English | Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel

Transportation in Kyoto. From a manager of hotel in Kyoto.

3月 3, 20203月 3, 2020Column、English

As you might know, public transportation of Japan is really complicated. Even for me, it’s hard to tell the best way to get destinations.

What is the best way to see around Kyoto?

It’s impossible to answer actually because it really depends on where are you going. Options are

JR
Walk
Subway
Bus
Taxi

JR doesn’t cover sightseeing spots in Kyoto.

If you have JR pass, you will try to use it as much as possible, but JR doesn’t cover sightseeing spots in Kyoto Unfortunately.

After arriving Kyoto station, the next chance to use JR pass can be when you take Shinkansen to Osaka.

*Red line is JR, Blue circles are major spots.

Walking

Kyoto is very beautiful and awesome place to walk especially around our hotel(Important!). On the other hand, Kyoto is geographically small and surrounded by historical things, walking is very reasonable option to move around.

If it’s just 2 – 3 stops by subway to the next destination, please try to walk. You’ll see something on the way.

Subway and Bus

This will be the main option in Kyoto. You can buy one day pass at stations, but please consider its price and your plan. It’s not easy to conclude which is cheaper for you.

Taxi

Although I don’t know why, Kyoto’s taxi fee is slightly cheaper than other cities in Japan and as I told you already, Kyoto is small, taxi is very important to save your time especially if your group is 3-4 people.

Here’s an example.

Keage station to Sanjo Keihan. This is common route for our guest to get downtown in Kyoto.

Subway ： 2 stops. 220 JPY each.
Taxi   : Around 600 JPY

If your group is 4 people, taxi is even cheaper than subway. It happens often when you are exploring Kyoto, please always check the possibility of taking taxi.

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Why it’s hard to choose Japanese Sake(Rice wine)??

2月 23, 20202月 23, 2020Column、English

Japanese Sake(Rice wine)

Sake is an important factor of Japanese food culture. it’s rice wine as you know, has hundreds year of history.

I strongly believe that Sake is the best choice to have with Japanese foods, especially Sushi or Sashimi, can be called “best marriage” like wine and western foods.

As I quote from Wine, Sake is often compared with wine. However, there is a big difference between Sake and Wine, and it makes much harder to choose Sake especially for foreigners.

Distilled alcohol makes it hard to choose right one.

Basically wine is made of 100% Grapes as far as I know, but Sake is not the same. I guess it’s because of business thing, there are some Sake that has distilled alcohol. Adding distilled alcohol has been found after the world war second, Japan was very poor and it was hard to use much rice to make Sake, producers started to add it to Sake.

It’s just in my opinion, but I get bad drunk when I have sake that contains distilled alcohol, and it doesn’t taste good. That’s why I want all of foreigners to try good Sake that is made from 100% rice.

How to tell??

How to tell ones without it from ones with it? It’s easy for Japanese people, every bottles show it on its bottle, but it’s written in Japanese alphabets….

One word “Jun mai”

Of course there is a way to get it for foreigners who don’t speak Japanese. When you buy a bottle of Sake at stores, just tell them “Junmaishu(純米酒)”. It’s “Pure rice” directly translated, you will get Sake bottle that doesn’t contain distilled alcohol.

I’ll introduce Sakes that I think it’s good enough to recommend to my guests on this blog, please stay tuned!!(it’ll be a perfect excuse to spend some money on Sake for me. haha.)

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Best breakfast place nearby, “Coffee clubTakagi-Ya”

2月 16, 20202月 16, 2020English、Restaurants

※↑this picture is just an image

One of the most frequently asked question,

「Where can I have a breakfast?」

We have very good place nearby!!

Coffee club Takagi-Ya

just 30 seconds walk from Kyoto Higashiyama with, there is an old cafe.

Surprisingly, I have had a guest who came over from Europe just to visit this cafe.

This morning set is just 500 JPY including coffee that will be made right in front of you by the siphon.

Toast (Western Japan's toasts are thick!)
Omelette
Potato salad
Mini salad
Fruits (2 kinds)
Coffee（Hot or Ice)/Tea

Opening hours
8:00～18:00

Thank you for stopping by!!

