Kyoto Imperial Palace reservations
Jul 2nd, 2008 | 08:57 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Kyoto Imperial Palace reservations
Aloha again everyone!
E-tickets printed so I know we are really going to Kyoto in October!!
A few more questions-
I picked up a thread with a website that is available online to make reservations for tours of Kyotos' Imperial Palace. However I have tried to access the site on multiple occasions keeping in mind the time change and keep getting the same message regarding no access. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong?
Second question-
We really would like to take our teenage grandchildren to visit the Hiroshima museum. Can this be done as a day trip from Kyoto?
Third question-
We were thinking of purchasing the JR West Kansai passes? Comments or suggestions?
Mahalo.
E-tickets printed so I know we are really going to Kyoto in October!!
A few more questions-
I picked up a thread with a website that is available online to make reservations for tours of Kyotos' Imperial Palace. However I have tried to access the site on multiple occasions keeping in mind the time change and keep getting the same message regarding no access. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong?
Second question-
We really would like to take our teenage grandchildren to visit the Hiroshima museum. Can this be done as a day trip from Kyoto?
Third question-
We were thinking of purchasing the JR West Kansai passes? Comments or suggestions?
Mahalo.
Jul 2nd, 2008 | 10:24 AM
#2
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,724
Likes: 0
Hi, northshoreauntie -
Congratulations! Kyoto is wonderful!
Before my trip, I repeatedly tried to reserve a time to see Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu) on-line, and could never get the system to work. I did, however, manage to make a reservation once I was in Kyoto. Katsura Rikyu was really lovely; you might consider stopping there in addition to, or instead of. the Imperial Palace itself. See:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3914.html
Yes, you can visit Hiroshima from Kyoto on a day trip. It might be a long day, but the peace park and museum would be worth it.
Hope that helps!
Congratulations! Kyoto is wonderful!
Before my trip, I repeatedly tried to reserve a time to see Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu) on-line, and could never get the system to work. I did, however, manage to make a reservation once I was in Kyoto. Katsura Rikyu was really lovely; you might consider stopping there in addition to, or instead of. the Imperial Palace itself. See:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3914.html
Yes, you can visit Hiroshima from Kyoto on a day trip. It might be a long day, but the peace park and museum would be worth it.
Hope that helps!
Jul 2nd, 2008 | 10:43 AM
#3
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 0
here is a link to the reservations for the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. You cannot access site between 12:00 am to 5:00am Tokyo time
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e17/ed17-03.html
How many times do you plan to catch a train and how many total days are you in Japan?
Aloha!
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e17/ed17-03.html
How many times do you plan to catch a train and how many total days are you in Japan?
Aloha!
Jul 3rd, 2008 | 10:40 AM
#5
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 0
Yes, definitely take a day trip to Hiroshima. A train and a cab to the museum/peace park would be the easiest for 4 people. And so worth it. A very unique and moving sight. The museum is very well done and the memorials in the park beautiful. The link below is to the city's tourist information Q&A page with lots of good information.
http://tinyurl.com/4qm5x9
Enjoy your trip!
http://tinyurl.com/4qm5x9
Enjoy your trip!
Jul 3rd, 2008 | 02:02 PM
#6
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
This is what we did on our Kyoto visit. It is great day trip and very easy to do. And the kids would lve the Himeji Castle! It is a great contrast to the Kyoto Imperial Palace which we visited also.
Himeji/Hiroshima was our favorite day trip. We took a taxi to the train station for the 7:44am Shinkansen Hikari to Himeji. I bought all our tickets the day before based on my HPERDIA research. We arrived at 8:31 and walked up to the Castle. This took about 20mins. We could see the Castle the whole way so no chance to get lost! We got to the entrance gate about 5 mins before it openned. Like all things Japanese there were two men standing there, one by the gate and another by a bell with a watch. At exactely 9, one hit the bell several times as the other opened the gate! There were only two other people there so we had it all to ourselves. It is a beautiful Castle, well maintained, one of only a few that haven't been destroyed. Plus there were still some cherry blooms-I was so surprised! It took about an 1 1/2 hours to see at our own pace with an English guide booklet we got with our tickets. The Castle is huge and six stories up, but worth the climb! We walked back to the station and stopped at a covered shopping area where we got a lunch to go- there are great little places on every street almost!
We caught the 11:41 Shinkansen Nozomi for Hiroshima and ate lunch along the way. At 12:45 we walked out of Hiroshima station and caught the tram in front of the main entrance for the "A" Dome and Peace Park. It took about 20 mins to get to the park. All my husband wanted to see was the Dome. Since we had already spent time at the memorial museum in Nagasaki, we just walked around a bit. At a board member's suggestion went to the Hall of Rememberance. This Hall was worth the trip! It is an under ground building displaying the stories and pictures from people who lived through the experience. I really liked listening to the stories far better than the Museum display. But you have plenty of time for the Musuem part also.
From there we went back to the tram stop boarded it and rode to the end of the line which was the Miyajima Ferry dock (another 40 mins). We took the 10 min ferry across to the Island. Is is a very scenic island noted for its floating Torii. The Tide was just coming in at about 3:30, so we got to see the people clamming around. We wandered around the shops and then on out to the Itsukushima Shrine. We walked back across the inlet by the Torri(it is huge) and found a Okonomamiyaki shop back in the village. By this time all the day trippers were gone! This is a neat pancake like dish that the cook made right in front of us! It was great to watch and eat! We walked back to the park and Torii for me to get some pictures as the sun set over the bay behind the Torii. This was a beautiful setting and I got great pictures. The Island is peaceful this time of day and we really enjoyed it. There are other neat things to see on the Island, but my husband was tired of the Temples and much preferred the park area.
