When notification of a budget flight from Australia to Japan arrived in our inbox, we spontaneously decided it was time to become acquainted with traditional Japan, aka Kyoto. I had this dream of staying in or near the Gion Geisha District and maybe doing a walking Geisha tour.
What You Will Find in This Post
- Book Accommodation in Advance for peak seasons.
- Take a Walk through Gion the Geisha District of Kyoto
- Best Place to Stay in Kyoto
- Why Southern Higashiyama District is the best area to stay in Kyoto.
- Multiple quality temples, preserved streets and the vibrant Yasaka Shrine.
- Northern Higashiyama has more beautiful temples and the Philosophers Path.
- It’s the place to be for both Japanese and foreigners.
- There are good transport links.
- Rickshaw Tours.
- Do the Lonely Planet Japan walks.
- Visit Pottery shops.
- More from my site
- Why Southern Higashiyama District is the best area to stay in Kyoto.
Book Accommodation in Advance for peak seasons.
But first we needed to find accommodation and finding a block of two weeks in Kyoto is very difficult in Autumn – Kyoto’s second busiest time of year after Cherry Blossom Season. It is recommended to book 6 months in advance for peak seasons in Kyoto and we were booking just 3 weeks in advance. Luckily I enjoy a challenge.
I hit jackpot when I came across an Airbnb house in Southern Higashiyama. There was only one reference as it was a brand new listing. Encouragingly the review was good and after contacting the owner we were able to secure a two week booking. It’s interesting to note that on the Airbnb site there were no blocks of 2 weeks, but after contacting the owner he arranged it.
With the amount paid to Airbnb in full we breathed a sigh of relief, crossed our fingers and booked the Jetstar flights. As the departure date grew closer our choice was vindicated by more positive reviews appearing for the house.
We had a wonderful two weeks in the Shared House and my REVIEW is now up on the Airbnb site.
Take a Walk through Gion the Geisha District of Kyoto
The Geisha District is a close western neighbour of Southern Higashiyama – so close that while staying in Southern Higashiyama, we walked through it most days. Shijo Dori is a modern street full of department stores, tea and ice-cream shops and those lovely itty bitty collectibles that Japan does so well.
More interestingly though, Gion is home to charming traditional streets where you might be incredibly lucky and spot a Geisha.
The Difference between Geisha, Maiko or Geiko?
Well, Geiko are Geisha from Kyoto.
But what or who are Maiko?
Take a Geisha Tour
Taking a night walking tour is an atmospheric way to explore Gion’s streets. We walked around by ourselves and loved the traditional feel, but it would have been great to have someone who knew the area intimately with us. Someone who could explain the Maiko Geisha difference, Geisha history and even the Japanese Geisha wig. When we take a tour I find it’s the little insights that make the big difference.
Next time we are in Kyoto I am going to take this tour.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR NIGHT WALK THROUGH GION, KYOTO’S GEISHA DISTRICT.
Best Place to Stay in Kyoto
Why Southern Higashiyama District is the best area to stay in Kyoto.
Multiple quality temples, preserved streets and the vibrant Yasaka Shrine.
They are right there in Southern Higashiyama, saving on transport costs and loads of travel time.
Northern Higashiyama has more beautiful temples and the Philosophers Path.
Take the 2 km canal side path through Northern Higashiyama and visit the Silver Pagoda.
It’s the place to be for both Japanese and foreigners.
There is a real buzz going on, especially on weekends when kimono clad ladies and to a lesser extent men, are a common and beautiful sight.
There are good transport links.
- Buses (100 and 206) connect frequently with Kyoto Train Station.
- A quick walk to Gion will connect you to the Keihan Railway at Gion-Shijo Station beside the Kamo River (a quick way of visiting Fushima Inari Torii Gate Shrine)
- And Kawaramachi Station for the Hankyu line. The Hankyu line is the starting point for a day spent in the temple viewing at Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji and Kinkaku-ji temples via the Randen Line.
Rickshaw Tours.
These can be arranged with the Rickshaw men who congregate on Southern Higashiyama corners 5,000-7,000 yen.
Do the Lonely Planet Japan walks.
We did both the Southern and Northern Higashiyama walks. Both are excellent and easily achievable when staying in Southern Hig
Visit Pottery shops.
Walk along the northern side of Gojo Dori one of the best places to shop in Kyoto for pottery. They are little family run shops and my luggage was a little heavier on the way home.
In the interests of objectivity I looked long and hard to find the bad points of staying in Southern Higashiyama but all I could come up with were some steep streets to challenge the calf muscles and the slightly expensive (but gorgeous) souvenir shops to challenge the purse.
Chris Rowthorn, the author of Lonely Planet Kyoto gives a rundown of the Kyoto Districts HERE.
Visit TRAVEL PHOTO DISCOVERY, and
REFLECTIONS ENROUTE if you love to travel.
A Lisbon Dilemma or Fado in Alfama
Jan, What gorgeous photos! I love Kyoto, but have only been once for only a couple of days. Methinks I should return.
