Hilton To Open Hotel In Kyoto

Above, Kyoto Station will be a 15 minute drive from the new Hilton Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that Hilton has signed an agreement to open a hotel in Kyoto, Japan while the country is still closed off to foreign tourists. But here we are.

Japan Today reported that Hilton will open a new hotel in Kyoto which will feature enticing amenities.

The reported:

HONG KONG - Hilton has signed a management agreement with Tokyo Tatemono for a hotel in Kyoto.

Scheduled to open in 2024, the Hilton Kyoto will be located in Sanjo-Kawaramachi in the heart of downtown Kyoto.

The hotel will be within walking distance of major attractions such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian Shrine, Yasaka Shrine and Gion area. Kyoto City Hall Station and Sanjo Station will also be within easy walking distance, while Kyoto Station will be approximately 15 minutes away by car.

The 313-room hotel will feature four F&B outlets, a fitness center, spa, indoor pool, an executive lounge, and banquet and meeting rooms. 

Hopefully, Japan will be reopened to foreign tourism by 2024.

To read more, go here. 

Things To Do In Kyoto Station

Above, an inside view of Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For many of us Americans, the first time we took notice of Kyoto Station was watching the 1999 movie, Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. It was inside Kyoto Station that the kaiju Gamera battled the monster Iris (or Irys).

As it turns out, besides being in Japanese monster movie history, Kyoto Station has things to do besides catching or disembarking a train. Live Japan has listed 8 of those things.

They begin with:

Kyoto Station is the first stopover for most visitors to Kyoto. Having a modern art-esque look, the large building actually has many attractions and places to visit inside. 

The author, a Kyoto native, will introduce you to several special unique things to do at Kyoto Station, from spots where you can enjoy great views, savor delicious cuisine and find the perfect gifts! 

Kyoto Station Building, reflecting Kyoto Tower off its mirrored surface. The building has a grand presence and amazes visitors from everywhere! 

The building itself was constructed in 1997 and was designed by Hiroshi Hara. He also worked on many innovative modern structures such as the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka and Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido. 

The station concourse is spacious, where lines and curves, geometric patterns, and abstract objects are intermingled, creating a mysterious space. Hotel Granvia Kyoto is connected to the east side of the station building and JR Kyoto Isetan is connected to the west side. Between the two buildings is a large open area with a ceiling and glass wall, there is also the aerial Skyway Tunnel passageway some 45 meters above ground that connects the east and west structures. 

In the Kyoto Station Building there are many facilities with plenty of things to do to spend your whole day here.

Above, a view of Kyoto Station from a Shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto Station is covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto To Tokyo: Fastest and Cheapest Options

Above, inside JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some visitors to Japan have flown into the country at Osaka International Airport. While in the "neighborhood", they will tour Osaka and Kyoto. Some my opt to go up to Tokyo from there.

Japan Cheapo has an article on the fastest and cheapest ways of getting to Tokyo from Kyoto.

They begin with:

Getting from Kyoto to Tokyo is quick and easy, as it’s one of the most popular travel routes in Japan. The old capital is separated from its contemporary counterpart by roughly 450km, which can be traversed by bullet train, overnight bus or another type of transport—all depending on your budget and available time. 

If you’re doing any other trips within Japan, buying a Japan Rail Pass is almost definitely your best option, as it pays for you to go up, down and all over the country on the Shinkansen. If you’re just planning a single Kyoto to Tokyo trip, a one-way bullet train ticket may prove better for your bank balance (select Kyoto as the departing station). There are also some good-value train and hotel combo packages, starting at US$234.31* for two days. But read on for a more comprehensive breakdown of your options.

To read more, go here. 

Fastest and Cheapest Way To Get To Kyoto From Tokyo

Above, JR Kyoto Station, where Gamera and Irys had their final battle in Gamera 3. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most interesting cities in Japan is its ancient capital, Kyoto.

For those who have never been to Kyoto, it should be included in all Japan travel itineraries. There are many ways to get to Kyoto (my preference is by shinkansen) and Tokyo Cheapo has an article on them.

