Kobe's harbor area is kind of overrated, but I enjoy visiting the china town. In kyoto I was probably happiest with Kinkakuji (the golden temple) and most disappointed with the rock garden (cant remember the name.) Also I haven't been, but Arashiyama sounds very good to me.

I would actually recommend Nara or Osaka over Kobe, either of the two have much more and better tourist attractions I think. I love hanging out with the deer in nara park, and Osaka has an instant ramen museum which I take everyone who visits me to.

Food is a bit hard to give suggestions on without knowing specifics of where you are going. Don't want to send you far out of your way just to eat. Finding good restaurants probably wont be a problem though. I rarely have a bad meal in Japan.

I second Arashiyama. Especially the monkey park. I think you can skip a lot of the temples in kyoto, you'll just exhaust yourself trying to see them all. Actually i pretty much agree with Tzadeck, Kiyomizudara and Fushimi Inari are probably the best.
Also second Miyajima. I've been there too many times to count. You can take a boat from Peace Park.

syntoad wrote:

and Osaka has an instant ramen museum which I take everyone who visits me to.

You go there? I must admit my twist on the standard noodles was better, but I wouldn't say it was must see.

Obviously if you go to Osaka you have  Osaka-Jo,  Nara has the park, Kyoto has Kiyomizudera and Kinkakuji.    Depends what you're looking to do.  Lots of shopping places in Osaka, I did like hanging around in Namba a lot, but unless you're going for something specific I don't know if its worth visiting by itself.

Last edited by Gingerninja (2012 March 24, 11:46 am)

I second Himeji. When my family came out to visit, we spent several days in Kyoto and a a day in Himeji. They liked Himeji better.

Everywhere you go in Kyoto (in regards to temples, gardens, and such) you are pretty much restricted to the roped in pathways with the mass crowds of other people shuffling along the designated path, stopping at each signpost that tells you "this is a good spot to take a photo". And you can see all the wonderful architecture... from 100 yards away, which is as close as the roped-in path lets you get. Okay, a bit exaggerated, but it illustrates the point.

Himeji's main draw is the castle. But once you've paid your admission ticket, you can wander nearly everywhere on the castle grounds, including a long route through the castle walls themselves, and climb the main tower (I haven't checked if that's available right now- I seem to recall it was closed for refurbishment a couple years ago, I don't remember when it is scheduled to re-open, but that info shouldn't be too hard to find). Himeji is also not as crowded. I'd also recommend Engyoji Temple on Mt. Showa, just outside of Himeji. It's a temple complex spread out over the top of the mountain with some great views and scenery. Parts of The Last Samurai were filmed there due to the buildings' "classic Japanese" aesthetic.

Himeji castle is still under construction. The outside is covered completely with scaffolding, but the inside is still partially open. Can't wait to see it finished though. Osaka Castle is nice to look at from the outside, but the inside is just a big museum. Himeji is actually the real deal.

I guess I am more the kind of tourist that likes to do rather than see. I think unless there is something really special about a temple or shrine, they all pretty much look the same.

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions so far! Anyway, it turns out that we're going to Osaka for sure and, besides Kyoto (where our hotel is), we haven't decided whether we'll visit the other cities. Today, my gf told me she specifically wants to go to Osaka for dining, and お好み焼き in particular. I'm sure there must at least one okonomiyaki fanatic here who can help us out.

Also, I'd love to know any good places for afternoon 玉露茶 (in Kyoto, extra points for good 羊羹) or any romantic/intimate 居酒屋 (in Kyoto or Osaka, extra points for traditional elegance).

Some additional background:
We're mostly interested in visiting traditional places (e.g. structures, gardens, etc.), walking amidst cinematic backgrounds (e.g. 竹林の道・哲学の道), and dining at traditional restaurants (regardless of whether they're upscale or holes-in-the-wall). We're also thinking about shopping for spring 洋服.

I really enjoyed Okochisanso Villa in Arashiyama if you are out that way.  Lovely stroll garden, views over Kyoto, and afternoon tea in a teahouse at the end.  Also the bamboo grove, despite the throng.

If the cost isn't too prohibitive, I'd suggest trying a kaiseki meal while you're in Kyoto.  There are some, well, less expensive choices available.  I sprang for one kaiseki meal, and liked it a lot.

I  was also going to suggest kaiseki if you can manage it.  Lunch is often less expensive than dinner. Some of the famous places have little branch restaurants in hotels and stations which might be less expensive, too. I would also recommend trying modern kaiseki. Creative. Elegant. Delicious.

This site lists a few to give you some idea of range:     http://www.bento.com/kansai/kc-kyoryori. Some of the onsen/ryokan offer amazing meals as well which can end up costing less than dining out separately.

Unfortunately, I don't remember place names, but I can give you a few ideas to consider if you're looking for meals that probably aren't easy to find in the States:[edit:  I didn't realize that you are (living?) in Sendai.]

