Travel guide – kyoto
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Overview
Kyoto, Japan’s most historically important town, is the country’s sightseeing capital, packed with 1,700 Buddhist temples, 300 Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, gardens and traditional wooden homes, all well preserved and presenting a picture of traditional Japanese culture. The city lies in the mid-western Kansai district on the island of Honshu, surrounded by plains full of rice paddies.
Visitors arriving from the Kansai International Airport or on board the famous Shinkansen bullet train at Kyoto’s modern central station may be disenchanted to initially discover a thriving, overcrowded industrial city with a straight grid of uniform streets presided over by the futuristic Kyoto Tower. The city may present a modern face, but explore behind the scenes in the outer districts or off the beaten track in the old merchants' quarters and you will glimpse cameos and images of traditional Japan, from cherry blossom to geishas, and bonsai trees to shoji screens.
Apart from the architectural legacy, which was fortunately spared the heavy bombings inflicted on other Japanese cities during World War II, Kyoto also boasts some of Japan’s most significant art works, a culturally traditional way of life, and superior cuisine. No visit to Japan is complete without devoting time to experience Kyoto.
Climate
The weather throughout the four main islands that make up Japan is generally temperate, with four distinct seasons. The weather can get very hot during the summer months, particularly in the South. May, June and July are the wettest months, and June, July and August are hotter and more humid. In the south winters are cool but sunny, but as one moves further north temperatures drop and snow falls. The island of Hokkaido in the far north of Japan is bitterly cold in the winter, with snow guaranteed.
Health
No vaccination certificates are required for entry to Japan. On 26 June 2005 an outbreak of bird flu was reported a farm at Mitsukaido, in Ibaraki. There are no reports of human infection. Travellers to Japan are unlikely to be affected, but live animal markets and places where contact with live poultry is possible should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked. Medical facilities are very good, but medical assistance in Japan can be very expensive and visitors have to pay the whole cost up front. Travellers should ensure that they have adequate medical insurance before travelling. Visitors using prescription or common over-the-counter medications (such as inhalers or allergy and sinus medicines) should note that some may be prohibited in Japan and customs officials may detain travellers carrying them. Such travellers are advised to contact the Japanese embassy in their home country before departure to ascertain whether their medication is permissible. The possession of Vicks inhalers and other common medications used for allergies and simus problems are banned under the strictly enforced anti-stimulant drugs law, and visitors are advised to check with the Japanese embassy if in doubt.
The basics
Getting Around
The best way to access Kyoto's tourist attractions (which are not located near subway stations) is by bus. The city is served by multiple bus companies with direct lines from Kyoto Station and several points in the city centre. An English map of the Kyoto City bus network is available from tourist offices, and signs are in English as well as Japanese. Fares are paid on leaving the bus. The only drawback to the buses is that traffic density makes them slow and they can become very crowded. For getting around the city centre the subway is recommended. Two subway lines cross the city, from north to south and east to west. Kyoto has a high concentration of taxis, particularly in the city centre.
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