One of the most famous annual winter night festival, Arashiyama Hanatouro is now in the middle of excitement!! I've guided the tourists from Canada the other day and enjoyed Arashiyama Hanatouro as nice finale of the tour!
The festival will be closing soon till this weekend (19th of Dec). If you're planning to visit Kyoto in this timing, just don't miss this special night illumination!
My one day highlight is usually be started with Arashiyama area to enjoy fresh air in its great nature, and ended up at Kiyomizu temple/Gion area to enjoy those beautiful traditional scenery with wonderful sunset! But only in this tour, I made the plan of the tour completely upside-down!
We started the tour from Kiyomizu temple area, enjoyed both sightseeing and souvenir paradise!! :)
-click on each picture to enlarge-
After enjoyed our lunch at the quiet comfortable traditional restaurant, we've moved on to the most excited part of today's tour,
YES Arashiyama Hanatouro!!! Illuminated Bamboo!!!
In Japan it's quite normal that small children take train or bus to school on their own. I'm always asked by the tourists when we come across such students if they are safe enough??? YES, of course most of the parents are giving their child a mobile phone or a pager for emergencies, school teachers or local people are trying to take care to watch. But this is still one of the biggest SURPRISE for overseas people!!
If you have enough time on weekend in your Kyoto travelling, I recommend you to include this Maiko Dancing in your Kyoto itinerary.
The other day, I've guided the tourists from America in Gion and by their request to see Maiko, we've enjoyed 'Meeting with Maiko' tour. She has performed for us the most popular dance at this Gion Kobu school, telling you how Kyoto is beautiful in each season in different way...
She has been just three months since her debut as Maiko, very fresh, but her performance was wonderful. Because she's already trainned for one year before debut.
I was so attracted by her each soft movement of hands and face... Actually this dance includes a small love story, too, so her facial expression includes a little shy sometimes... so cute.
For enjoying dinner with Maiko/Geiko in an authentic way, it's quite expensive like more than 600$ including the dinner, Kyoto Kaiseki. But in this 'Meeting with Maiko' tour is just 4800yen for abt one hour tour in Gion.
You can't have dinner, but enjoy nice green tea (Matcha) and then, authentic beautiful Maiko dancing like in the video up close. and enjoy taking picture with her at the end.
If you have enough itinerary and really interested to see Maiko so close in a relaxed way, not like a paparazzi chasing on the street, I recommend you to enjoy this tour. Maiko doesn't speak English, so you need an interpreter for this tour.
As for Kyoto sightseeing, visiting temples, shrines are one of the MUST, but another MUST I recommend is to experience a great nature of Kyoto!
Arashiyama area is well-known for its peaceful nature. Hozu River Boat Excursions is the best way to enjoy the great nature up close with a relaxing mood.
Enjoy the surrounding great mountain view and in these boat tour, you can save the energy without tired from walking!
In ancient days like more than 1000years ago, "Recreational boat rides" had been enjoyed only by the noble aristcrats.
Around 400years ago, the river has been used for water transportation, and then now, very popular for tourism. One of the three famous boat tours in Japan.
Especially in Spring and Autumn, those wonderful Sakura or Maple trees will give you a breathtaking scenery.
It's worth experiencing if you have one extra day in the nice season!
The boat tour is about two hours along 16km of rapids. Enjoy peaceful air.
If you have JR pass, you can get to Kameoka sta. directly for the boat boarding. But if you like to enjoy the great view of Hozu Valley especially in Spring and Autumn, I recommend another way.
Get off the JR train at Saga Arashiyama and change into "Trokko train" in another line, called Romantic Train.
The train starts from "Torroko Saga sta". and get to "Torroko Kameoka sta".
Never mind the directions of your train seat, because the train goes on a winding mountainous rail road, so both sides give you a nice view in turn! :)
Hozu river cruising is not so wild experience mainly, but the boat passed through a couple of very narrow spaces, don't miss seeing boatmen's perfect handling!!
Three skilled tough boatman will work so hard in turn, propel the boat with a bamboo rod.
They also never forget to entertain the passengers even while paddling by their unique joking. (they don't talk in English, though, unfortunately...)
At the latter part of rafting, you find one boat approaching... That's the boat selling drinks, snacks and some food... The delicious smelling may awake your stomach up after a long boarding!
If you like to enjoy the exciting rafting, April must be nice with more volume of water.
* Until 50 years ago, after the tours finished, the boatmen has pulled back all the boats all the way up on the mountain by the ropes. What a hard work in old times!!
Access
● JR Kyoto sta. → JR Saga Arashiyama sta. (around 20min.)
● Torroko Saga sta. → Torroko Kameoka sta. (around 20min.)
* you can reserve the torroko train at JR station (not JR tickets, though)
(Only One way: the fee from Saga to Kameoka stn. is 600yen)
* buy the "boat boading tickets" at Torroko Saga station before train leaving.
Fee: 3900yen (4yrs to 12yrs Children 2500yen)
At Hozukyo Valley station, Tanuki (Raccoon Dog) of Sigaraki ware will welcome you!!
● After few minutes walk from the station, Bus will take you to the boarding point. (around 20min.)
● Hozu River whitewater rafting. (around for two hours)
* please don't forget to apply your name in the office in advance.
● Arrive back at harbor in Arashiyama area.
Enjoy your afternoon, visiting Tenryuji temple, walking an exotic Bamboo forest & shopping nice souvenir in Arashiyama!
1600yen at Minamiza (Kabuki Theater in Gion) This is Minamiza Orivinal Design! What a Perfect Souvenir Idea!! Or Nice Wall Decoration in your Room! Limited Stock, Hurry to get soon! :)
