Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. Kyoto is located in a valley, part of the Yamashiro (or Kyoto) Basin, in the eastern part of the mountainous region known as the Tamba highlands. It is a large city with a number of districts; Central, Arashiyama (Western Kyoto), Higashiyama (eastern Kyoto), North and South districts.

Kyoto offers an incredible number of attractions for tourists. With its 2000 religious places- 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture intact, it is one of the best preserved cities in Japan. Among the most famous temples in Japan are Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain; Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion; Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion; and Ryōan-ji, famous for its rock garden.

Things to See & Do

* World heritage sites
* Imperial palaces and villas
* Blossom viewing
* Temples
* Gardems

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Yen (JPY)
Language – Japanese
Population – 1,500,000 approx
Land Area – 827.9 km2
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus hours nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – 81

Port Location – The Port of Kyoto is located at Maizuru.

Travel Links – Overseas travelers can fly into Kansai International Airport and then get a train to Kyoto. Kansai Airport Station is located opposite the arrival lobby where the Japanese Rail (JR) West Haruka Kansai Airport Limited Express Train can be caught. The best and fastest way to get to Kyoto from the airport is to buy a one-day JR West Kansai Area Pass and take the Haruka Limited Express (non-reserved tickets only).

Most visitors arrive at JR Kyoto station by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Nozomi trains take approximately 2.15 hrs. to Kyoto.

There are also daytime and night bus services to Kyoto from Tokyo and Shinjuku.