Iconic Kyoto Tower Bathhouse Closes Due To COVID-19

Situated across the street from the JR Kyoto Station is Kyoto Tower Hotel.

Above, Kyoto Tower Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A major part of the hotel is the public bathhouse, enjoyed by both travelers and locals for years.

It is closing forever, another casualty of the coronavirus.

SoraNews 24 reported:

This past year has been a tough one for businesses around the world, as the coronavirus pandemic put the brakes on international travel and halted regular operations, leaving many industries worse for wear.

One of the hardest hit has been the tourist industry, and in Japan tourist hotspots like Kyoto, which draws thousands of international visitors every year, has been feeling the strain, even setting up an “Empty” tourism campaign to lure local visitors to the region.

Unfortunately, the campaign hasn’t done enough to protect businesses in the area, and soon there’ll be a large public bathhouse-shaped hole in the heart of the city, with the announcement that Kyoto Tower bathhouse “Yuu” is set to close its doors forever. 

Yuu has long been loved by locals, guests staying at Kyoto Tower Hotel, located in the same complex, and bus travellers, who would use the baths to freshen up after long overnight bus trips arriving at Kyoto Station just across the road.

Godzilla fans should recognize Kyoto Tower. It was blasted by the "Big G" in Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto Tower Virtual Reality Bungee Jump

Above, Kyoto Tower. The new attraction is located
 in its observation deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

How would you like to bungee jump from the stage of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto? Well, from now to December 24 you can! 

Well, sort of.

Kyoto Tower (blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993) has opened the Kyoto Tower Virtual Reality Bungee Jump attraction. 

According to The Asahi Shimbun:

KYOTO--Kiyomizudera, one of the nation's most celebrated temples, is known for its wooden stage built off the main hall that offers panoramic views of the hillsides below.
While no one would advise anyone to contemplate the 13-meter leap from the stage, 

those wanting to experience the thrill of a steep jump can now do so at Kyoto Tower in complete safety, courtesy of virtual reality. 

Thrill seekers don VR goggles while seated in special chairs 34 meters above ground on the observation deck of the structure in the city’s Shimogyo Ward.

Above, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto Tower is located just across the street from the JR Kyoto Station (where Gamera and Irys had their final battle in Gamera 3).

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Plans Lodging Tax

Above, Kyoto Tower Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The city fathers of Kyoto, Japan are looking into implementing a lodging tax that would apply to all forms of lodging.

Japan Today reported:

KYOTO -- The city of Kyoto will propose collecting a minimum 200 yen per night tax on guests staying at hotels or other lodgings in the popular tourist area, municipal officials said Wednesday. 

If the city assembly approves the measure during a session that begins on Sept 21, all hotel guests -- including those staying at Airbnb-style minpaku home lodgings -- will start paying 200 to 1,000 yen per night in lodging tax, possibly from October next year. 

Lodging taxes are collected in Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture, but apply only to rooms priced at 10,000 yen or more per night. The proposed tax in Kyoto, which would apply to all forms of lodgings, would be the first of its kind in the country.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Plans To Tax Visitors

Above, Kyoto Tower Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are planning to visit and stay in Kyoto, Japan, you'd best visit before 2018 as a new accommodation tax is expected to be imposed.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

KYOTO--Officials of this hugely popular tourist destination plan to impose an accommodation tax on visitors using hotels and Japanese-style inns as early as April 2018, sources said May 10. 

A Kyoto city government committee has been discussing a new tax system since August 2016 to obtain a financial source to deal with the increasing number of tourists, including measures to alleviate congestion. 

Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa supports the committee’s proposal for the accommodation tax and plans to put it in place in the next fiscal year.

I visited Kyoto in 2015, but stayed in nearby Osaka and took commuter trains to and from the city.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto's 50 Overrated Tourist Spots

Above, Kyoto Tower made no. 1 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who wish to immerse themselves in Japanese history and culture, a visit to Kyoto is a must.

The are many places to see and visit in Kyoto, while most are very popular with foreign visitors, some have found them to be overrated. A survey commissioned by goo Ranking (interesting name, eh?) found 50 places in Kyoto to be overrated by those surveyed. I found it interesting that the JR Kyoto Station (featured in Gamera 3) is not on the list.

Before going into the rankings, What Japan Thinks wrote:

Kyoto city and the surrounding prefecture are full of historic spots worth a visit, but of course some places are going to be over-hyped. So, goo Ranking recently conducted a survey looking at Kyoto prefecture tourist spots that didn’t live up to expectations.

