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21_21 Design Sight
Arashiyama Area
The gateway to Kyoto’s lush western hills, famous for forested mountains and bamboo grooves, this area is 20-minutes by car from the city center and worthy of a day trip. It can be packed with tourists from all over Japan, particularly at cherry blossom time. During Arashiyama Hanatouro, in mid-December, some three miles of walkway through the bamboo forest are illuminated by 2,400 lanterns. Indagare Tip: The area is open 24/7, so if you want to avoid the crowds, go early in the morning (around 7 a.m.).
ASIMO the Robot
For an offbeat, only-in-Japan experience, stop by the Honda Center during one of its scheduled shows that introduce ASIMO, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot that can walk, run and perform simple human tasks. Besides the marvel of the technology, the show’s human hosts provide a taste of quirky Japanese TV shows.
The demonstration takes 15 minutes and is held inside the car showroom; check the Honda Center’s website for timings. This is best done as a stop on a shopping and architecture tour of Aoyama.
Daitoku-ji Temple
This extensive temple complex houses twenty-four sub-temples, eight of which are open to the public. If you are interested in Zen culture, this is a place to visit. Ryosen-in holds early morning zazen (Zen meditation sittings). Also, don’t miss the three wonderful sub-temples that can be visited here: Daisen-in, Koto-in and Zuiho-in. Daisen-in has a masterpiece Zen garden that is highly regarded in Japan; Koto-in has fewer visitors and is surrounded by bamboo and a moss garden that can be viewed from the veranda. Zuiho-in enshrines a 16th-century Christian daimyo (feudal lord) and features the Garden of a Quiet Sleep where seven stones lay in the shape of a cross. To get to the Daitoku complex, take a taxi or hop on the subway, exit at Kitaoji and then walk for fifteen minutes to arrive at the temple.
Day Trip: Mount Fuji
On a clear day, its snowcapped peak, as iconically Japanese as a sumo wrestler or a kimono-wearing woman, can be glimpsed from the top floors of the major hotels. The highest peak in Japan, at 12,288 feet, Mount Fuji is doable in a day from Tokyo, either by car, bus, or, more interestingly, by train. Frequent (and punctual) express service connects with a suburban train that plods toward Mount Fuji’s slopes. If time permits, stay overnight so you can potter around the picturesque lakes surrounding the mountain. Fuji can also be climbed, but that involves planning and serious amounts of stamina. The official climbing season is July through August.
Edo Tokyo Museum
The Edo Tokyo Museum offers a great overview of the city’s history and is designed to allow the visitor to walk through the past. Each area represents a separate era, from the first shogun, in 1590, to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the bombing in WWII. High points include a replica of the famed Nihonbashi Bridge, a reconstructed Kabuki theater and photos and maps of old Edo. Unlike at the Tokyo National Museum, here children as well as adults will enjoy themselves, and the Edo’s location, in the same neighborhood as the sumo stables (where wrestlers live and train), will make a visit even more appealing to young ones.
Fushimi-Inari-Hike
Active types will enjoy this hike, which starts at Inari Station and leads up Inari-san (765 feet). You will have a great view over southern Kyoto and can visit Tofuku-Ji Temple on the way back down to Tofuku-ji Station (where you can take the train back to Kyoto Station). Calculate about two hours for the hike.
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha
This shrine was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake. It’s a popular sight and the complex consists of five shrines spread out across the wooden slopes of Inari-san mountain. The path meanders 2 ½ miles up the mountain and is lined with hundreds of orange-colored gates (it inspired Christo’s 2005 installation in Central Park) and fox sculptures. In Shinto mythology, the fox is a sacred and mysterious figure that can possess humans. The stroll up the mountain can become mysterious itself; you come across several graveyards and small shrines. There are many tiny tea houses, but don’t count on them to be open at all times.
Tip: Wear solid shoes, as the slopes can get slippery.
Gion District
Kyoto's most charming central neighborhood is filled with tiny wooden townhouses (machiyass), which line the ancient streets and have glowing paper lanterns hanging beside their front doors. If you’re lucky you will catch a glimpse of the beautiful, elaborately dressed geishas or maikos, many of whom live in this neighborhood.
Golden Pavilion (Rokuon-ji Temple)
One of the most iconic monuments in Kyoto, the Golden Pavilion was originally built in 1397 and its sides are covered with gold leaf. Getting a photo in front of the dazzling building is a Kyoto rite of passage (crowds are a constant here), and even the setting on a serene pond is lovely.
Indagare Tours: Day Trip Kamakura
Spend the day sightseeing in the ancient seaside town of Kamakura, a 60-minute drive south of Tokyo. Kamakura’s iconic image is of its giant Buddha, housed within Kitokuin Temple. From there, go on hiking trails dotted with small places of worship, including Hokokuji Temple, noted for its soaring bamboo groves. Stop for lunch at Raitei, a beautiful soba restaurant set in a temple garden.
Indagare Tours: In-Home Cooking Class
Spend a half-day with a Japanese local who will welcome you into his or her home. Once there, learn to cook traditional and more modern Japanese dishes, like cabbage with miso dressing, spicy burdock root salad, Japanese omelet, red miso soup, chicken teriyaki, shirashi spread sushi, fried bonito fish and beef satay with potatoes and carrots. In some cases, enjoy sake during and after your meal and learn how to make matcha tea. Throughout the class, you can chat with your host (via a translator) and learn about each other’s backgrounds, traditions and beliefs. Contact Indagare’s Bookings Team for details.
