kyoto golden week

[karekora]

im going to kyoto for golden week. Ive been told its super crowded, super expensive and a super load of temples, after temple, after temple, after temple, after temple, after temple...

after temple....

As we are not really fans of temples, anyone know of anything else cool to see in the kyoto/kansai area? Probably gonna make daytrips to Nara, Osaka, Kobe (?) .

advice needed!

anything specail going on there for the golden week crowds?

[FG Lurker]

[quote="karekora"]im going to kyoto for golden week. Ive been told its super crowded, super expensive and a super load of temples, after temple, after temple, after temple, after temple, after temple...

after temple....

As we are not really fans of temples, anyone know of anything else cool to see in the kyoto/kansai area? Probably gonna make daytrips to Nara, Osaka, Kobe (?) .

advice needed! ]
Coming to Kyoto but not wanting to see temples is kind of like going to Tokyo Disney but not wanting to see Mickey. In both cases it's a bit odd, and in both cases you're probably going to end up seeing them if you want to or not.

I've never been during Golden Week so I can't really say how crowded it will be. I would imagine it will be quite busy though, the same as every other popular spot in Japan. Try to hit Kyomizudera and Ginkakuji if you can -- well, those are my two favorites of the "main attractions".

If you have an interest in castles then you might want to take a day trip to Himeji. You can get their by train from Kyoto very easily, either by JR Shinkaisoku (1 hour 40 minutes and 2210yen) or Shinkansen (about an hour and 5130yen). It's a good example of a reasonably-original large Japanese castle. You can rent bikes near the station if you don't want to walk all over.

Nara will be like Kyoto but with a bit of different flavour.

In general what would you like to see?