* Buddhist temple vegetarian - 精進料理 .  If you're in Arashiyama, there's Shigetsu at Tenryuji Temple. I've eaten at a few temples in the hills around Kyoto and Nara. It was served on individual trays in serene traditional tatami rooms overlooking gardens.  It was never busy when we were there.

* Noisy little shops (often located underneath the tracks in Tokyo) for delicious kushi yaki or oden. Often inexpensive and a lot of fun. I miss these.

* A restaurant specializing in tofu. The meal usually includes sashimi and other things, but the variety of tofu dishes and the presentation are incredible. You wouldn't know it's tofu - in case that scares you. A simple meal of 湯豆腐 would also be nice. (I've yet to find tofu as good in any city I've lived since.)

* Old fashioned izakayas known for sake and traditional snacks (dried squid, etc). If you're interested, I started a thread on sake with a couple of links to sake sites which might list some. Some of them are totally unremarkable shops in ordinary neighborhoods (ie not romantic), but they offer a number of hard-to-find sakes. The owners were often surprised to see us, but welcomed us warmly.

*This might only be available in summer, but we used to go for lunch on small bridges/platforms extending over a small tree lined river (just north of Kyoto?) Sitting on those red mats with the water rushing underneath was a lovely setting. (romantic?) Maybe Tzadeck will know what I'm talking about?

* If your girlfriend likes healthy/vegetarian food, there are some restaurants that aren't as expensive as kaiseki but take pride in offering exquisitely designed and presented meals. The pottery and textiles are handcrafted locally and the food ranges from traditional to innovative. (You will see brown rice, however, so be prepared. lol) 

* If you're both into food, it might be fun to visit some local food markets or take an afternoon cooking class. Some of the foodie websites have suggestions.   

Oh, lucky you...

Last edited by Thora (2012 March 27, 7:48 am)

I just arrived at Kyoto station this morning after a 12-hr long 夜行バス trip from Sendai! We went to Kiyomizudera first thing in the morning, arriving around 8:30am, and all for the better too. When we left around 10, the huge tour groups were starting to show up.

We ended up exploring the little shops around Kiyomizudera and we stumbled upon a 人力車 tour guide, and took a 1hr tour that ended at ねねの道. The tour was unforgettable, the guide knew EVERYTHING about Kyoto, and we even got two coupons for free わらび餅 at a nearby shop, which was delicious (and there was a beautiful garden too, which seems to be a common addition to restaurants here). The tour was a bit pricey (¥15,000 for both), but it was perfect in every way and undoubtedly the highlight of the day.

From there, we went to Ginkakuji, which had a lovely garden and not much else. Since 哲学の道 is adjacent to Ginkakuji, we decided to check it out. Of course, I nerded out and posed like Rodin's "Thinker" next to the stone engraved with the path's name. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms have yet to bloom, so the path was quite plain. However, there were lots of interesting sights along the path, especially one part of the path that a bunch of friendly cats hang around. There were people reading, drawing, and painting next to the cats basking in the sun, and of course some playing with them too.

Once we reached the end of the path, we ate at an okonomiyaki restaurant. It was there that I realized how different Kansai is from Tohoku. The owner was a really talkative おばさん who used very strong expressions. However, it was not until later on in an extremely crowded bus that I learned the true strength of the 関西ババ. Both my girlfriend and I were surprised, being used to the quiet and reserved Tohokujin.

Anyhow, I'll continue with the updates, and please continue
with the suggestions. In particular, the best times of day to visit certain locations.

Edit: we're about to go to dinner and we're looking for good 鯖寿司 near Kyoto station. This is probably too short notice, but it's worth a shot.

Last edited by vileru (2012 March 27, 5:57 am)

I'm already back in Sendai now. I already wrote about my first day in Kansai, so here's the rest:

Day 2: 嵐山
We ended up spending the entire day here! After crossing the main bridge, we saw a gelato place selling cherry-blossom-flavored gelato with bits of mochi inside (桜餅ジェラート). It was delicious.

From there, we went searching for Arashiyama's famous bamboo forest, but somehow wandered to a viewing platform at the summit of a trail we discovered via a stone staircase, which we found on the riverbank and then climbed.

After consulting someone who looked like a park ranger, we found out that the bamboo forest was further down the mountain. Anyway, the entrance to path through the forest was paradoxically imposing and tranquil at the same time. Surprisingly, even cars can drive through the path! At any rate, this was definitely the best sight at Arashiyama.

We ended our trip to Arashiyama with dessert at くろまる, a famous sweets store. My gf ordered the matcha parfait and I had a brown sugar taro and caramel parfait. Of course, the desserts were served with fresh matcha, which was the perfect way to end the day.