Kyoto Ramen tour #2 “Geon Shirakawa Ramen”

2月 15, 2020English、Restaurants

Recommended for the people who like;

Miso Ramen
Rich, strong taste

Not so many Ramen shops in Higashiyama area
Geon Shirakawa Ramen
Inspired by Hokkaido Ramen

Not so many Ramen shops in Higashiyama area

Although Kyoto is well known as Ramen place, but somehow, there are not so many Ramen shops in this area, Higashiyama. Of course we can see so many of them in Geon area that is included in Higashiyama. However, less shops between Higashiyama and Keage subway station.

It was a problem for me because I’m living in this area, but finally, this one is newly opened in May, 2019.

Their specialty, Miso ramen is still rare kind in Kyoto. I was so happy and went there, and it is so good.

Geon Shirakawa Ramen

Their menu is very simple. Miso ramen, Spicy Miso ramen, Soy source Ramen and some side menus. It tells us they are really focusing on the Miso ramen.

The soup is just awesome. Fried Miso gives it rich flavor, it’s perfect taste to be with beer. They have500 ml bottle of beer at 500 JPY, please try it together!

Inspired by Hokkaido Ramen

The owner chef of this shop has trained in popuar Ramen shop in Hokkaido that is another important place of Ramen culture. They are using the method of Hokkaido ramen and adding Kyoto flavor, it reminded me Ramen I had in Hokkaido actually.

Miso ramen is quite different from Miso soup, if you haven’t tried Miso ramen yet, this will be very good first experience for you!!

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Kyoto food tour. “Uri” one of the best!!

2月 14, 20209月 22, 2021English、Restaurants

「I’m in Kyoto!! Wanna have a real Kyoto food, where should i go!!??」

日本語の記事はコチラ

Recommended for the people who;

・ like Japanese Sake.
・ like very professional dishes.
・ have 5,000 JPY budget per person

Newly opened by the chef who was the head chef at poplar restaurant in Kyoto
All are great, but I like…
Awesome Japanese Sake as well

Newly opened by the chef who was the head chef at poplar restaurant in Kyoto

Today I introduce one of the most favorite one called “Uri”. There is another popular restaurant called “Nikomi Suzuya” that is well known by Kyoto people. The owner chef of “Uri” was the head chef of “Nikomi Suzuya”.

Honesty say, the quality is even higher than “Nikomi Suzuya” at same price range, this is sop impressive.

All are great, but I like…

All dishes are great, but I like fried and grilled stuffs. Depending on season,

Hamo Tempura
Eel Yawata maki
Fried octopus

Please show this article, then they serve you.

Hamo(conger eel) is a particular food of Kyoto, but it is very difficult to cook due to very small bones. If it’s cooked by bad chef, it’s even hard to eat it. So I usually don’t eat Hamo, but we don’t have to worry about anything here. Tastes do good.

This kind soup is also Kyoto particular, please try it:)

Awesome Japanese Sake as well

Very friendly female staff knows very well about Japanese Sake. You can just tell her what kind of taste do you like, then she will serve good one for you:)

Price

Prices are so good. usually It costs me around 5,000 JPY including beer and Sake. It’s so hard to find this quality at this price, you must try at least once!!

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Kyoto food tour. Obanzai “Aoi”, delicious and friendly!!

2月 12, 20209月 22, 2021English、Restaurants

日本語の記事はコチラ！

Recommended for people who

・want to try Kyoto style foods
・love Japanese Sake
・have budget around 5,000 JPY per person.

Caution! there are some bad places in Kyoto
You need to book!
My favorite dishes
You can enjoy very unique Sake

Caution! there are some bad places in Kyoto

Of course Kyoto is one of the most important place for Japanese food culture, it has so many awesome restaurants. However, there are some restaurants that are not very good aiming foreign tourists.

That’s why I’m introducing my favorite places on this blog not to wast your time and money:)

You need to book!!

This place called “Aoi” is really busy place, make sure to book before you come. If you are staying at Kyoto Higashiyama With that is managed by me, I will make it for you:)

Dishes are like sophisticated Kyoto Obanzai meal, it is so good. The owner shef “Toshii”, she is very friendly and nice lady, everybody loves this place and become a repeater.

Sitting at the counter, I always talk to other customer about Kyoto things.

My favorite dishes

Everything is so good, but I order this every time, called “Basil-Fu”. Following traditional way of Kyoto meal, but adding new flavor, that’s my favorite part:)

If you come here Autume or winter, you can have Mackerel Sushi that is very particular food in Kyoto. Sloppy restaurants serve Mackerel sushi in all season, but Aoi serves it only in the best season

If it’s out of the season, original Inari sushi is also recommended!

