OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Kyoto
Kyoto
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.
Information & Facts
Climate
Kyoto has four distinct seasons, its climate ensuring very hot
temperatures in summer and winter weather characterised by
temperatures below freezing and occasional snowfall. Kyoto summers
are hot and humid, with very little wind, and the temperatures can
rise to 104°F (40°C).
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.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
Time