Kyoto, Japan

[FanofBurntOrange]

Folks I'm heading off to Kyoto on business June 1st through June 9th. I don't imagine that I will have a ton of free time to goof off, that being said; what are the must do/see things to do while I am there. BTW I fly in and out of Osaka so stuff in Tokyo won't work. Thanks for your help in advance and Hook'em!

 

[FAST FRED]

In Kyoto, the former Imperial Palace with its alarm-sounding "nightingale floors" and the Golden Pavilion, which is actually covered with gold leaf, are two of the most well-known things to see.

If you have time, consider going to the former capital city of Nara.

It seems like the trip took less than an hour from Kyoto by train when I was there in 1970.

The Todai-ji Temple in Nara, the largest wooden structure in the world, and the immense bronze Buddha it houses combined to be the most spectacular thing I saw in Japan.

 

[MikeUT00]

The Imperial Palace is definitely a must. I'd also recommend going to Gion, which is on the East side of town. It's a Geisha section that really shows Japan in it's own. Hanami-koji street has a lot of cool buildings, shops, etc. that is not too typical of what you will find everywhere else.

So are you flying in to Osaka? Osaka/Kansai Airport itself is pretty cool in my opinion because it sits on it's own island.

 

[FanofBurntOrange]

Osaka - That's what the ticket says...any dishes that I must try? Any big cultural no-no's that I should be aware of? Thank you much.

 

[DeadHorse]

I'll second both the Imperial Palace and the Gion district. Both are very cool.

The best thing I did in Kyoto, though, was tour this old building, which I call the "Ninja House." (It has a different name. I'll try to dig it up.)

Anyway, the house was built in the 1600's and it was where the feudal lords would stay when they came to visit the Shogun, who lived in the Imperial Palace at the time. Being that Shogun-era Japan was a violent place, the lords needed the utmost security and traveled with personal guards, who were most likely ninjas.

In the house, there are many built in defenses that the ninjas and samurai's would use to protect the lord. There are trap doors, false stairways and secret closets. In the great room where people would come to pay respects to the lord, there is a secret attic with a trap door leading to the great room. In the event of threats to the lord, ninjas would drop from the attic and throw down. Bad ***, it was.

The tour was given by an old Japanese guy with a long, white beard. The problem is he only speaks Japanese and I wouldn't know any ot this except for my friends who were fluent.

I'll see if I can find the name of it, though.

 

[FanofBurntOrange]

Deadhorse - 'Perciate it...

 

[DeadHorse]

Here is a link to info about that Ninja Hotel. You can also just google Nijo Jinya. That's the real name of it.

The Link

There's not many pictures of the interior on the Internet. They don't allow any to be taken. Very cool visit, though, but you'll need someone that speaks Japanese.