand. The permit is granted by lucky draw) 2 Friday, August 30 (continued) 14:00 pm Take a one-hour guided tour at Kyoto Imperial Palace. (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho) it used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park (京都御苑, Kyōto Gyoen), an attractive park in the center of the city that also encompasses the Sento Imperial Palace and a few other attractions. Sento Imperial Palace (仙洞御所, Sentō Gosho) is a secondary palace complex across from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto Imperial Park. It was built in 1630 as the retirement palace of Emperor Gomizuno, and became the palace for subsequent retired emperors. 15:30 pm Vist Nijo Castle (二条城, Nijōjō), it was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). The architecture of Japan's feudal era made this castle a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. The entrance of Nijo Castle is a short walk from Nijojo-mae Station along the Tozai Subway Line. From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Subway Line to Karasuma-Oike Station and transfer to the Tozai Line to Nijojo-mae Station. (Take Exit 1, you will see the castle right in front of you) The whole trip takes about 15-20 minutes and costs 250 yen. Alternatively, the castle can be reached from Kyoto Station by Kyoto City Bus numbers 9, 50 or 101 (15-20 minutes, 220 yen one way) or from Shijo-Kawaramachi by Kyoto City Bus number 12 (15 minutes, 220 yen one way). Nijo Castle can be divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense) and some gardens that encircle the Honmaru and Ninomaru. Please note that Nijo Castle is open at 8:45-17:00 pm, last admission is at 16:00 pm. (Admission fee is 600 ! yen) 3 Friday, August 30 (continued) 17:30 pm Move on to Pontocho (先斗町, Pontochō), one of the Kyoto's most atmospheric dining areas. (Kawayuka dining) A narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River, it offers a wide range of dining options, including inexpensive yakitori, traditional and modern Kyoto Cuisine and highly exclusive establishments that require the right connections and a fat wallet. The closest bus stop to Pontocho is Shijo Kawaramachi, which is served by numerous bus lines, including lines 17 and 205 from Kyoto Station. The closest train stations are Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line and Shijo Station on the Keihan Line. 19:00 pm Check in New Miyako Hotel, Take a good rest and get ready for tomorrow Kyoto trip ! 4 Day Two Saturday, August 31 – Western Kyoto-Arashiyama 8:00 am Get up early in the morning and have breakfast near the Hotel 9:00 am Visit Arashiyama (嵐山), a pleasant touristy district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting. Arashiyama is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons. The Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama's well known, central landmark. Many small shops, restaurants and other attractions are found nearby, including Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves and pleasure boats that are available for rent on the river. The fastest access from Kyoto Station to Arashiyama is provided by the JR Sagano Line (Platform 31-32). The one way ride to Saga-Arashiyama Station takes 15 minutes and costs 230 Yen. From Saga- Arashiyama Station, central Arashiyama can be reached in a 5-10 minute walk. Go to Togetsukyo Bridge (15-20 minutes walk) to enjoy the view of Hozu River and then proceed to Tenryuji Temple, the main temple of this city (60 minutes walk) Ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples, Tenryuji is the largest and most impressive temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 at the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1338-1573), the temple is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to its temple buildings, there are attractive gardens with walking paths. (Please be noted once you get off the temple, you may not return) One of the most enjoyable and convenient ways to travel around the Sagano area is by rental bicycle, (320 yen for an hour, 420 yen for two hours and 1000 yen for the whole day). Cycling through rural residential areas and past fields while traveling between temples can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a visit to Arashiyama. (OR You may opt for Rickshaw ride, costing over 5,000 Yen) ! 5 Saturday, August 31 – Sagano (continued) 12:00 pm Have lunch at the local restaurant. Near Tenryuji temple, there is a good ice-cream place (sesame is recommended) 13:30 pm From Tenryuji Then head into the Bamboo Groves (30-minute walk) behind temple. Turn right as you get to the entrance of Okochi Sanso and continue toward Jojakkoji (This temple is beautiful during autumn, visitors can get a good view of downtown Kyoto), the admission is 400 Yen. (recommended) Visit Gioji Temple and Daikakuji Temple (they are rather small and not interesting) (Admission is 300 yen each) Further down the walking path, you will approach Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple (another good place to visit, but a bit too far for walking, bicycle is OK) 17:00 pm Departing from near the JR Kameoka Station, the Hozu River Boat Tour is a leisurely two hour trip that takes passengers down the winding Hozu River to the Togetsukyo Bridge. The trip passes by the forested mountainsides along the river. The boats seat 25 people and are heated in the winter. (Admission is 3900 yen for two-hour trip, operating from 9:00 to 15:30 (hourly departures) The departure point for cruises is a short bus ride (160 yen) or ten minute walk from JR Kameoka Station (20-30 minutes, 400 yen from Kyoto Station). Alternatively, the pier is a 15 minute, 300 yen bus ride from Torokko Kameoka Station, the last stop on the Sagano Scenic Railway from Arashiyama. If you don’t want to travel that far, try the boat and cruise services near Togetsukyo Bridge 18:30 pm Travel back to Kyoto station and have dinner in vicinity area ! 6 Day Three Sunday, September 1 – Eastern Kyoto 7:00 am Get up early in the morning and have breakfast near the Hotel 8:00 am Visit Ginkakuji (銀閣寺, Silver Pavilion), a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama). Ginkakuji can be accessed by direct bus number 5, 17 or 100 from Kyoto Station in about 40-45 minutes and for 220 yen one way. From Kyoto Station, take Exit #6, wait for the bus at Platform A1 (Ginkakuji is open from 8:30-17:00, Admission fee is 500 yen) 10:00 am Continue walking to The Philosopher's Path (哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi), a pleasant stone path through Kyoto's Higashiyama district. The Philosopher's Path runs between Ginkakuji and the neighborhood of Nanzenji, at least 30-minute walk from Ginkakuji or 10-15 minute walk north of Nanzenji’s main temple buildings. (OR else take the bus to save your time) 11:00 am Visit Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺), whose spacious grounds are located at the base of Kyoto's forested Higashiyama mountains, is one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan.