Kyoto is not the only town with old buildings in Japan, there are many other places in Japan with old buildings.
Here is a list of the old towns which I have visited in Japan, just to share.
This samurai district is located just north of Hirosaki castle.
The samurai who served the Tsugaru clan in the 1600s, lived in this district near the castle grounds.
These days, a small section of the samurai district remains preserved.
To reach reach Hirosaki:
(by train)
(by train)
Tokyo to Shin-Aomori via Shinkansen (about 3 to 4hrs, 17350yen)
Shin-Aomori to Hirosaki via JR Ou Line (40mins, 580yen)
From Hirosaki station, take the Loop bus.
From Hirosaki station, take the Loop bus.
Warehouse district in Kawagoe (Saitama, Kanto)
(my blog entry)
http://koedo.or.jp/foreign/english/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6501.html
The warehouse district of Kawagoe is also known as "Little Edo", since the preserved buildings were of the Edo period (1603-1867).
There is a small candy alley where shops sells traditional Japanese candies and sweets.
Since Kawagoe is near Tokyo, therefore this is a nice place to visit if you happen to be at Tokyo.
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| Candy alley |
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| Traditional sweets. |
(By train)
(From Tokyo) From Ikebukuro station at Tokyo, take the Tobu Tojo line to Kawagoe station (30-45mins, 470yen)
Or, you could go to JR Shinjuku station at Tokyo and take the JR Saikyo line to Kawagoe station (55mins, 760yen).
From Kawagoe station, take a short bus ride to reach Warehouse district.
(more info on buses: http://koedo.or.jp/foreign/english/bus/)
Nakamachi in Matsumoto (Nagano, Chubu)
(my blog entry)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6052.html
http://welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/modules/xpressme/?p=1165
This is a small street near Matsumoto castle with some preserved old buildings.
If you are visiting Matsumoto castle, you can easily pop by this street nearby.
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| Nakamachi. |
(By train)
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo's JR Shinjuku station, take the Ltd Exp Azusa (or Super Azusa) to Matsumoto station. (about 3hrs journey, 6900yen for reserved seat)
(From Nagano) From Nagano station, take JR Shinonoi Line local train (95mins, 1140yen) or Ltd Exp Shinano train (50mins, 2840yen) to Matsumoto station.
(From Nagoya) From JR Nagoya station, take Ltd Exp Shinano train (2hrs, 6030yen) to Matsumoto station.
Nakamachi is about 20mins walk from Matsumoto station.
Narai (Nagano, Chubu)
(my blog entry)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6080.html
Narai is 1 of the post towns in Kiso Valley during the Edo period.
Other than Narai, there are also other post towns at Kiso Valley, like Tsumago and Magome.
However, since Narai is nearer to Matsumoto than Tsumago/Magome, which is why we chose Narai out of those 3 post towns of Kiso Valley.
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| Narai |
(by train)
(From Tokyo) From JR Shinjuku station in Tokyo, take the Ltd Exp Azusa (or Super Azusa) train to Shiojiri station (about 170mins journey, 6900yen)
Then at Shiojiri station, transfer to the JR Chuo line* local train (about 25mins journey, 410yen)
*the local trains along JR Chuo line are infrequent, with only about 1 train departure every hourly.
This old street at Narai is located just next to the Narai train station.
Old town at Takayama (Gifu, Chubu)
(my blog entries)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5903.html
http://www.hida.jp/english/
The many buildings at Takayama's old town area dated back to the Edo period have been preserved and are now converted into homes, shops and cafes.
To reach Takayama:
The old town area at Takayama is about 15mins walk away from Takayama station.
(by train)
(From Osaka) From Shin-Osaka station, take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya station (about 1hr journey, 6350yen).
Then at Nagoya station, transfer to the Ltd Exp Wide View Hida train to Takayama (about 2hrs journey, 6030yen)
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo station, take the Shinkansen to Nagoya station (about 2hrs journey, 10880yen)
Then at Nagoya station, transfer to the Ltd Exp Wide View Hida train to Takayama (about 2hrs journey, 6030yen)
(By bus)
The bus terminal at Takayama is located just next to Takayama train station.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/index.html
http://highway-buses.jp/takayama/
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Kyoto/Osaka) From Kyoto, take bus to Takayama. (4200yen for 1 way from Kyoto, 4700yen for 1 way from Osaka)
(From Tokyo) From Shinjuku in Tokyo, take bus to Takayama (6690yen for 1 way)
(From Nagoya) From Nagoya, take bus to Takayama (2980yen for 1 way)
(From Matsumoto) From Matsumoto, take bus to Takayama (3190yen for 1 way)
(From Kanazawa-via Shirakawago) From Kanazawa, take bus to Takayama (3390yen for 1 way)
Shirakawa-go (Gifu, Chubu)
(my blog entries)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5951.html
Shirakawa-go was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and the buildings in this region is know for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses.
Visitors who visits Shirakawa-go usually pairs up their visit to Shirakawa-go with either Kanazawa or Takayama, since to reach Shirakawa-go, you would have to take a bus from either Kanazawa or Takayama.
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| Ogimachi village in Shirakawa-go |
To reach Shirakawa-go:
(by train+bus)(From Osaka) From Shin-Osaka station, take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya station (about 1hr journey, 6350yen).
Then at Nagoya station, transfer to the Ltd Exp Wide View Hida train to Takayama (about 2hrs journey, 6030yen)
From Takayama, go to the bus terminal located next to Takayama station and take a bus to reach Shirakawa-go. (50mins, 2470yen for 1 way or 4420yen for round trip)
There is no toilet onboard this bus.
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo station, take the Shinkansen to Nagoya station (about 2hrs journey, 10880yen)
Then at Nagoya station, transfer to the Ltd Exp Wide View Hida train to Takayama (about 2hrs journey, 6030yen)
6030yen)
From Takayama, go to the bus terminal located next to Takayama station and take a bus to reach Shirakawa-go. (50mins, 2470yen for 1 way or 4420yen for round trip)
There is no toilet onboard this bus.
(By bus)
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/index.html
(From Kyoto/Osaka to Takayama) From Kyoto, take bus to Takayama. (4200yen for 1 way from Kyoto, 4700yen for 1 way from Osaka)
(From Tokyo to Takayama) From Shinjuku in Tokyo, take bus to Takayama (6690yen for 1 way)
(From Nagoya to Takayama) From Nagoya, take bus to Takayama (2980yen for 1 way)
(From Matsumoto to Takayama) From Matsumoto, take bus to Takayama (3190yen for 1 way)
(From Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go) From Kanazawa, take bus to Shirakawa-go (1850yen for 1 way)
(From Takayama to Shirakawa-go) From Takayama, take bus to Shirakawa-go (2470yen for 1 way, 4420yen for return trip)
Higashi Chaya district in Kanazawa (Ishikawa, Chubu)
(my blog entry)
http://www.kanazawa-tourism.com/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4206.html
There are 3 Edo-period Chaya (teahouse) districts in Kanazawa. Higashi Chaya district is the largest of the 3 in Kanazawa.
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| Higashi Chaya District |
Higashi Chaya district can be reached via the Loop bus from Kanazawa station.
(By train)
(From Osaka) From Osaka station, take the Ltd Exp Thunderbird train to Kanazawa station. (150-180mins journey, 7650yen)
(From Kyoto) From Kyoto station, take the Ltd Exp Thunderbird train to Kanazawa station. (120-140mins journey, 6900yen)
(By bus)
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Tokyo) From Shinjuku in Tokyo, take overnight bus to Kanazawa (about 5000yen)
Nagamachi Samurai district at Kanazawa (Ishikawa, Chubu)
(my blog entry)
http://www.kanazawa-tourism.com/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4204.html
Nagamachi is a samurai district with narrow lanes located near Kanazawa castle.
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| Nagamachi |
Nagamachi samurai district can be reached via the Loop bus from Kanazawa station.
