Just came back .. was with SO ..heres some regular info-
1- download google translate and Japanese , it will get you thru 90% of what you need .
2- rail pass , unless you are doing multiple day trips it may or may not be worth it. Jr rail is like metro north / commuter line and not eligable for the local subway lines .
3- taxis really are expensive , theres a version of uber there but i didnt bother
4- DRESS FORMALLY- esp
Going out - sneaker s shorts etc are a no go!! Many times the group i was with got turned AWAY because of this !
Kyoto
Food - yelp is not reliable for reviews , many are outdated
try google or a local app
you can eat at Nobu for 150$ 5 course tasting , in nyc this would be 3-400$ . Hokusai is unsual they specialize in duck, a fixed price 7 course omakase w sake will run you @$60. Jam Sake bar offers tastings and good intro to sake . Hit an izakaya late nights for cheap beer and yakitori.
- skip bamboo forest its a total turist trap now as well as the day trip to Nara . Instead go to Fushimi Inari temple , get there NO LATER than 730- 8 am!! We had pics all to ourselves. Hike to the top of the mountain, then on google earth theres a back trail that will lead you away from the tourists. There you will find a bamboo forest and multiple shrines all to yourselves ! Wear good shoes and bring water .
Walk the philsophers trail towards late afternoon sunset. Beautiful local trail with canals thru a wealthy part of kyoto.
nightlife - i cant commment on this but i did see the following -
There was a young amercian guy who 3 nights in a row was in a different sake bar with a different very attractive girl every night. He had the same speech all 3 times.
My so and i stumbled into a bar and this smoke show saidnsorry members only. Glancing around i saw different liquor bottles with exorbitant prices , my SO asked what it was and i said you buy the bottle and the price is how much your companionship will be for the evening . have fun !