They start it with:

Tokyo and Kyoto, along with neighboring Osaka, are usually at the top of the itinerary when you visit Japan. Tokyo is commonly regarded as a hub of modernity, whereas Kyoto is seen as a city of tradition. The distance between the two is roughly 450km, so how do you get from Tokyo to Kyoto? 

There are plenty of ways, and what to choose depends on whether you consider time or cost to be more important. Probably your best bet is getting the amazing-value Japan Rail Pass, especially if you have more than just Tokyo and Kyoto on your itinerary. If it’s just one Tokyo to Kyoto trip, consider getting a discounted round-trip bullet train package. But read on for the full low-down.

Of coure, taking the shinkansen will have visitors arrive at the JR Kyoto Station, where Gamera had the final battle with Irys in Gamera 3 (1999). So right off, kaiju fans will visit a monster movie location.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Tower Virtual Reality Bungee Jump

Above, Kyoto Tower. The new attraction is located
 in its observation deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

How would you like to bungee jump from the stage of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto? Well, from now to December 24 you can! 

Well, sort of.

Kyoto Tower (blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993) has opened the Kyoto Tower Virtual Reality Bungee Jump attraction. 

According to The Asahi Shimbun:

KYOTO--Kiyomizudera, one of the nation's most celebrated temples, is known for its wooden stage built off the main hall that offers panoramic views of the hillsides below.
While no one would advise anyone to contemplate the 13-meter leap from the stage, 

those wanting to experience the thrill of a steep jump can now do so at Kyoto Tower in complete safety, courtesy of virtual reality. 

Thrill seekers don VR goggles while seated in special chairs 34 meters above ground on the observation deck of the structure in the city’s Shimogyo Ward.

Above, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto Tower is located just across the street from the JR Kyoto Station (where Gamera and Irys had their final battle in Gamera 3).

To read more, go here. 

Typhoon Damages JR Kyoto Station's Roof

Above, JR Kyoto Station in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Not since the battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999) that tore apart the inside of the JR Kyoto Station has there been a calamity there.

The typhoon (Typhoon Jebi) that rolled (and smashed) into Japan this week caused some parts of the roof to collapse at Kyoto Station.

To see the damage, go here.

Become A Shogun While Sitting On The Loo

Above, a shinkansen view of Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Kyoto, Japan, specifically the Kyoto municipal subway Kyoto Station, will be offered the chance to become a shogun while sitting on the loo.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

KYOTO--Visitors sitting on the throne at a subway station here can now feel flushed with emotion, as if they were a shogun bringing the curtain down on a rule of nearly three centuries. 

The view from the toilet seat is one seen by Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837-1913), the 15th and last shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867), looking out over his bowing vassals clad in kimono. 

The stall-size photograph, measuring 2.5 meters long by 3.7 meters wide, re-enacts the historic event, known as Taisei Hokan, in which Yoshinobu returned political power from the Tokugawa Shogunate to the emperor at Nijo Castle’s Ninomaru Palace.

To see the toilet seat's view, go here. 

Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima Trip: Which Rail Pass To Get?

Above, inside of the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To save money on a trip to Japan, people who plan on venturing out of Tokyo to see other places will pick up a JR Rail Pass voucher in their home countries to exchange in Japan for the pass.

If one plans to head down to Kyoto and/or Hiroshima from Tokyo, which Rail Pass is the best one to get?

Fortunately, Tokyo Cheapo has an article on just this subject.

They begin with:

When talking about what to see and where to go during your time in Japan, the Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima itinerary comes up as a must-do. The three prefectures are well connected by high-speed rail networks, and with discount passes available, the route can be traveled easily and economically. The question is: which rail pass, if any, works best for your budget and plans? And what are the alternatives?

To read more, go here. 

Japan Tourism Set New Record In 2017

Above, JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the sixth straight year in a row, foreign tourism has increased in Japan. A new record was set in 2017.

Kyodo News reported:

The number of foreign tourists to Japan reached a record high 28,690,000 in 2017, up 19.3 percent from the previous year and rising for the sixth straight year, the transport minister said Friday. 

