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Kyoto

Japan's old imperial capital, with temples, shrines, gardens and traditional streets, about 2 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

Character
Kyoto is a large city, but most central sights are within about an hour of each other. Gion and Higashiyama keep a traditional feel with long-standing ryokan and restaurants, while Arashiyama and the northern hills of Ohara and Kurama feel more rural. It is very busy in the cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons.
Why it stands out
Most of January and February, most of March, the second half of April and September are quieter. The Gosho and Nijo area and the Takao hills are calmer places to stay or walk.
Getting there
Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Tokyo to Kyoto Station: about 130 minutes. From Osaka: about 13–15 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka, or about 29 minutes by JR Special Rapid from Osaka Station. Kyoto has no airport. From Kansai Airport, the JR Haruka takes about 78–100 minutes; from Itami Airport, a limousine bus takes about 50–55 minutes.
Seasons
Cherry blossoms usually peak in the first week of April, and autumn leaves are best from mid to late November. Gion Matsuri floats parade on 17 July. July and August are hot and humid. Winter (December–February) is cold, with occasional snow that usually does not settle.
Watch-outs
City buses such as routes 205 and 206 get very crowded in busy seasons, so trains and subways are often better. Rooms fill early for cherry blossom, autumn leaves, Gion Matsuri and the Kyoto Marathon in mid-February. Many businesses close from 29 December to 3 January. Keep noise down at night in residential areas.
Neighbourhoods
Gion and Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka-jinja and Kodai-ji, with long-standing ryokan and traditional restaurants. / Arashiyama and Saga: Bamboo grove, Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryu-ji; many restaurants and cafés close early. / Ohara, Kurama and Kibune: Mountain temples, onsen and summer dining over streams, about an hour from Kyoto Station.
Nearby
Kiyomizu-dera / Fushimi Inari Taisha / Arashiyama Bamboo Grove / Nishiki Market / Nijo Castle / Kurama-dera and Kifune-jinja / Sanzen-in / Takao and Jingo-ji

Kyoto condotels and hotel condos for sale

A condotel (hotel condominium) is a hotel room you own outright, which the hotel rents to guests when you are not using it. These are the Kyoto buildings and resort clubs this site tracks, with their current asking prices.

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