Kobe to Kyoto ship tour

[JoAnneV]

Has anyone taken a ship's tour from Kobe to Kyoto? The description of the tours on Celebrity's web site is really sparse. It only mentions two sights and lunch. Any insight into what you actually saw, what lunch was like, the quality of the guides, etc. would be great! Thank you.

[Pamf]

Has anyone taken a ship's tour from Kobe to Kyoto? The description of the tours on Celebrity's web site is really sparse. It only mentions two sights and lunch. Any insight into what you actually saw, what lunch was like, the quality of the guides, etc. would be great! Thank you.

 

At the port there is a monorail get on that and it will take you to The JR station then it's easy to get the JRtrain cost $8.00 to kyoto.

When you get to Kyoto buy an all day bus ticket and then just go to the golden palace the silver palace and nijo castle by then you will probably be tired come back to kobe on the train. We did it in September from the cruise ship the Diamond Princess and had a fabulous time.

[JoAnneV]

Thanks! We like doing things on our own, so your information is reassuring.

[Omega1]

It's very easy to visit Kyoto from Kobe on your own. As Pamf has said the monorail, called the Portliner, is right next to the terminal building. It goes to Sannomiya station which is the main Kobe station. The quickest train to Kyoto takes around 45 to 50 minutes and costs about 1050 yen, one way. Trains run every 10 to 15 mins. The bullet train takes about 25 mins and departs from Shin Kobe station, which is further out of town, and is about three times the cost for a reserved seat. When we were there two weeks ago, some people did the bullet train one way and return on the ordinary train.

When you exit Kyoto Station the bus station is in front of you. To your right (2 o'clock) is the bus information office. All day bus tickets are 500 yen pp. the staff in the info office are very helpful and speak English, they also give you a comprehensive bus route map which shows the main sights.

There are some excellent free walking route guides at http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-503.pdf. The bus stops marked on these maps link to the free bus route map. The buses all have screens which show the next stop in English. We can particularly recommend the Higashiyama walk through the Geisha district - absolutely fascinating.

Another highlight is the Golden Pavillion (Kinkaku-Ji temple, bus 101 from Kyoto station), don't miss it!

[Cornishpastyman1]

Thanks! We like doing things on our own, so your information is reassuring.

Hi JoAnne

 

A couple of year's ago I spent a week in Kyoto on a Japanese Gardens tour and made some videos in case it gives you some ideas. They can be found here (numbers 1-7)

 

All the best, Tony

[JoAnneV]

Thanks to everyone for their tips on Kyoto!

 

Jo Anne

[4774Papa]

We are on the Celebrity Millenium next Oct that stops in Kobe, but considering visiting Kyoto from Tokyo, pre-cruise, so we can see Kobe when the ship ports there.

 

Hotel prices in Kyoto don't seem to be expensive. I suppose there is a bullet train from Tokyo.

If we wanted to find a tour guide, any suggestions?

[no fuss travel]

We are on the Celebrity Millenium next Oct that stops in Kobe, but considering visiting Kyoto from Tokyo, pre-cruise, so we can see Kobe when the ship ports there.

 

Hotel prices in Kyoto don't seem to be expensive. I suppose there is a bullet train from Tokyo.

If we wanted to find a tour guide, any suggestions?

 

Yes, there is a bullet train from Tokyo. I just booked tours from the hotel once we arrived in Kyoto and wandered around on my own to see the city. Beautiful city.

[4774Papa]

At appears that if you plan to take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyioto that the best way to go is buying a Japan Rail Pass

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

 

29,110 yen for a seven day pass. That is about $250 US