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii attributed the growth to an increase in low-cost carrier flights from South Korea and other Asian countries and cruise ship services between China and Japan as well as relaxed visa requirements for Chinese and Russian travelers.

To read more, go here.

Selecting A Base: Osaka or Kyoto?

Above, a typical Dotonbori eatery sign in Osaka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

You're planning to explore the Kansai region of Japan. Which city, Kyoto or Osaka, to use as a base?

I've visited Osaka and Kyoto twice. The first time was with the 2004 G-TOUR and the second time was on my own two years ago.

As the first time was with a guided tour, my visits to each city were limited. In 2015, we did manage to visit many of the cultural places of Kyoto and, in Osaka, the Dotonbori. G-TOUR stayed in Kyoto and we stayed in Osaka in 2015.

Above, inside the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I could not advise anyone which city to use as a base for exploring Kansai, but City-Cost.com has an article that looks at both cities.

They begin with:

An oft asked question in the ether of online Japan travel discussion goes something along the lines of, "Which city should I use as a base, Osaka or Kyoto?".  One supposes the glib retort might be something to the effect, "Well, which city do you want to explore the most?".  Fair enough but often the people answering these types of questions do so wrapped in the pashmina of Japan experience and have lost sight of what it once was to not have a clue about the country.  The question of Kyoto or Osaka as a base for Kansai exploration and travel is a legitimate one, despite the reactionary temptation to just plump for Kyoto.  So let's try to answer it by looking at the practicalities of each city. 

The article will be a big help to those who are considering which city to use as a base.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Locals Complaining of "Hordes" of Tourists

Above, tourists flock to the stores below Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new article in the Asahi Shimbun is an excellent example of why foreign tourists visiting Japan (or any other foreign country) should be respectful and on their best behavior while touring. 

According to the article, Kyoto residents are getting weary of the "hordes" of tourists visiting the ancient capital.

They wrote:

KYOTO--Endless crowds, unknown neighbors and unruly behavior have drained many residents here of their sense of “omotenashi” (hospitality). 

They now say that the hordes of overseas tourists who keep coming to the ancient capital are eroding the quality of their traditional lives. 

In 2015, a record 56.84 million tourists visited Kyoto and spent nearly 1 trillion yen ($9.12 billion), also a high, according to the Kyoto city government. The spending was up 30 percent from the previous year. 

The central government is continuing its campaign to draw sightseers from overseas countries to revitalize local economies suffering from population declines. 

But in Kyoto, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, some residents are begging for an end to the rush. 

They say the numbers have “exceeding the limit” and are describing the situation in the city as “pollution by tourism.”

Above, visitors cover the stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We visited Kyoto two years ago, but the visit was during the off-season and we had no problems while visiting the city. It is possible that during the summer vacation season it is a whole different story.

We took a half-day organized bus tour that originated out of JR Kyoto Station.

Above, the tour group photo taken at Kiyomizu-dera.

To read more, go here. 

TripAdvisor's Top 30 Tourist Sites In Japan

Above, number 29 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Each year, readers of TripAdvisor give their top choices of places and things to see in Japan.

The 2017 list of 30 top tourist sites in Japan has been completed and Japan Today has it.

They begin with:

TOKYO - Travel website TripAdvisor has just revealed this year’s annual list of the best places to visit in Japan, as chosen by overseas visitors to the country. Interestingly, the entries on the list change from year to year, and this time we have everything from magic bars to illuminations and stand-up comedy venues appearing in the top 30. Let’s take a look at this year’s list below.

I have been to several of them.

To see what made the list, go here. 

Kyoto's 50 Overrated Tourist Spots

Above, Kyoto Tower made no. 1 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who wish to immerse themselves in Japanese history and culture, a visit to Kyoto is a must.

The are many places to see and visit in Kyoto, while most are very popular with foreign visitors, some have found them to be overrated. A survey commissioned by goo Ranking (interesting name, eh?) found 50 places in Kyoto to be overrated by those surveyed. I found it interesting that the JR Kyoto Station (featured in Gamera 3) is not on the list.