Indagare Tours: In-Home Cooking Class
Indagare Tours: New Tokyo tour
From Harajuku’s bright and bold fashion statements to Akihabara’s blinding array of electronics shops and Roppongi’s pachinko parlors and karaoke joints, “New Tokyo” provides a multi-sensorial feast. Explore contemporary art museums, galleries and department stores (tip: some of the best food can be found in their basements) with one of Indagare’s expert guides.
Indagare Tours: Nightlife/Dining
Explore Tokyo’s izakayas, sake bars and jazz clubs with a noted food writer and guide. Go beyond Michelin-starred restaurants to experience how locals eat and drink, especially in the after-hours. Indagare’s food expert will take you through back alleys, far away from the tourist fare, and to unmarked establishments in the pursuit of the perfect yakitori or a single malt whiskey.
Indagare Tours: Old Tokyo
It’s easy to forget that this bustling metropolis is steeped in ancient tradition. For a glimpse of Old Tokyo, go on a guided tour of the Imperial Palace, Tsujiki fish market and Meiji Shrine. For a more immersive experience, participate in a tea ceremony or a kimono fitting, which Indagare can arrange at a private studio in central Tokyo.
Indagare Tours: Origami Class
Learn the intricate art of paper folding with Japan’s top origami artist. Private classes and demonstrations can be arranged in his work studio. Contact Indagare's Bookings Team for details.
Indagare Tours: Style Tokyo
Shopping in Tokyo can range from the mundane (think Muji’s array of “brandless products”) to the sublime (Goth schoolgirl outfit, anyone?). A city of countless subcultures, Tokyo’s shopping scene can be difficult to navigate on your own. Indagare can arrange for an expert personal shopper to help you find whatever you’re looking for, be it an antique Japanese teapot or the latest trends in J-pop fashion.
Indagare Tours: Sumo Wrestling
If you are traveling to Japan during sumo season (dates vary), don’t miss seeing a match or a training session. This ancient sport is fascinating to watch, whether as a spectator at a tournament or at a sumo stable where wrestlers train. Tournament tickets sell out quickly and visiting a sumo stable requires insider access that can’t always be guaranteed. Contact Indagare's Bookings Team for assistance.
Kappabashi
A short walk from Asakusa, Kappabashi is the kitchen-ware district of Tokyo and a great shopping neighborhood for cooks. It’s where the city’s chefs shop, so there are great deals on ceramic plates and bowls, copper pots and pans, cutlery and even the plastic food that is used for display.
Koke-Dera (Saiho-ji Temple)
To get permission to enter this famous moss garden (koke-dera), you have to make a reservation several weeks in advance, making it somewhat challenging for visitors. But for anyone interested in Zen practice, it’s worth the extra effort. If you get shut out, visit nearby Jizo temple, which also has a lovely moss garden (no advance reservation is necessary here) and is located just a few minutes south of Koke-dera. The entrance fee to Koke-Dera is Yen 3,000 ($30). To arrive, take the train to Arashiyama Station, then a fifteen-minute taxi ride along the river to Saihoji.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
The palace complex is enclosed by a long wall and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. It can be visited only on guided tours held by the Imperial Household Agency. You need to apply for permission in advance with your passport or at the agency’s office in the Kyoto Imperial Park or online. The Imperial Palace is surrounded by a sprawling park, which has been likened to New York’s Central Park. These grounds can be accessed without a reservation and are a great place for strolling and biking.
Meiji Shrine
As at other shrines and temples in Tokyo, it is the tranquillity and orderliness here that captivate. Glorious woodland, said to comprise 120,000 trees, surrounds Meiji Shrine, which itself has exquisite gardens. The original 1920 shrine was destroyed by bombing in WWII, but the reconstruction is a grandly impressive piece of Shinto-style architecture. Try to visit on a Sunday if you can, as this is when most weddings happen.
Mori Art Museum
When Roppongi Hills, a sprawling property development opened in 2003, it received a lot of attention for its ambitious assembly of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and high-end shops. Art aficionados, however, were drawn to a serious little museum at the heart of the frilly extravaganza: the Mori Art Museum, located on the top floor of the centerpiece Mori Tower. Louise Bourgeois’ massive Maman spider looms in front of the entrance to the glass tower, where visitors are whisked to the top via high-speed elevators. The museum doesn’t have a permanent collection; rather, frequently changing exhibits focus on innovative contemporary art featuring established and emerging artists.
Nanzenji Temple
This temple was originally a retirement home for Emperor Kameyama (in 1264) but was later dedicated as a Zen temple. The present building dates from the 17th century. Nanzenji is now the headquarter of the Rinzai school and has been ranked as one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples.
You enter through San-mon gate, up the path to the famous karesansui (dry garden) The garden is called toranoko-watachi, which means “young tigers crossing the water” after the shape of the rocks. You can sit on a wooden porch overlooking the garden, which consists of empty space, white raked gravel, some large stones, bushes and the famous tiger stones. Don’t miss the wonderful paintings of tigers covering the sliding doors and enjoy a cup of matcha tea and some sweets. There are many small sub-temples, which are often ignored by the crowds but well-worth visiting.
Tip: The path up to Nanzenji leads past several small restaurants that serve Kyoto’s specialty: tofu-ryori, a type of boiled tofu. This is a chance to try it where it is freshest.
National Art Center
The National Art Center has exhibition spaces the size of aircraft hangers and a reputation for bringing in cutting edge art. With no permanent collection, the quality of the museum depends on the traveling exhibitions, but Tokyo has good taste.
Nezu Museum