You can enjoy very unique Sake

Best drink with Japanese food is Japanese Sake in my opinion. You can enjoyvery good ones here.

Toshii san likes to visit Sake winery on her day off, and she brings only awesome ones to her own restaurant.

Enjoy!!

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Kyoto’s hidden sightseeing spots #1 Kon-Chi-In temple

2月 10, 20202月 20, 2020English、Spots、日本語

「Finally I will visit Kyoto, wanna enjoy its atmosphere in quiet circumstance. But i heard there are too many tourists, what can I do!!」

I tell you a good place.

Konchiin temple. Only local knows
On the way to Philosopher’s path, great location
You could have the temple all to yourself

Who am I?

・Manager/concierge of the hotel nearby.
・Camera lover shooting around Kyoto.

Konchiin temple. Only local knows

Too many sighseeing spots in Kyoto such as Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Arashiyama, Ryoanji…..But there are too many tourists recently

Top 3 crowded places are;

Kinkakuji temple
Kiymizudera temple
Fushimi Inari temple

Especially, the narrow path with red gates at Fushimi inari is like crowded train in Tokyo.

To enjoy visiting those places,

Wake up early.

It’s the only way. You can enjoy it in quiet circumstance before 8 am.

I know places that are quiet all the time.

After visiting major places in early morning, you still have much time, but you maybe too tired to visit other crowded place. I recommend you to come this temple, “Kon-Chi-In” that is situated in eastern Kyoto.

Not huge one, but it has beautiful Japanese garden and small shrine in it. You can take a walk and enjoy the Kyoto atmosphere.

I believe that just a few people know this place besides Kyoto people.

On the way to Philosopher’s path, great location

Kyoto is surrounded by sightseeing spots, this Higashiyama area has so many spots, “Konchiin” is located between Heian-Jingu shrine and Philosopher’s path.

Major walking route around here is Heian-Jingu – Nanzenji temple – Eikando temple – Philosoper’s path – Silver shrine(This is my favorite route). So, you can just stop at Konchiin shen you walk around this area:)

Just before Nanzenji, make a right turn. This gate is already impressive isn’t it?

You could have the temple all to yourself

I really like this place, garden and atmosphere, but this is really hidden place, it can be all yours.

Actually, lat time I visited there on 25th July 2019, I was completely alone. That was perfect situation to enjoy the atomosphere of the temple and garden.

This is very rare situation in Kyoto nowadays.

Of course it depends on the season, I can’t guarantee, but it will be quiet at least, please visit here and hope you will enjoy the time there!!

Access：5 mins walk from Keage subway station.
Opening hours：8:30～17:00(Dec.~Feb.8:30～16:30)
Fee : 400 JPY

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about hidden places!!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

Coupon for “Smart Exchange”, get better rate!!

2月 7, 20202月 7, 2020Column、English

「Wow I didn’t know there are so many places they don’t take cards, how can I get cash!!」

Japan is a developing country when it comes to credit cards

In japan, especially in Kyoto, we still see so many shops, restaurants and places that they do not accept credit card.

Or maybe you have other foreign currency by traveling several countries.

This is the best way to exchange your cash to JPY!

You can find this machines all over Japan, It’s very easy to use.

This is special discount coupon only for people reading this article. Why I can do this? Simply because, one of my best friend is in charge of this business:)

Only 4 steps

1. Click here!
2. You will get coupon QR code.
3. You can find the map that shows you the closest one from your current location.
4. Machine reads QR code, you will get special rate!!

Have you booked hotel in Kyoto?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Thank you for stopping by!!

Kyoto Ramen tour #1 “Ichijoji Boogie”

2月 7, 20202月 13, 2020English、Restaurants

“This is the first time to come to Japan, I wanna try real Ramen!! But wait,,what’s the real ramen?”

I will tell you.

日本語の記事はコチラ

Ramen can not be categorized, described and even defined.
Ichijoji Boogie
Ramen or Tsukemen?

Recommended to the people who;

 - Has eaten Ramen in Japan once.
 - likes strong/rich taste.
 - likes pork stock soup

Not recommended to the people who;

 - likes plain tasting soup.

Ramen can not be categorized, described and even defined.

One of the most frequetnly asked question is

“What Ramen should I have in Kyoto?”

This is actually an impossible question to answer.. Ramen is far different from original Ramen in China, it has too many kinds of it to recommend just one for my guests.

