Konichiwa Kyoto

Advantages: It is a fascinating city which presents many of the contrasts of Japan
Disadvantages: This review is very long - but there is so much to Kyoto that I've only given you the main sites

...Warning: many of you may want to scan this review, as it is far too long. Kyoto has a great deal to see though... Kyoto gives its name to possibly Japan's most historically and culturally rich prefecture (kyoto-ken), and is contained within the Kansai region. The city itself which was then known as Heian-kyo, was used as the country's capital before Tokyo and shares this privilege with nearby Nara which predates it. Along with Osaka, Nara is also well worth a visit if you are interested in learning a little about Japan's history or seeing many of its most beautiful shrines and temples; many of which are national treasures, UNESCO sites or important cultural properties. The earthquake devastated and recently rebuilt Kobe is also an easy distance (all are reached within half...

ickkate 27.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Kyoto (Japan)

Kyoto, the OLD capital of Japan.

Advantages: Cheap area, gorgeous attractions and temples, good for short visits!
Disadvantages: Limited activity so best for -5 day visits.

...I visited Japan at the end of this July, and have only just returned. I must say it was the holiday of a lifetime. Flights cost £900 each via British Airways. We visited Kyoto for 3 days. We got there via Shinkansen from Tokyo, and stayed at the New Miyako hotel, just over the road from Kyoto station. Kyoto was absolutely gorgeous and very easy to navigate around. You can get just about anywhere you want to from Kyoto Station. There are buses, subway trains etc. 220 yen is all you need for a bus ride to anywhere along the Kyoto bus lines. That works out at around £1. You just hop on the bus and pay when you get off. We visited Toei movie land which was a bit of a dissapointment. www.eigamura30.com. Looking at brochures we expected amazing movie scenes etc but it left a lot to be desired. A lot of it was shut off, and most...

Jellypigs 18.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Kyoto (Japan)

Kyoto is fabulous.... shame about the hotel!

Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: uncomfortable, not very clean, dated decor

...I stayed in this hotel for 2 nights on a short break to Kyoto when we were on holiday in Tokyo last year. The location is excellent and is only a few minutes walk from the beautiful Gion district. The rooms are very small but I have to say this is standard across Japan in the lower priced hotels especially in the main Cities. The room wasn't comfortable and I wouldn't like to have stayed here for any longer than 2 nights. The decor was very dated and there was a lack of air conditioning which wasn't much fun as it was extremely hot when we stayed there. The room did have everything you need, it was just a little cramped and not very welcoming. The standard of cleanliness wasn't great, it wasn't really dirty, but it certainly could have been better. One little detail that I did like even though it is very small is that they left...

lacedcandy 04.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Karasuma Kyoto Hotel

  Key to Kyoto

Advantages: Enormous temples, exciting centre & good wooded walks.
Disadvantages: Disappointment if you let the guidebooks build it up too much & expensive.

...KEY TO KYOTO I went to Kyoto determined to dislike it. Everyone had said I should go – parents, employer, students and friends had all told me how wonderful it was. However, I’d also heard several things that put me off. For example, Kyoto does not have a baseball team. Apparently you must live in Kyoto for three generations before you’ll be accepted as a “Kyoto person”. When I met other westerners working in Japan those that worked in Kyoto would always tell me so in a declaiming air that smacked of a fat baby born into riches, talking to the poor, confused cousin. I was even told that “Kyoto was proudly waiting for the Emperor to return” by some, and all in all it sounded like a snobby town of overcrowded, over exaggerated attractions. Looking at the map it was an unbroken grey...

Hmatt 08.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Kyoto (Japan)

SCS Sofa's

Advantages: Nice Sofa's
Disadvantages: Awful After Sales Service

...I purchased a sofa from this store earlier this year and was a little shocked when the salesman told me they'd try and have it delived in 6 weeks (Before buying I was expecting the 12 week standard) So I wasn't too disappointed when it took 12 weeks to be delivered, although I'm still not sure it would have been delivered at all if I hadn't rung them the week before delivery and asked when it was coming. The after sales service this company offers is appalling, the sofa when delivered was badly scratched in a couple of places and also missing 2 cushions, I rung the customer services and was told they'd send someone round to look at the scratches but there couldn't do nothing about the missing cushions - for this I would need to ring the store where I purchased the sofa. So I ring the store about the cushions and they said that they...