Also, thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration!
I think you could see a lot in 3 days Corinne. We didn’t rush around, got out of bed late and limited our sightseeing to a few things a day.
Kyoto would probably be my first choice when going to Japan, because it’s more traditional as you said 🙂
I loved visiting Kyoto first while my Son and his friends are going in February and they will be going skiing, so that will be entirely different.
I agree 🙂
Good to know Lily.
Hi Jan, thanks for tips about Southern Hagashima. It sounds like a so convenient and charming. Will definitely keep this area in mind. I love that you still bump into many women in kimonos. Your photo of the women is just lovely. I don’t mind the steep street. I like sightseeing to double as a workout:)
The streets must have worked because I actually weighed in lighter back at home. 🙂
This sounds like a beautiful area to stay in, Jan. 🙂 Your photos are stunning!
Wow, it was a great place to stay Krista. You would have loved taking photos there!
Oh how magical your stay in Kyoto looks – love that you found somewhere to stay for two weeks, I have heard of Airbnb but haven’t tried it as yet 🙂
Love your pictures, what a magical time of the year to visit, incredible how the flights were so cheap if its a busy time of the year 🙂
I’m loving your objectivity, the negative points are so funny! Steep steps and gorgeous (but expensive) souvenir shops wouldn’t put me off. I’ve never been to Japan andwould so love to. Thanks for sharing this place.
Japan is a great place to visit Phoebe and I hope you get there one day. It is not cheap – about the same as Australia actually.
A place that only challenges the calf muscles and the purse, can’t be bad! The photo of the street scene looks idyllic and by the look of the colour of those deciduous trees I can see why it would be a popular place to visit in Autumn. Wow, you are good with your AirBnB findings too 🙂
That hill never got any easier to climb lol but wow what a beautiful area. I noticed Marty suggesting we walk on the road when passing those expensive souvenir shops 🙂
Our daughter spent a year in Kyoto and I’m regretting that we couldn’t visit at the time. She loved it and your photos show a beautiful city. It sounds as though you found the perfect area to stay.
I think it was perfect and Lily agreed which considering her Japanese experience confirms it! I can see us returning to different places in Japan in the future but Kyoto is a gem. I have lots of photos to share in future posts. It was a pity you could not visit Kyoto in the year your daughter was there but we can’t do everything. But we can have fun trying!
I sooooo hope to make it to Japan someday, Jan! It’s wonderful to hear from you. I would love to see the cherry blossom trees just so long as I could do so in a less crowded place. Ironic you mention Airbnb as my buddy just came back from Fiji and Singapore and they used that and said it was great.Kimono clad ladies? Ok! Taking a safe rickshaw tour would be a blast. Hey, you forgot my map *wink*. I hope you are doing great! 🙂
I think you would love Kyoto Mike. Because we live so close and we can get there fairly cheaply from North Queensland and we had such a great time on our first visit, I can see us returning in the future for sure. I didn’t include your map because We didn’t go anywhere in this post lol. 🙂
You went to Kyoto! Oh fine…I looked it up myself 🙂 🙂
Ha ha Mike, now that wasn’t so difficult was it?
Japan has recently been added to my wish list – mostly because I see so many positive reviews from people like you. Love your photos and great suggestion on how to snag affordable 2 week accommodation.
I was quite impressed with that accommodation find. I recently saw a photo of a Kyoto hotel room and realize that our room was huge! We only saw Kyoto but loved it. We will definitely return to Japan and next time we will explore a different area.
What a great tip to try Air B&B, I’ve never personally tried this service but keep hearing great things about it. When we were in Kyoto we stayed at a very traditional Japanese hostel, the hosts were wonderful and hosted dinners and sake drinking in the evening.
That would have been wonderful Jess. We were lucky to meet up with a Japanese friend of a friend who invited us to her mother’s home. What an honour. We visited a local temple together, then made dinner together. How did the sake drinking go?
I loved, loved, LOVED this area when I was in Kyoto. It was definitely my favourite. I would have filled my suitcase in pottery if I’d had the cash.
Same here Denise. We were so happy that we chose this area to stay in, it certainly coloured our stay. I did buy a couple of pieces of pottery to remember Kyoto by, but further away from the action where they were cheaper.
Hi Jan. Your photos bring back some great memories of Kyoto (This was the trip where I lost my SD card somewhere between Japan and China). I loved this area of Kyoto, and spent a lot of time wandering the streets here, and visiting the temples. I have to say that I don’t remember the rickshaw boys. Your photos are gorgeous.
Maybe they have made a comeback in the name of tourism Nancie 🙂
Amazing how AirBnB has spread across the planet.
Great photos!
We have had so many positive experiences with Airbnb Dick.
Great autumn photos! I have to agree that Higashiyama is one of the better places to stay in Kyoto along with Downtown Kyoto. I miss the soothing sounds of the lovely streams running down Northern Higashiyama.