Once Japan’s Imperial capital, today Kyoto is a bustling modern Japanese city with a population of nearly 2 million. But underneath this industrialized façade Kyoto’s past is reflected in every corner of the city. The preserved Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and Meiji-era buildings are a stark reminder of the fires and wars it survived. The Onin War in 1467 that lasted ten years destroyed most of the city, taking more than 50 years for it to recover. Today travelers booking flights to Kyoto can look forward to exploring the surviving structures from the Heian Period including the Byodoin Temple in Uji and Shimo Daigo-ji Temple and the immaculate pebble Zen gardens that are dotted throughout the city.
Some of the best events in Japan take place in Kyoto, 500 of them to be precise. Nearly every month an elaborate matsuri (festival) is held on the streets of the city. And while most visitors are guaranteed a festival while they’re there, the best time to book a Kyoto flight is in July when Gion Matsuri, the most famous Japanese festival, takes place.
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With hot, humid summers in the south, and cold, bitter winters in the north, timing is everything in planning your flight to Kyoto.
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Peak Season: Booking your Kyoto flight during the summer months brings high temperatures and humidity, but sunny skies and easy access to the outdoors are plentiful.
Off-peak Season: Winter is a seasonal toss up. In the south, mild and cool conditions make for a pleasant visit, but further north in Hokkaido, the bitter cold is a less appealing time to travel to Kyoto.
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Taxis are available from the airport, but the journey takes around an hour and the fare is likely to be very high, so most passengers take the bus, train or high-speed ferry to Osaka. Minibuses go to the major hotels, departing from International Arrivals. The airport shuttle bus service connects to the ferry terminal for the ferry to Osaka.
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Lucky for western tourists booking flights to Kyoto, once you get there, all other transportation is written in English as well as Japanese. Subways, buses, and taxis are easily accessed methods of transit. Broken into two lines, the subway system intersects at Central Kyoto, and Karasuma Oike Station. The Karasuma Line runs north to south, and the new Tozai line runs from east to west. Buses are clearly marked by standing platforms and large maps . The longer you stay on, the higher the fare, and both single and day passes are available.
Taxis come in various sizes accommodating just a few or a group of people. Traveling by foot or my bike are also common, but tourists should be careful of erratic vehicular traffic.
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Nijo Castle: Built in 1603, this structure once housed Tokugawa leyasu, who was part of a 700-year ruling group called the shoguns. Filled with authentic Japanese art, surrounded by beautiful and delicate gardens, and accessible by train, this is an unquestionable addition to your Kyoto travel plans.
Kinkakuji: Another remarkable collection of Japanese art resides in Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. Its beauty makes the long Kyoto flight certainly worth the wait. This Zen temple was built in 1397, and once served as a home for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and many Buddha relics. Ornate with exquisite woodwork and surrounded by water and trees, the building was burned by a fanatic in 1950, and fortunately restored in 1955.
Souvenirs: For fashion, art, and traditional (but not tacky) souvenirs, weave your way over to the shops near Arashiyama train station. Fragrant incense and wooden votive tablets made in Zen temples are the perfect sentimental gift for yourself or someone else. For a more expensive (but sensational) memory of Kyoto travel, purchase an actual samurai sword. Just be careful to leave extra baggage room on your flight to Kyoto to ensure plenty of packing room for your new sword.
Nightlife: While sometimes solemn, nightlife here creates an opportunity for an elegant and inspiring experience. Read up on geishas during your flight to Kyoto. Although misconceived as prostitutes, geishas are actually women highly dedicated and trained in social grace, conversation, arts, tea, music, and dancing. If you’re in the mood for a more rowdy atmosphere, head to the west bank of the Kamo River, where bars, clubs, and restaurants are tightly packed and ready for business.
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The Kansai International Airport (KIX) rests on a human-made island 50 miles south of Osaka.
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Be sure to have a valid passport, travel documents, sufficient funds, and either a visa or a visitors pass before boarding your cheap flight to Kyoto.
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