Intex

Guenmai,
Again,
Thanks for the detailed response, I will try your recommendations in Tokyo. I am more of a taxi/Uber person now, as I don't really enjoy the crowds on the subways (again another been there done that).

As for Kyoto, I have never been there, but I have a feeling that I will like it the most, since it seems to be less urban and not as crowded as Tokyo. We broke down and decided to go with the Four Seasons there, as I heard it was a beautiful property. Any recommendations for Kyoto would be extremely appreciated. We like to shop while on vacation, so going to non touristy shopping areas would be great too.

Guenmai

* Today the weather is picture perfect here in Tokyo as I'm looking out my window now. But, then again, it was also picture perfect at this time yesterday morning, but ended up raining.

* As for transportation in both Tokyo and Kyoto, taxis are easy to get. When you get one, the door will open automatically so step back and let it open. It will also close automatically so you won't need to close the door behind yourself.

* In Tokyo, the Suica is taken in taxis. I have a Suica card and just hand it to the driver and the taxi amount is deducted and then he hands me a receipt. That way, I don't have to worry about counting out money. I also use it for subways and some shopping. When I was in the underground mall, in Tokyo Station, there was a really great T-shirt shop and they also take Suica for shopping. The card can be recharged with added money at Suica machines and it's good for 10 years as I still have mine from last summer. At first, I thought it was good for 5 years, but found out it's good for 10 years.

* As for shopping in Kyoto, there's plenty of it and there are two, big, covered arcades next to each other, but there will be both tourists and locals as it's Kyoto and a popular destination. The one that I go down is the Teramachi Arcade (Nishiki street runs into it) and there's the arcade that's next to Teramachi Arcade of which I don't remember the name. I go to Harujuku Chicago in Teramachi Arcade as it's a pre-owned clothing store with the entire upstairs carrying kimonos and haori (short, kimono jackets). I got a really beautiful, polyester haori for 2,000 yen which will go really well with my skirts.

*Also, very near Teramachi Arcade is the very upscale Bal building with lots of shops and also some eateries inside. That whole street, that the Bal building is on, is a good one to look in small shops. Plus, the Bal building is a good one to take a rest and have something to drink/eat and they also have really nice air conditioning in there if you need to just get out of the heat. They also have a great bookstore (Maruzen) and stationery store. While at the FS-Kyoto, I wanted to get a hold of the second book of one that I had just finished, so the concierge called Maruzen Bookstore to find out if they had it and they did. So, I jumped into a taxi and went there and the book was waiting for me. I then stayed in downtown for a while before going back to the FS-Kyoto in Higashiyama neighborhood.

https://matcha-jp.com/en/1098

??BAL????

* Also on the same side of the street as the Bal building is a really nice, shop that sells very colorful, Japanese handkerchiefs in various sizes as I go there to buy them for gifts. They always have a stand, facing the street, with tons of different ones displayed. They are very reasonable in price. If you are facing the Bal building, then you would walk to the left up that main street and the place is nearby. It's between Sanjo-dori (street) and the Bal building. The Royal Park Hotel is right there on Sanjo-dori Street and is a couple, very short blocks from the river and tons of restaurants that line that river area. So, maybe walk in that area, too, and past the Royal Park Hotel. There's also a really nice bakery/restaurant almost next to the Royal Park Hotel on Sanjo-dori Street. The Royal Park Hotel is directly across the street from Burger King.

Then, of course there are a lot of small stores, all over, and also the big, department stores on the main street where there are Daimaru, Takashimaya, Fuji Daimaru, etc on Shijo-Dori (street).

*Also in the Kyoto train station, there's Isetan department store and a mall on the lower level of the train station with a lot of places to shop. The Isetan complex is huge and there's an outdoor escalator that goes to the top of the complex with a great view.

* From the Four Seasons-Kyoto to Kyoto train station expect to pay around 1,100 yen. From the Four Seasons to downtown Kyoto, expect to pay around 1,500 yen depending on traffic as when there was a lot of traffic, I paid a little over 1,500 yen to get back to the FS on day in traffic.