For example, they use pork, chicken, beef or fish for soup stock. If it’s fish stock soup, it can be Bonito, Sardine, Snapper or others.

So, I will introduce Ramen shops I like, hope this helps you to find your favorite Ramen in Kyoto and Japan!

Ichijoji Boogie

Ichijoji is a name of place in Kyoto that is one of the most famous Ramen areas in Japan. If you like Ramen, you have to visit here.

This Ramen tastes very unique, I can’t describe how it’s like. Tastes rich, but not too heavy. If I leave Kyoto, this is the first Ramen to miss(^^)

Ichijoji Boogie

Tuesday to Friday：11:30~15:00, 18:00~24:00
Weekend and holidays : 11:30~24:30
Close on Monday

Ramen or Tsukemen?

Ramen is well known by foreigners, but how’s Tsukemen? It’s called Dipping noodle in English. It will be served separately noodle and soup.

This is also impossible question to answer which is good for you, but personally I try Ramen first when I come to the new shop.

Ichijoji Boogie has original Tsukemen and Hiroshima style Tsukemen that is very spicy but very tasty. I hope you have chances to come this shop 3 times to try all. haha.

Have you booked hotel?

If you still haven’t found a hotel in Kyoto, stay at Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel and let me tell you more about Ramen!!

Tomoki Hoshi, Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel, Manager

Thank you for stopping by!!

About Kyoto Higashiyama With Hotel

2月 6, 20202月 6, 2020Column、English

Hello! I’m Tomoki Hoshi, manager of Kyoto Higashiyama With

On this blog, I will introduce Kyoto’s hidden spots, places, and restaurants that are so hard to be found by foreigners:)

About Kyoto Higashiyama With

Surrounded by sight seeing spots
Messaging on your smart phone.
Spacious rooms, 25/35/65 square meters.
Free for Children sleep with parents.
Designed by an architect who has over 40 years career.

Surrounded by sight seeing spots。

この投稿をInstagramで見る

#Repost @tomoki_xzj_photo with @get_repost ・・・ Today’s Eikando temple. #japan #kyoto #kyotohotel #heianjingu #nanzenji #gion #geon #japanesefood #instagood #instafood #igjapan #igfood #kyototrip #japantrip #kyotolunch #kyotodinner #foodie #japanlover #sonya72#nikkorpc85mmf2 #mirrorlesscamera #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #写真撮ってる人と繋がりたい #photography #photographer #関西写真部#photooftheday#bokeh#永観堂

Kyoto Higashiyama With(@kyotowith2017)がシェアした投稿 – 2018年11月月23日午前12時50分PST

Kyoto Higashiyama With is situated in what Kyotoites call the “Kyoto of Kyotos”. Surrounded by temples and shrines, this is the best place to explore the real Kyoto.

Nanzenji, Eikando, Philosopher’s path, Silver pavilion, Heian shrine, Chion-in, Syouren-on, Maruyama park, Yasaka shrine, Geon area etc.etc. All are in walking distance.

When you look into a map, it looks far from downtowns such as Ponto-Cho Or Kiya-machi. But Kyoto city is a small town, you can get Ponto-cho in 15 mins walk actually.

Recently, Kyoto has so many tourists, but we know hidden spots where you can enjoy real Kyoto in quiet circumstance. It will be introduced on this blog, please stay tune!

Messaging on your smart phone.！

You can contact us through all of messaging apps that will be informed when you made a booking.

Every questions will be answered immediately even before you arrive!

Special discount 10% will be offered on LINE, please contact me through the QR code below;

If you don’t have LINE account, please send me Email and tell me “I read the blog!”

Spacious rooms, 25/35/65 square maters.

If you have stayed at hotels in Japan, you will be surprised when you come into out rooms. The smallest room is 25m2, this is much bigger than other same class hotels here. I have seen 11 m2 twin room!!

Free for Children sleep with parents.

It’s free for children who sleep together with children.

Generally, hotel charged people not room in Japan, family trip becomes very expensive. Our price system is room charge, additional charge from 3rd person is only 2,000 JPY per person and night, it is very good for family or group:)

Designed by an architect who has over 40 years career.

Kyoto Higashiyama With has been build in May, 2017, still very new. It is designed by an awesome architect who has designed over 25,000 houses in his over 40 years career.

Our guests love the design that mixed western and Japanese style, please enjoy your time in that modern space.

Book now！！

Thank you for stopping by!!