Smeagol

Lol Craig!

Craig

And Don (you were writing at the same time I was) - the goal the Japanese have set with this new policy is bringing inflation UP to 2%. We'll see...

shelleyk

I love the idea that our trip may cost less than I anticipated. How often does that happen? My only problem is that some of the booking sites have charged my credit card at the current exchange rate for our Nov. bookings.

rhkkmk

shelley, that is not a problem, it is your generous gift to the people of japan.

hawaiiantraveler

98.575 as the Monday Market opens in Japan

hawaiiantraveler

99.465 today.......dreams do come true sometimes

Kathie

So if its at 99 today, where will it be in November??

rhkkmk

60

hawaiiantraveler

Now we positively know where it won't be.....

Craig

Back to Kyoto and a couple of the posts here:
1) I am sure it is easy to take a taxi from eastern Kyoto to the tourist sites on the outskirts. How easy is it to get a taxi from those places to our next destinations?
2) I'm not clear on the best itinerary at Arashiyama. Torokko train to where? River cruise from where? What are the best sites along the way, where are they and when/where do we arrange the jinrikisha (rickshaw) to get from place to place?

KimJapan

1. Easy. There are taxis everywhere. There are usually some waiting at every sight.

2. Train to end, where you get out and follow the people and signs to the boats. Boat downstream. Total time about 3 1/2 hours. Relaxing unless the boat is packed full. You can buy both tickets at the train station as a set.

3. Reserve jinrikisha ahead of time to get an English speaking shafu - runner. They are informative and entertaining. 45 minutes to an hour gets you a great overview of the in town sights.

4. Don't miss Tenryuji.

5. Try tofu/yuba lunch.

6. For a real splurge Arashiyama Kitcho is excellent. It is a serious splurge and you must reserve much in advance.

Craig

Still not sure about the timing at Arashiyama. When and where to reserve the jinrikisha? What order to do things in or what will we see on jinriskisha?

tripplanner001

When you exit Arashiyama train station, Tenryuji is on the other side of the street (there are signs in English as you walk out of the station). Admission to the temple is separate from admission to the garden. My suggestion would be to exit the garden from the back, up the hill. You will walk into a bamboo grove. Upon exiting make a right and go to Okochi Sanso, which is the former home of a Japanese actor. The property does not see many tourists and we found it nice to spend some time strolling the grounds. Upon exiting, make a right (the bamboo grove will be on your left) and head into the park. Follow signs to Togetsukyo bridge. As you get to the riverbank and close to the bridge, there will be boats you can hire if you want some time on the water. Here is where you can hire the rickshaws as well. You can cross the bridge to a little island (we did not have time for that). If you walk away from the bridge, you will be back at the train station. The whole trip took us about 6 hours not including travel time. Let me know if you have questions. Hope this helps.

hawaiiantraveler

If I am understanding Kim's directions clearly, she say to take the Torokko train to Saga then catch the Hozu river boats down stream to Arashiyama where you would disembark and meet your English speaking richshaw drivers there at the boat dock in Arashiyama. Then touring Arashiyama, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji and town via rickshaw having lunch in town. Then take either the train from station across the temple or the JR line back to Kyoto or even a taxi.

Torokko train to Saga

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3965.html

Then boat ride

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3966.html

then rickshaw

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushiigirl/8220550080/

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp.e.ck.hp.tr...pot/64710.html

Kim must have a good contact number for the jinrickshaw in Arashiyama

Then back to Kyoto


Aloha!

hawaiiantraveler

First one sHould be Torokko train from Saga Arasiyama to Kameoka,sorry

KimJapan

HT got it 100% correct. The jinrikisha company has English speaking shafu (a few, which is why you need to book) but no English phone service. http://www.ebisuya.com

shelleyk

From photos it appears that the scenery is similar from the boat and the train. If I were to do only one, which is preferable? (I don't think DH would be very comfortable on the boat for 2-3 hours). Alternatively, it would be my preference to do more walking than sitting. Are there trails that showcase similar scenery to the boat and train rides? And is it possible to hire a boat for half an hour to an hour just to get the perpective from the water and to take some photos?

Smeagol

Craig you are putting Billy and I to shame with your organisation.....

hawaiiantraveler

shelleyk, you can go directly to Arashiyama, walk to the bridge and take a 30 minute or an hour long boat ride <b>up</b> the river. You rent at the bridge boat docks. You can also walk along the Hozu river a ways if you wish. When looking up the river from the Togetsukyo bridge, the left bank of the river(where the monkey sanctuary is)has a path that you can walk a ways up the river to near the bend that goes around the corner....you'll see. The right side of the river also has a path but you can only walk maybe a quarter of a mile up then it heads uphill to the back of the bamboo grove and the back end of a temple I think.
If taking the JR line train in from Kyoto it is about a 1/2 mile walk to the bridge and main part of town anyways so you will get your walking in there too going back and forth. There are the jinrikshaws mentioned above right outside the JR station for hire if you don't feel like walking and some of them do speak English. Taxis are available everywhere.

Aloha!

Craig

Great stuff.

And Nicky - I'm not doing much. Fellow Fodorites are doing all the work. I am just asking the the right questions. So when you eventually get to doing research for your trip, click on my name and it will all be there: guides to Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa plus much more info...