* Also near the Four Seasons hotel is the Kyoto National Museum, directly across from the Hyatt Regency Hotel and of course the big, Sanjusangendo Temple next door to the Hyatt Regency. That's only a 10-minute walk, if that, down the hill from the FS. I haven't visited either yet as I'm busy doing other things. While at the Hyatt Regency for 3 nights, they gave me a card for free admittance to the Sanjusangendo Temple, but I still didn't get there.

https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-c...ational-museum

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

* I'm home now and Singapore Air was late in departing as weather in Singapore was bad and the plane couldn't take off. Typhoon season.

* Singapore Air SQ 12 originates in Singapore and then stops in Narita and on to LAX. Narita to LAX, non-stop in 10 hours and 10 minutes.

* Right when I was getting ready to go downstairs to check out of my hotel in Tokyo, something told me to check my e-mail just one more time and that's when the message had just popped up from Singapore Air that the flight wouldn't be leaving Narita at 7:15PM, but at 8:20PM.

* It was great that Singapore Air handed out food/shopping vouchers for 2,000 yen in apology for the plane being late getting into Narita and thus late on to LAX. They also set up tables, right at the gate, with free food and snacks and drinks for both flight crew and passengers which was very thoughtful of them.

Happy Travels!

hawaiiantraveler

Guenmai,
I see you've been taken by Japan smiles. Linda and I knew your would. Keep in touch

Aloha!

Guenmai

HT: I already have my tentative, summer 2019 itinerary drafted and plan to throw in Fukuoka for about 5 nights and maybe Kobe for 3 nights unless I decide to just commute to Kobe, from Kyoto, for a day trip or two. One of the staff members who chatted with me daily at FS-Kyoto is from Kobe and said that she commutes to work daily in 45 minutes. But, there's also the Shinkansen that takes only 30 minutes. I went to Osaka one day, on the Express train and it took only 30 minutes and then I was back in Kyoto for around dinner time. So, maybe I'll just plan another 10 nights in Kyoto and commute to both Osaka and Kobe.

My great day trip this time was to Wazuka with my private-driver guide and there were no tourists there and only two other people in the little restaurant in the tea-farming village where we had a delicious, noodle lunch for 500 yen each. He was surprised, but delighted that I had selected to go to Wazuka. I hire him for 4 hours for one day, out of the 10, that I'm in Kyoto. I had the same driver last summer.

Happy Travels!

sandgroper

This isn't a hotel or a ryokan but it might be of interest.
In Kanazawa we had our first Airbnb experience. The owner picked us up from the station and the house was set in a beautiful old area, right next door to a temple. The house was spotless and I notice continues to get well deserved great reviews.
We also had our first experience sleeping on futons and omg they were so comfortable. I didn't expect that at all!
I don't know what the cost is now but staying in May 2017 it was $132 per night for 2 people and for that we got a large home with modern amenities, located in a great part of Kanazawa. If it interests you, here's where we stayed https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/8437715

And I only just noticed the original poster has already left for Japan. I don't know how to delete this post lol

ekscrunchy

Sandgroper thank you for that. I hope to be able to travel this spring, to a ryokan near Kanazawa so that is super helpful and sounds lovely.


Anyone know about the soon-to-open ACE HOTEL in Kyoto? I was thinking of Four Seasons but not sure how good the location is. To add more detail: I've been to Japan on several extended visits (one multi-week visit with rail pass and two or three trips on assignment for work) but the last one was more than 20 years ago!! Ouch!

Guenmai

I have only heard the talk about the ACE Hotel opening in Kyoto. I don't know the Ace chain except that we have one here in downtown L.A. on south Broadway and located in a historic building. I haven't stayed in an Ace Hotel chain.

As for the location of the upcoming Ace Hotel in Kyoto, the hotel is taking over the space of the oldest mall in Kyoto (Shinpukan) which is near Karasuma Oike station. Oike Station is less than a 10-minute walk from The Museum of Kyoto.

As for where to stay in Kyoto, it depends on your own personal preferences. The Four Seasons Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Hyatt Regency Hotel as both are in the Higashiyama neighborhood where there are tons of historical sites to visit. As I commented upthread, The Hyatt Regency Hotel is next door the the Sanjusangendo Temple. That hotel is also directly across the street from the huge Kyoto National Museum.