(Note: we also spent a lot of time simply admiring the scenery and looking arond the various stores)

Day 3: 大阪・神戸
In Osaka, we visited Osaka Castle (大阪城) and Dōtonbori (道頓堀) and, in Kobe, we visited Moto-machi (元町) and the harbor. The ume (梅) orchard at Osaka Castle and the exterior of the castle are definitely beautiful. However, the interior of the castle was less interesting, and most consisted of exhibits regarding the history of the castle. The interior has retained none of the original interior whatsoever. One thing that I thought was cool was that a bunch of Panasonic employees were enjoying the orchard (their office is nearby). It obviously looked like they were on lunch break, and it really shattered my image of the Japanese corporate slave eating lunch at the corporate cafeteria and then immediately returning to work. I also saw an Indian Panasonic employee speaking in Japanese to his Japanese colleague. Somehow that scene deeply inspired me.

When I arrived at the station near Dōtonbori, I immediately felt that the area captures the stereotypical Osaka character. It was a little overwhelming being surrounded by a rushing crowd dressed in flashy colors and speaking in loud Osaka-ben. When we exited the station, despite being just a few meters away from the main walkway, we were surrounded by hostess clubs, image clubs, etc. Osaka is very different from Sendai. Anyhow, we were looking for good okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) and takoyaki (たこ焼き) and noticed a long line, so we impulsively joined the queue. Coincidentally, I was looking in the Japanese yahoo answers (知恵袋) for good places and I noticed almost everyone recommending a place called 美津の (みずの). I looked up, and the sign read「美津の」which was a great stroke of luck. Best okonomiyaki I've had. We next ate takoyaki at 十八番 (じゅうはちばん). It was good, but not out-of-this-world delicious. I left thinking that Osaka is a great place to visit for food or entertainment, but I'd never want to live there.

We reached Kobe about two hours before sunset. I'm still in awe at the beauty of the city. I have no clue why a few people in this thread claim there's not much in Kobe. Besides being beautiful, the shopping, dining, and sights were incredible.

Anyway, we exited at moto-machi station, and starting walking down moto-machi, which I would walk through even if I had no plans to shop (just Google pics of the place!). We bought "Kobe magic jar pudding" (神戸魔法の壺プリン) at Frantz for dessert at our hotel. Best pudding ever.

We then went towards the harbor, which is an unbelievably beautiful area that is ideal for couples. We spent at least half an hour looking at Kobe Port Tower and the other nearby scenery. The sunset was unforgettable. After the sunset, we rode the ferris wheel in a completely see-through carriage (the seats, floor, etc. were all transparent). We had dinner at a restaurant called "Real Dining," and ate basil cheese fondue which was, to my surprise, even better than the fondue I had in Paris. The restaurant had a trendy/romantic atmosphere (low lights, candles, sofa-like seating, soul-influenced house music), but all of nearby restaurants looked delicious and had widely differing atmospheres (from traditional Japanese to Italian to French). For me, it was very difficult to pass up the restaurants offering Kobe beef. After dinner, we went to the port tower. The employees spoke in Kobe-ben, which sounds weird in a cute way. Anyhow, the ceiling of observation deck looks like a planetarium and the view is quite nice. Returning to the station, I couldn't help but walk backwards, staring at the tower. Although it's not especially tall, it's design and illumination is truly unforgettable. We left Kobe wishing we had spent more time there.

Day 4: 奈良
Deer! We took several portraits with the deer (yes, our faces next to faces of the deer). Tōdaiji temple (東大寺) is the biggest temple I've seen in my life, which says a lot since I've probably visited over 100 throughout various countries. Like Arashiyama, Nara has a lot of traditional scenery. The big difference is that Nara is in a much more natural setting. Many of the smaller temples are more or less in the middle of nature, separated from the rest of civilization. It's a great place to just wander around. The local specialty foods, 柿の葉寿司 (かきのはずし) and 釜飯 (かまめし), had fresh and poignant traditional flavors. However, the deer were the highlight.

Day 5 (the final day): 金閣寺・懐石料理
We rushed through kinkaku-ji in about 20 minutes so that we wouldn't be late to our reservation at かじ. It was raining hard, but kinkaku-ji was nevertheless enchanting. Fortunately, we ended up arriving 40 mins early, so we decided to kill time exploring a nearby castle (二条城). We rushed through the place, but the garden and 梅 orchard were notable. The highlight of the day, however, was definitely かじ. It was delicious from start to finish. I could not believe how cheap the meal was too. Although the atmosphere wasn't as elegant as other 懐石 restaurants at which I've eaten (beautiful gardens, servers in kimono, tables carved of cypress, etc.), I was 100% satisfied. Thank you for the recommendation, Tzadeck!

We returned to Kyoto station thereafter, took it easy for an hour or so, and ate ニシン蕎麦 before boarding the bus on the long way back to Sendai.

Last edited by vileru (2012 April 04, 7:28 am)

I bookmarked this thread a while back, but I'm finally going to the 関西 area, so I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions.

If anyone has any other suggestions, tips, MUST-SEEs, etc, I'd love to hear it!