Before going into the rankings, What Japan Thinks wrote:

Kyoto city and the surrounding prefecture are full of historic spots worth a visit, but of course some places are going to be over-hyped. So, goo Ranking recently conducted a survey looking at Kyoto prefecture tourist spots that didn’t live up to expectations.

I would disagree on several of them being overrated, but then that's just me.

To see what they are, go here. 

Everything You Need To Know About Kyoto

Above, Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For a great change of pace from the hustle & bustle of Tokyo, a trip down to Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto is just the thing.

I have been in Kyoto twice and enjoyed it both times. I definitely recommend a visit.

The Telegraph (U.K.) has an article on everything you need to known about Kyoto.

It begins with;

A red-lipped, kimono-clad geisha vanishing around a corner. Riverside cherry trees bursting into cloudlike bloom. Zen gardens with raked sand and haiku-inspiring rock formations. There are perhaps few more evocative city names than “Kyoto”. While Tokyo is all high-speed trains, flashes of neon and skyscrapers, Kyoto moves to an altogether different rhythm. 

A calming antidote to the futuristic capital, Kyoto is synonymous with ancient temples, tea ceremony masters, traditional ryokan inns and centuries-old craftsmanship.

For monster fans, an additional reason to visit Kyoto is to see places featured in the movies. Kyoto Tower was blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1984) and Kiyomizu-dera was featured briefly in the same movie. In Gamera 3 (1999), JR Kyoto Station was the battleground of Gamera and Irys.

Above, the cavernous interior of the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto Landmark Offering "Stunning" New Service

Above, Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Kyoto landmark, one that is familiar to hardcore Godzilla fans, is offering a "stunning new service."

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —For a fee, visitors to Kyoto will have the chance to illuminate one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks with a color (or two) of their choice. 

The new service, which started in September, offers the romantically-inclined the chance to surprise unsuspecting companions with a breath-taking, LED light display that bathes Kyoto‘s famous landmark tower in a color their choosing for half an hour. 

Visitors to Kyoto, arguably Japan’s premiere cultural destination, will quickly notice the tower upon leaving the city’s central train station. The landmark was first built in 1964 to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics, and the retro-futuristic monument looks like something out of an old Osamu Tezuka comic — though many are quick to remark that it seems a bit out of place in a town better known for its ancient temples and gorgeous natural scenery.

Kyoto Tower was featured, and blasted by Godzilla, in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993). Kaiju-related landmarks, including Kyoto Tower, are noted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 43.

To read more, go here.

Head For The Hills To Avoid Kyoto Crowds

Above, our tour group poses at Kiyomizu-dera, the last stop of the tour of Kyoto. 

The ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto has been almost overrun with foreign tourists in recent years.

If, by chance one is planning to visit Japan, The Japan Times has posted an article on what visitors can do to avoid the crowds.

We visited Kyoto last October and took a half-day tour and found the crowd situation manageable, but increasingly more difficult to get a good spot at different attractions to take photographs. People were polite, on the whole, but they still made it difficult. I wanted to show [Censored] some of the places in Kyoto that we visited during the 2004 G-TOUR. We took a commuter train from Osaka to Kyoto Station. We found the tour at the station. Despite the crowds, we enjoyed Kyoto.

Above, tourist crowds on the Kiyomizu-dera stage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

They begin with:

The age-old road leading to Kiyomizu Temple had turned into a river of people. Accents and languages from across the world filled the shop-lined slope, as couples in rented kimono took photos with selfie sticks and amateur photographers tried to get a shot devoid of the crowds — a nearly impossible feat. Tourists stood munching on yatsuhashi (traditional sweets made of rice flour and often filled with red bean paste) or holding cones of matcha (green tea) ice cream, and tour guides used megaphones and waved flags to ensure their groups stayed together. Others were just trying to make their way through the congestion to the iconic temple at the top. 

