Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
IN HOT WATER
After a day spent marching from temple to temple, nothing feels better than a good hot bath. Kyoto is full of
sentō
(public baths), ranging from small neighbourhood baths with one or two tubs to massive complexes offer-
441-3735; Kita-ku, Murasakino, Minami-Funaoka-chō 82-1, Kuramaguchi-dōri; admission ¥390; 3pm-1am
Mon-Sat, 8am-1am Sun; 5min walk from Senbon-Kuramaguchi bus stop, bus 206 from Kyoto Station) is
one of the best in Kyoto and could even double as an evening's entertainment.
This old bath boasts outdoor bathing and a sauna, as well as some museum- quality woodcarvings in the
changing room (apparently carved during Japan's invasion of Manchuria). Bring your own bath supplies (soap,
shampoo, a towel to dry yourself and another small towel for washing); if you forget, though, you can buy toi-
letries and rent towels at the front desk. Washing buckets are available free inside the bathing area.
To find it, head west from Horikawa-dōri along Kuramaguchi-dōri. It's on the left, not far past the Lawson
convenience store. Look for the large rocks out the front.
| TEMPLE
RYŌAN-JI
OFFLINE MAP
(
龍安寺
; 463-2216; 13 Goryōnoshita machi, Ryōan-ji, Ukyō-ku; admission ¥500; 8am-5.30pm Mar-Nov,
8.30am-5pm Dec-Feb; bus 59 from Sanjō-Keihan to Ryōanji-mae stop)
You've probably seen a picture
of the rock garden here - it's one of the symbols of Kyoto and one of Japan's better-
known sights. There is no doubt that it's a mesmerising and attractive sight, but it's hard
to enjoy amid the mobs who come to check it off their 'must-see list'. An early-morning
visit on a weekday is probably your best hope of seeing the garden under contemplative
conditions. If you go when it's crowded, you'll find the less-famous garden around the
corner of the stone garden to be a nice escape.
| TEMPLE
This temple belongs to the Rinzai school and was founded in 1450. The main attraction
is the garden, an oblong of sand with an austere collection of 15 carefully placed rocks,
apparently adrift in a sea of sand, enclosed by an earthen wall. The designer, who remains
unknown to this day, provided no explanation.
