What to do in Kyoto?

[Elgin]

I've been living in Kyoto for 9 months now and I don't know where to go anymore. I keep on chilling at kyoto eki and shijo but that's getting boring now.

Anyone been to Kyoto and got some ideas?

Thanks

[Timsan]

in the few days that I was inkyoto i did nothing but visit temples and walk around gion at night

[Elgin]

I see, I've visited a lot of temples and shrines in my stay. I pass a temple everyday when I go to school.

[Faustianideals]

That's so cool, Luc. Have you been to any arcades in Kyoto?
EDIT: You could always get a girlfriend.

[senseiman]

You've been in Kyoto 9 months and you haven't figured out anything better to do than hang around the station all day? Jesus, if you can't find something to do there you aren't going to find something to do anywhere. Get on a bike and ride in just about any direction possible and you'll find tons of interesting stuff to do and see. What exactly are you expecting?

[Elgin]

Yeah, I've been to JJ Club and Round1 a couple of times. Get's hard on the wallet after a while.

I've got a girlfriend..

It's kinda weird, I've asked my friends and some teachers about other good places to go in Kyoto and they have no idea.

[Elgin]

You've been in Kyoto 9 months and you haven't figured out anything better to do than hang around the station all day? Jesus, if you can't find something to do there you aren't going to find something to do anywhere. Get on a bike and ride in just about any direction possible and you'll find tons of interesting stuff to do and see. What exactly are you expecting?

I didn't say I hang around the station all day.

Ok I'll get on my bike and ride.. wow here's a raman shop!! oh oh here comes Tsutaya.. Wait! the Hyakuen shop is next!!

****, You don't even know where I live in Kyoto or what's around it.

[Gord]

that last comment was a little unecessary, I'd say

[Keiichi]

How about joining some kind of club or doing some kind of extracurricular activity?

Keiichi

:blush:

[jieshi]

keiichi has a good idea. start martial arts or something. (or you could get really good at dance dance revolution in the arcades lol)

[senseiman]

I didn't say I hang around the station all day.

Ok I'll get on my bike and ride.. wow here's a raman shop!! oh oh here comes Tsutaya.. Wait! the Hyakuen shop is next!!

****, You don't even know where I live in Kyoto or what's around it.

Well....what do you expect? ANYWHERE you go in Japan you'll find Ramen shops, Tsutayas and hyaku en shops.

I've been to Kyoto more than 10 times and every time I come through I find something new and exciting to explore....but then again I'm a history buff so maybe that explains why I never have a dull moment there.

I don't know where in Kyoto you live, but if you live close enough to be spending a fair bit of your time (I know, not ALL of your time) in the station area then you are close enough to probably get around to most of the interesting places on bike.

Outside of the historical sights Kyoto does have a very good nightlife and all the other amenities of a metropolitain area. Its probably a bit less exciting than Tokyo or Osaka, but it holds up pretty well against most other comparably sized cities IMHO.

[Harvey]

Go to this ramen shop.

http://www.japannewbie.com/archives/2004_07.html

And the one next door.

[mad pierrot]

Go somewhere else! Take the Keihan train to Osaka, or Hirakata, it's dirt cheap. (Less than 400 yen from Osaka to Kyoto, I think.) Have you been to the horseraces? Fushimi Inari? Climbed Hiezan? Gone to Kurama? All good places for day trips. Kyoto is an awesome city but any place can get old. Still, Kyoto or not, in a city that size you should always be able to find something new. Take up Kyudo or get another girlfriend....

:beer:

[iwao]

at the kitayama dori there are four buildings by the architekt Takamatsu Shin, that's why it is called "Takamatsu dori" by japanese architecture students:
Ining 23
week
syntax
sorry, I forgot the last one
also check his other buildings in and around Kyoto and Osaka
Origin 1-3
Ark in Fushimi
just check his books or the TOTO architecture guide map of Kyoto
http://www.toto.co.jp/gallerma/
this gallery is in Tokyo, online book shop

[gokarosama]

If you've never been to Fushiminari Shrine off the Keihan line (Fushiminari station) it's a great day trip. A fun hike up the mountain through thousands and thousands of torii gates. I'd recommend it.

You might also try my favorite place in all of Japan: Ryouanji shrine. But be in a contemplative mood when you go. If you aren't the type who has contemplative moods, then maybe skip it.

[iwao]

I forgot two
the chashitsu (tearoom) at Manshu-in; difficult to get in, but great, especially if you get a guided "tour" by one of the monks.

socalled ageya - restaurants and houses of high class entertainment of geisha and taiyu: the one I can recommend ist the Sumiya (nowadays more a museum than restaurant, but they still serve macha für visitors)
32 Banchi
Ageya-cho
Shimogyo-ku

[LA_guy]

Go to San-Jo Hashi underneth the bridge, its a nampa spot in kyoto. at least it was when I was there a couple years back.

[Harvey]

Still looking for things to do in Kyoto? It just ended but did you check out GION matsuri?

http://www.japannewbie.com/
http://www.japannewbie.com/images/journal/gion2005/gion4.jpg

Also, there is a cool kakigouri place in Kyoto that I found recently.
http://www.japannewbie.com/locations1_jp.php

Hey also have you ever been to koryuukaikan? They're an international group that puts on a lot of shows and other entertainment in kyoto.

Hrm. can't find their website now. But it's out there!