We caught the ferry back to the mainland and bought tickets on the next local train to Hiroshima Station. This all took maybe an hour. We had tickets for the 8:33 Shinkansen Nozomi, but it was only 7:15 when we got to the Station so I changed the tickets for the next Nozomi at 7:30. It was about 9 when we got back to Kyoto. It was a great day.
Have fun!
Himeji/Hiroshima was our favorite day trip. We took a taxi to the train station for the 7:44am Shinkansen Hikari to Himeji. I bought all our tickets the day before based on my HPERDIA research. We arrived at 8:31 and walked up to the Castle. This took about 20mins. We could see the Castle the whole way so no chance to get lost! We got to the entrance gate about 5 mins before it openned. Like all things Japanese there were two men standing there, one by the gate and another by a bell with a watch. At exactely 9, one hit the bell several times as the other opened the gate! There were only two other people there so we had it all to ourselves. It is a beautiful Castle, well maintained, one of only a few that haven't been destroyed. Plus there were still some cherry blooms-I was so surprised! It took about an 1 1/2 hours to see at our own pace with an English guide booklet we got with our tickets. The Castle is huge and six stories up, but worth the climb! We walked back to the station and stopped at a covered shopping area where we got a lunch to go- there are great little places on every street almost!
We caught the 11:41 Shinkansen Nozomi for Hiroshima and ate lunch along the way. At 12:45 we walked out of Hiroshima station and caught the tram in front of the main entrance for the "A" Dome and Peace Park. It took about 20 mins to get to the park. All my husband wanted to see was the Dome. Since we had already spent time at the memorial museum in Nagasaki, we just walked around a bit. At a board member's suggestion went to the Hall of Rememberance. This Hall was worth the trip! It is an under ground building displaying the stories and pictures from people who lived through the experience. I really liked listening to the stories far better than the Museum display. But you have plenty of time for the Musuem part also.
From there we went back to the tram stop boarded it and rode to the end of the line which was the Miyajima Ferry dock (another 40 mins). We took the 10 min ferry across to the Island. Is is a very scenic island noted for its floating Torii. The Tide was just coming in at about 3:30, so we got to see the people clamming around. We wandered around the shops and then on out to the Itsukushima Shrine. We walked back across the inlet by the Torri(it is huge) and found a Okonomamiyaki shop back in the village. By this time all the day trippers were gone! This is a neat pancake like dish that the cook made right in front of us! It was great to watch and eat! We walked back to the park and Torii for me to get some pictures as the sun set over the bay behind the Torii. This was a beautiful setting and I got great pictures. The Island is peaceful this time of day and we really enjoyed it. There are other neat things to see on the Island, but my husband was tired of the Temples and much preferred the park area.
We caught the ferry back to the mainland and bought tickets on the next local train to Hiroshima Station. This all took maybe an hour. We had tickets for the 8:33 Shinkansen Nozomi, but it was only 7:15 when we got to the Station so I changed the tickets for the next Nozomi at 7:30. It was about 9 when we got back to Kyoto. It was a great day.
Have fun!
Jul 3rd, 2008 | 03:57 PM
#7
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 0
The way I figure it out you can't use the JR West Kansai pass because they only let you on the Limited Express or local trains from KIX to Kyoto and the pass is not good to Hiroshima
If you buy everthing seperate using the Nozomi and Haruka Express to and from KIX it will cost roughly 30260 yen per person
If you get a 8 day JR West Sanyo Area Pass you can use it on the Haruka Express to and from KIX and also the Nozomi Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima and back for 30,000 yen per person. You can't qualify for the 4 day Sanyo because you need to use it on the first and last day. Its a tossup which way to go.....up to you!
Aloha!
If you buy everthing seperate using the Nozomi and Haruka Express to and from KIX it will cost roughly 30260 yen per person
If you get a 8 day JR West Sanyo Area Pass you can use it on the Haruka Express to and from KIX and also the Nozomi Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima and back for 30,000 yen per person. You can't qualify for the 4 day Sanyo because you need to use it on the first and last day. Its a tossup which way to go.....up to you!
Aloha!
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Jul 4th, 2008 | 02:47 AM
#8
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 0
JR West Sanyo Area Pass isn't valid for Kyoto to (Shin) Osaka segment. You can pay extra to travel by Shinkansen (2730-2930 yen - you can stay on the train as your pass becomes valid from Shin Osaka), or just 540 yen on New Rapid (takes 29 min) - in which case you have to change at Shin Osaka (longish walk).
Jul 10th, 2008 | 01:33 PM
#12
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 0
Yes it does seem the 7 day is the way to go.
After you relax from your trip you should consider coming to the Honolulu get together in Sept. We would love to meet you and share your travel experiences. Lots of other Fodorites will be there to share their travel stories. If you have time....
http://tinyurl.com/6q8p4t
Aloha!
After you relax from your trip you should consider coming to the Honolulu get together in Sept. We would love to meet you and share your travel experiences. Lots of other Fodorites will be there to share their travel stories. If you have time....
http://tinyurl.com/6q8p4t
Aloha!
