Log in
Join travelers community
Your Profile
Logout
Kyoto Station Area, Central Kyoto, Eastern Kyoto, North-Eastern Kyoto & North-Western Kyoto
Kyoto
Tony Clemens2005-08-31 22:08:29
Displayed times (last time: )
Kyoto, most international visitors arrive at Kansai International Airport near Osaka then travel via train to Kyoto, there is a train terminal at the airport terminal.
Kyoto Station is HUGE, the largest in Japan. With three levels for trains, attached hotels, a nine story department store, a bus terminal, food courts, a tourist office it can be kind of overwhelming, especially after spending 20+ hours on airplanes. Although the tourist office is small the staff is very friendly, a staff member gave us three maps with marked routes to our Ryokan. In fact the staff at all the train stations I travelled through were friendly.
Near Kyoto Station is Kyoto Tower, a 131 metre structure that supposedly represents a forever burning candle. Most people cite the construction of this building in 1964 as the beginning of the end to Kyoto's traditional skyline.
There are several significant sites near Kyoto Station, in fact you might see the 57 metre tower of the Gojū-no-t� pagoda from the airport train as you enter the station, it is the tallest in Japan. The pagoda is part of the T�-ji temple complex originally established in 794. The lecture hall (k�d�) and main (kond�) hall contain many statues.
Also near Kyoto Station is Nishi Hongan-ji temple, the world headquarters of the Hongan-ji branch of Jodo Shin-shu which has over 10,000 temples and 12 million followers worldwide. Many of the buildings date from 1591, unfortunately the main building is presently being restored and will be covered up until 2010. Two blocks east is Higashi Hongan-ji which in 1602 split from J�do Shin-shu and is now the headquarters of the Otani branch of Jodo Shin-shu. Although less impressive artistically than the Nishi buildings, the buildings are monumental in size including a 27 metre two story gateway and the founders hall which is one of the worlds largest wooden structures,
...
See photographs from:
Japan Gallery
