Kyoto

Pros: One of the World's Great Cities: Beautiful, Fascinating, and Visitor Friendly
Cons: None

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Kyoto 3 times now over the past 15 years. Wonderful Wife and I just returned from a trip there in May/June 2006 and I thought it was about time to add an Epinion about this amazing city. This was my most extensive trip ...

Pros: A cultural and historical treasure. A leisurely week would have been great.
Cons: Only had a day; some of the best places are far apart.

Our day trip to Kyoto (from Osaka) featured a visit to Kinkaju-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion),the Ryoan-ji Temple with its famous Zen rock garden, then to the Katsura Imperial Villa, the Sanjusangen-Do, and finishing with Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. This is a ...

Pros: Kyoto is the Japanese experience that you imagined.
Cons: Osaka isn't.

Kyoto and Osaka, located just 30 minutes apart on the Bullet Train, offer significantly different tourist experiences: Kyoto is a friendly city dotted with historic tourist attractions while Osaka is an industrial behemoth that you're better off...

Pros: Traditional and modern mixed in one. Great place to walk. Great food
Cons: Crowded public transportation, sometimes, Huge train station

I'll tell you right now that this review is biased.

I love Japan. I loved it before I went. And I loved it more afterwards. So yeah, this'll be a little bit biased.

I thought I'd let you know.

Three years ago, I went...

Pros: You will never see a collection of statues as glorious
Cons: No photos are allowed, and postcards do little justice

When I was a Rotary Exchange Student in Japan for the 1995-1996 school year, my fourth host family was generous enough to take me down to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. What a treat it was!

I had gotten used to the grey concrete of...

Pros: beautiful scenery, quiet, experience old Japan
Cons: many famous places are far away from each other, a lot of walking

Although I'm Japanese born in Japan and had lived there more than 20 years, I'd never been to Kyoto until last year. I always wanted to visit this traditional city of Japan. When I was a student, I leaned a lot about history of Kyoto (Kyoto is an...

Pros: Dripping in History
Cons: Easier with a guide

I was raised in Japan and traveled to Kyoto many times over the years. It is one of the spots in Japan in which you can immerse yourself with an old world feel. I highly recommend staying in a traditional Japanese style hotel to add to the flavor of...

Pros: Rich cultural delight
Cons: Prepared to get lost -- even with a map!

When you want a peak at the Japan of past, you can't do better than take your own tour of the local folk craft stores. I found eye-boggling textiles, incredibly intricate folding fans, a fantastical array of buddhist altars and related Buddhist items...

Pros: absolutely beautiful, fantastic food, friendly people, historical interests
Cons: none

We were in Kyoto in June 2002, during the World Cup. I have to say that my reading of the book, Memoirs of a Geisha, really contributed to my fascination with Kyoto. At night, there are real-life Geisha who can be glimpsed in the streets (the Gion...

Pros: central location, tranquil
Cons: not exactly grandiose

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

No visitor to Japan should miss Kyoto's old Imperial Palace, but no visitor to Japan should miss its tremendous historical significance. In proper historical perspective it is Japan's most...

Pros: Japanese locals are very friendly to tourists.
Cons: Communication is really hard not just in Kyoto but in any places of Japan. 

I was fortunate enough to visit Japan let alone the city of Kyoto for a brief period of time.  But that quick visit was filled with oooohhss, eehhhs, and ahhhss from both the hospitable locals and the scenic places of Japan.  Kyoto was the best ...

Pros: Kyoto has beautiful scenery
Cons: None

Kyoto is located in the mid-west of Japan. Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. Kyoto can catch people¡¯s spirit because there are many historical places and scenery for the different seasons. I recommend spring and summer for visiting ...

Pros: good
Cons: none

Kyoto is a must for anyone visiting japan, along with Tokyo. Whereas Tokyo is the modern, vibrant japan, Kyoto is the old Japan. Kyoto is easy to find your way around, as all the underground stations have the signs written in English. The main...

Pros: Ancient temples and shrines, easy to get around with buses.
Cons: None!

My daughter and I recently spent a few days in Kyoto and it was the highlight of our trip to Japan.

Get the Busnav map from the Tourism Office at Kyoto Station. It tells you how to get from one tourist attraction area to the other, which buses to take, etc.

Also, get the Kansai pass.. in either 1000 or 2000 yen denominations. You can use these on subways or buses without the hassle of paying cash for every trip.

Don't miss Nishiki Market, a long alley filled with interesting food stalls a few blocks northeast of Karasuma and Shijo.

Temple and shrine highlights: Kiyomizodera, southeast of city center, then walk north to Philosopher's path, and Ginkakuji.

For a day trip from Kyoto, go to Nara, 45 minutes south. Inside Kodaji temple, the world's largest wooden building, is a huge Buddha.

Also, hundreds of tame deer roaming Nara Park.