skipper6 05.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of ScS Sofas

Hotel Alpha Kyoto

Advantages: Great location
Disadvantages: Cannot think of any

...I just got back from Kyoto and I stayed one night in Hotel Alpha Kyoto. My Japanese friend booked this hotel for me from a japanese discount website and it costs us 9450 Yen for two people (which is about £45). This is considered an expensive rate for this hotel because if you stay during off-peak season, you can even get a room for two without breakfast for 7000 Yen. However, I stayed here during Obon festival (peak peak period). I have checked the hotel website and the price is almost the same so that means you can book directly with the hotel to get discounted rate. Location: Only 1 minute away from Kyotoshiyakushomae Station (this is on the subway Tozai line) or 3 minutes away from Keihan Sanjo station. If you are coming from Osaka and you did not take the shinkansen or JR train, you are definitely on Keihan line that takes you...

dance 15.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Alpha, Kyoto

Kyoto Station - A Must See

Advantages: Excellent view of Kyoto, including the Tower! Good change from all the temples...
Disadvantages: Sticks out amongst 'traditional' surroundings, shops aren't anything special

...For many, Kyoto Station is the first thing that you will see when you reach Kyoto. A futuristic, elaborate building, it's the last you'll see of its kind in this city, so enjoy it. Kyoto Station, in the south area of the city, is the main JR station where you will find the Bullet Train ('shinkansen') and trains out of the city, as well as to other areas within Kyoto. (Note: If you are here to travel, unless you have a pass, it's well worth checking that you can't reach your destination via another rail network that isn't JR, e.g. Kyoto-Osaka with JR costs around 800 yen, with Hankyu it's a mere 390 yen).) The building itself is worth a visit though, built opposite Kyoto Tower, which offers a view of the city for a price, you can get just as good a view (and including the Tower too!) for free from the Station. On entering...

folore 31.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Kyoto Station, Kyoto

Visit Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto

Advantages: Most visited temple in Kyoto
Disadvantages: None

...You probably know that Kyoto is famous for its shrines and temples. It is also one of the cities listed under World Heritage Site. Kiyomizu Temple means Pure Water Temple. One of the oldest temples in Japan, it is now being listed under UNESCO World Heritage Site in year 1994. It was destroyed many times and thus, throughout its 12 centuries of history, has been rebuilt many times. The main attraction in this temple is its wooden terrace. This is also one of the most popular scene on Kyoto postcards. From this terrace, you are able to get a nice view of Kyoto city. On this terrace, there is a Japanese saying, 'jump off the stage at Kiyomizu', which is equivalent to the English expression of 'to take the plunge'. It is said that if one were to survive jumping from this terrace, his wish would come true. Below the terrace, you...

dance 31.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

Sofas Made for You

Advantages: A large range of suites with helpful and knowledgable staff
Disadvantages: Eight week waiting period

...DFS We have had our old three-piece suite for quite a number of years and after having our daughter it had begun to look a little worn so it was about time for a new one. The only problem we had was that new sofa?s did not come cheap and there was no way we could afford to spend out a lump sum in one. Then we saw the adverts for DFS offering 0% interest for payments over four years and nothing to pay for the whole first year. After speaking to a number of other people who took this option, we looked online and then jumped in the car to our nearest store. DEALS FOR SUNDAY DFS officially opened its doors in the 1980?s when Graham Kirkham, a past furtinure sales assistant, brought Direct Furnishing Supplies as it was becoming bankrupt extremely fast with no hope of return, shortening the name to what we now know as DFS and using...

elfbwillow 21.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of DFS Furniture Store (Shop)

Breakfast on the Sofa

Advantages: Very comfortable; varied menu
Disadvantages: Food not perfect

...We'd once had a late-afternoon drink in the Slug and Lettuce, and I had thought it seemed like a place that might be worth returning to for a meal one day. However, it was usually early on Saturday afternoons when we'd gone there with that intention, only to find that the place was just too crowded to consider staying. It was obviously popular which boded well, so one Saturday in July at around 11.30am we decided to see if it was quieter. Sure enough, there were people at just one or two tables by the window, and we had plenty of options to choose from. The sofas and armchairs near the front of the pub looked more comfortable than the higher seats further back, and we chose a low table with a sofa on either side. There were several menus on the table already, so we began studying them. I was quite surprised when a waitress came to ask...

denella 12.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Slug and Lettuce