On this summer 2018 trip, I first did 3 nights at the Hyatt Regency and then 7 nights at the Four Seasons and even walked from the Four Seasons back down to the Hyatt Regency one evening for dinner. So, as for me personally, I plan to continue staying in the quiet and historic Higashiyama district and especially since I taxi around Kyoto anyhow and it's easy to get a taxi. And after I have spent hours in the crowded and busy downtown area and other busy areas of Kyoto, I am more than happy to get back to peace and quiet in my area of Higashiyama.

On my summer 2017 trip, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency (Higashiyama), the Ritz Carlton (downtown), the Four Seasons (Higashiyama), and the Royal Park (heart of downtown Kyoto) and from that experience knew that on future trips that I would be staying in Higashyama as it very much suits my personal taste and I label it as a prime location in that it's not in a crowded area with crowds of folks.

Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Since I don't know most of those places you refer to, not having been to Kyoto in decades, would you consider the ACE HOTEL's location good or bad for: shopping and sightseeing? .I already read a lot of other threads on which you detail in depth your experiences at various hotels...thank you!

kja

That would not be my choice of areas for Kyoto -- I prefer the Kawaramachi district. YMMV.

Guenmai

Ekscrunchy: O.K. I've just put some information together for you that I hope helps. As for the Ace Hotel location, it will be in the downtown area. I have provided maps for you.

Look at the first map of the location of the Gimmond Hotel. You can see that The Museum of Kyoto is nearby and also Karasuma Oike . The new Ace Hotel will be about a 10-minute walk from The Museum of Kyoto and also near Karasuma Oike.

Look at Sanjo Street (Sanjo Dori) and Kawaramachi Street and also Shijo Street (Shijo-Dori) and Kawaramachi Street (Kawaramachi Dori). This is the heart of downtown and the major department stores are on that stretch of Shijo Street to Kawaramachi Street and Nishi Market and the two, covered arcades are also nearby. One arcade is Teramachi, but the other I can't remember the name of as I'm mostly in Teramachi Arcade. But, the other one is right next to it.

Then from Kawaramachi Street to Sanjo Street are shops and restaurants on both sides of the street. The Royal Park Hotel, which I have mentioned and recommended is right on Sanjo Street and a few steps to the right of Kawaramachi Street. You can see the river to the right of area of the Royal Park Hotel although the hotel is not on the map.

https://gimmond.co.jp/en/location

Now, as for the location of both the Hyatt Regency and the Four Seasons, in order to get your bearings of Kyoto, I’ll switch to the below map that I refer to most.

Look to your right of the below map and locate the very famous Kiyomizu Temple. Look down to where the Kyoto National Museum is and across the street the Sanjusangendo Temple. The Hyatt Regency is right next door to the right of that temple.

Now, to get to the Four Seasons’ location, I just walk out of the Hyatt Regency and then turned right and walk the 1-minute to the end of the street and then turned left and walked about 30 seconds to the next street and then right and up a little hill. The Four Seasons is on the left side of the street and in back of the Myoho-in Temple. The hotel is in a very secluded and peaceful area.

https://francejapon.fr/voyage-japon-...to-map-carte-4

So, it all boils down to what one wants; heart of the busy city or in a historical, peaceful area. I've done both and personally prefer peacefulness. Plus, both the Hyatt Regency and Four Seasons are a short taxi ride to Kyoto train station which came in handy as I zipped over to Osaka to shop one day at the gorgeous Hankyu department store. It only took 30 minutes to get there on the express(rapid) train. The train from Kyoto to Osaka cost only 560 yen/$5.13. So, I went to the machine, in Tokyo Station, and bought a ticket and on the train I went.

I shopped and found all that I was looking for at Hankyu and then walked back across the street to the Osaka train station and got on the express train back to Kyoto train station and then into the huge food basement of Isetan department store (located in Kyoto Train Station) . I went to my favorite take-out deli vendor and got my food containers of take-out dinner and into a taxi and quickly back to the Four Seasons to relax and have dinner in my room.

Next summer, I plan to take day trips to Kobe by train and also back to Osaka to do my shopping. While in Kyoto, I was looking for some specific items and the salespeople told me I would need to go to Osaka, so I went to Hankyu department store and found exactly what I was looking for.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Correction for: "The train from Kyoto to Osaka cost only 560 yen/$5.13. So, I went to the machine, in Tokyo Station, and bought a ticket and on the train I went."

I meant to type, "Kyoto Station", not "Tokyo Station". Yikes!

Happy Travels!