This is the reality of summer in Kyoto, a city crowded with an ever-increasing number of tourists. According to the Japanese National Tourism Organization, more than 20 million visitors entered the country in 2015 and the government has recently raised their target for 2020, the year of the Tokyo Olympics, to 40 million. The ancient city of Kyoto — once the capital, and which many still consider to be the beating heart of Japanese civilization and culture — is a prime destination.

To read more, go here.

Japan TV Stations Stepping Up Travel Programming

Above, inside of JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

These days, I don't bother watching television that much. When I do, it is either a DVD/Blu-ray or NHK.

I enjoy NHK as it has a variety of programming that includes travel features, cooking/food, the latest in electronics and other things from Japan.

NHK and other Japanese stations are stepping up their travel-oriented programming.

According to an article in The Japan Times:

With Japan attracting a record-breaking influx of foreign tourists, broadcasters Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. and NHK are stepping up broadcasting overseas aimed at promoting tourism in Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Cheapo: "The Legends of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera"

Above, a familiar view of Kiyomizu-dera with Kyoto in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last October, we took a commuter train to Kyoto Station (where Gamera and Irys battled in Gamera 3) to tour the city.

After arriving, we found a bus tour company whose offices were in the station and signed up for their half-day tour of Kyoto. One of the stops on the tour was Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera was briefly featured in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993.

Above, the commemorative photo of our tour group at Kiyomizu-dera. 

Japan Cheapo has posted a new article on Kiyomizu-dera, "The Legends of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera". If you are planning to visit Kyoto, or just want to know a little about Kiyomizu-dera, the article is worth a read.

It begins with:

Simply put, Kiyomizu-dera is the most popular attraction in Kyoto and no matter when you decide to go it will be crowded. Nonetheless, it is a must-see whenever you are in the city and you may come to severely regret not going if you would decide to skip it for those reasons alone.

Above, one of the streets of the Higashiyama district that is down the hill from Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more about Kiyomizu-dera, go here. 

Familiar Kyoto Places Revisited

Above, Kinkaku-ji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent visiting some of familiar places. What I mean by "familiar" is that I visited them previously with G-TOUR 2004, but wanted Denise to see them.

The first, and one of my all-time favorites, was Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto.

The other, another favorite, was Kiyomizu-dera, also in Kyoto. It was menaced by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993).

Above, Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, following the tour (by bus), we headed back to the JR Kyoto Station, the scene of the epic battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999).

Above, the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Across the street from JR Kyoto Station is the Kyoto Tower Hotel. The tower is the tallest structure in Kyoto. It was blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

Above, the Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the exception of Kinkaku-ji, the above places are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Tourist Information Center Opens At Kyoto Tower

Above, a view of Kyoto Tower in the distance from Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When traveling overseas, tourists can never get enough information to make their vacations run more smoothly. So, whenever a new service or facility opens with that in mind, it is welcome news.

Such is the case for visitors to Kyoto as a new tourist information center has just opened at Kyoto Tower (just across the street from the massive JR Kyoto Station (featured in Gamera 3)). As many kaiju fans are aware, Kyoto Tower was blasted by Godzilla in 1983's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

According to PR Newswire:

KYOTO, Japan, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- JTB Western Japan, Corp. and Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd. jointly opened Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto (KTIC Kyoto) on June 1, on the third floor of Kyoto Tower. KTIC Kyoto will cater exclusively to overseas visitors to Japan. 

http://www.tic-kansai.jp/ja/kyoto/  

JTB Western Japan has been expanding a network of tourist information centers for inbound tourists in the Kansai region and KTIC Kyoto will be the third of its kind after previous openings at Shinsaibashi in Osaka and Kansai International Airport. 

The widely diversified Keihan group based in Kyoto is pouring resources into "tourism creation" and aiming to attract more overseas visitors through the establishment of KTIC Kyoto at Kyoto Tower, one of its group companies. 

JR Kyoto Station is the gateway for visitors to Kyoto, one of the world's most popular sightseeing destinations, and is expected to attract many more overseas visitors in the future. Kyoto Tower is a landmark located at the north entrance of JR Kyoto Station.

To read more, go here.