(By train)
(From Osaka) From Osaka station, take the Ltd Exp Thunderbird train to Kanazawa station. (150-180mins journey, 7650yen)
(From Kyoto) From Kyoto station, take the Ltd Exp Thunderbird train to Kanazawa station. (120-140mins journey, 6900yen)
(By bus)
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Tokyo) From Shinjuku in Tokyo, take overnight bus to Kanazawa (about 5000yen)
Higashiyama district in Kyoto (Kyoto, Kansai)
(my blog entry)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3959.html
Higashiyama district is actually pretty near Kiyomizudera. I usually stroll through Higashiyama district after a visit to Kiyomizudera and head for Gion. This is 1 of my favourite old streets.
There are many shops, cafes and restaurants along the streets of Higashiyama district.
To reach Kyoto:
From Kyoto station, take bus number 100 or 206 in the direction of Kiyomizudera and Higashiyama district can be accessed from a few bus stops between Gojozaka and Gion (about 15mins bus journey, 230yen)
(By train)
(From Osaka Kansai Airport) From Kansai Airport station, take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto station. (about 75mins journey, 3370yen)
(From Osaka) From JR Osaka station, take the JR Kyoto line Local or Rapid train to Kyoto station (30-50mins journey, 560yen)
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo station, take Shinkansen to Kyoto station. (about 3hrs journey, 13600yen)
(By bus)
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo, take bus to Kyoto
Gion district in Kyoto (Kyoto, Kansai)
(my blog entry)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html
Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district. There are shops, restaurants and teahouses here.
However, prices for a meal here will be expensive.
To reach Kyoto:
From Kyoto station, take bus number 100 or 206 to reach Gion (about 20mins bus journey, 230yen).
Alternatively, Gion area is located near Gion-Shijo subway station (Keihan line) or Kawaramachi subway station (Hankyu line).
(By train)
(From Osaka Kansai Airport) From Kansai Airport station, take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto station. (about 75mins journey, 3370yen)
(From Osaka) From JR Osaka station, take the JR Kyoto line Local or Rapid train to Kyoto station (30-50mins journey, 560yen)
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo station, take Shinkansen to Kyoto station. (about 3hrs journey, 13600yen)
(By bus)
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo, take bus to Kyoto
Oharaimachi in Ise (Mie, Kansai)
(my blog entries)
http://www.ise-kanko.jp/oise/oharai.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4302.html
Oharaimachi is another of my favourite old street in Japan. There are many shops along Oharaimachi selling souvenirs and there's also a much newer area (Okage Yokocho) just next to Oharaimachi with more shops.
I enjoy having a lunch of Ise Udon (specialty of this area) whenever I visit Oharaimachi.
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| Oharaimachi is usually crowded with people visiting nearby Ise Inner Shrine. |
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| Ise Udon. |
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| A Family Mart (convenience store) along Oharaimachi |
http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/useful/ticket/rpw1-3.html
Either take a bus ride (about 20mins) from Ise-shi station, or walk (about 30mins) or take cab (10mins, about 1000yen) from Isuzugawa station. There is no tourist info counter at Isuzugawa station though.
(From Osaka) From Tsuruhashi (Kintetsu) station, take Kintetsu Ltd Exp train to Ise-shi station or Isuzugawa station. (about 110mins, 3130yen)
(From Nagoya) From KintetsuNagoya station, take Kintetsu Ltd Exp train to Ise-shi station or Isuzugawa station (about 90mins, 2780yen)
(From Nagoya) From Nagoya station, take JR Rapid Mie train to Ise-shi station. (90mins, 2520yen)
Canal area at Kurashiki (Okayama, Chugoku)
(my blog entry)
http://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/for/en/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5751.html
Many of the former storehouses in this Edo period (1603-1867) preserved canal area have now been converted into museums, shops, and cafes.
To reach Kurashiki
The canal district can be reached by a 15mins walk from Kurashiki station.
(By train)
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo station to Okayama station via Shinkansen (about 4 hours journey, 16820yen).
Then at Okayama station, transfer to JR Sanyo line train to reach Kurashiki station (16mins, 320yen).
(From Osaka) From Shin-Osaka station, take Shinkansen to Okayama station (1hr journey, 6020yen).
Then at Okayama station, transfer to JR Sanyo line train to reach Kurashiki station (16mins, 320yen).
(By bus + train)
http://willerexpress.com/en/
(From Tokyo) From Tokyo, take bus to Okayama, and then take JR Sanyo line train to reach Kurashiki station.
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