I would disagree on several of them being overrated, but then that's just me.

To see what they are, go here. 

Everything You Need To Know About Kyoto

Above, Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For a great change of pace from the hustle & bustle of Tokyo, a trip down to Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto is just the thing.

I have been in Kyoto twice and enjoyed it both times. I definitely recommend a visit.

The Telegraph (U.K.) has an article on everything you need to known about Kyoto.

It begins with;

A red-lipped, kimono-clad geisha vanishing around a corner. Riverside cherry trees bursting into cloudlike bloom. Zen gardens with raked sand and haiku-inspiring rock formations. There are perhaps few more evocative city names than “Kyoto”. While Tokyo is all high-speed trains, flashes of neon and skyscrapers, Kyoto moves to an altogether different rhythm. 

A calming antidote to the futuristic capital, Kyoto is synonymous with ancient temples, tea ceremony masters, traditional ryokan inns and centuries-old craftsmanship.

For monster fans, an additional reason to visit Kyoto is to see places featured in the movies. Kyoto Tower was blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1984) and Kiyomizu-dera was featured briefly in the same movie. In Gamera 3 (1999), JR Kyoto Station was the battleground of Gamera and Irys.

Above, the cavernous interior of the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto Landmark Offering "Stunning" New Service

Above, Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Kyoto landmark, one that is familiar to hardcore Godzilla fans, is offering a "stunning new service."

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —For a fee, visitors to Kyoto will have the chance to illuminate one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks with a color (or two) of their choice. 

The new service, which started in September, offers the romantically-inclined the chance to surprise unsuspecting companions with a breath-taking, LED light display that bathes Kyoto‘s famous landmark tower in a color their choosing for half an hour. 

Visitors to Kyoto, arguably Japan’s premiere cultural destination, will quickly notice the tower upon leaving the city’s central train station. The landmark was first built in 1964 to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics, and the retro-futuristic monument looks like something out of an old Osamu Tezuka comic — though many are quick to remark that it seems a bit out of place in a town better known for its ancient temples and gorgeous natural scenery.

Kyoto Tower was featured, and blasted by Godzilla, in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993). Kaiju-related landmarks, including Kyoto Tower, are noted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 43.

To read more, go here.

Brexit: Japanese Travel Companies In Wait-And-See Mode

Above, Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Brexit matter has thrown a lot of things in flux. Nobody knows what's going to happen economically, socially or even with travel.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported that travel companies are taking a wait-and-see stance for now.

They wrote:

Travel companies in Japan remain uncertain of how Britain’s departure from the European Union will impact them. 

Unlike Germany, France and some other nations, Britain has not signed the Schengen Agreement, which allows people to move freely within the member countries without the use of a passport. Thus, the passport requirement for traveling from or to Schengen member countries will remain unchanged. 

“There will be no newly imposed restrictions on free movement in the wake of the latest development. So I doubt the number of [Japanese] tourists [to Europe] will drop,” said Toshiro Yajima, the head of public relations at the Japan Association of Travel Agents. 

But Yajima said that if Japanese companies withdraw from London and other parts of Britain, demand for business trips might decrease.

Meanwhile, this shouldn't affect tourism to Japan as they aren't a part of the turmoil in Europe. But, the dollar did take a big hit against the yen in Tokyo trading Friday in Brexit's aftermath, plummeting briefly below ¥100. It is currently at ¥102.

To read more, go here. 

Familiar Kyoto Places Revisited

Above, Kinkaku-ji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent visiting some of familiar places. What I mean by "familiar" is that I visited them previously with G-TOUR 2004, but wanted Denise to see them.

The first, and one of my all-time favorites, was Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto.

The other, another favorite, was Kiyomizu-dera, also in Kyoto. It was menaced by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993).

Above, Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, following the tour (by bus), we headed back to the JR Kyoto Station, the scene of the epic battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999).

Above, the JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Across the street from JR Kyoto Station is the Kyoto Tower Hotel. The tower is the tallest structure in Kyoto. It was blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

Above, the Kyoto Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the exception of Kinkaku-ji, the above places are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

June 3 Blog Post Pick-ups

The fine folks at The Japan Daily have picked up three blog posts for sharing with their readers.

They are:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Tourist Information Center Opens At Kyoto Tower

Above, a view of Kyoto Tower in the distance from Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When traveling overseas, tourists can never get enough information to make their vacations run more smoothly. So, whenever a new service or facility opens with that in mind, it is welcome news.

Such is the case for visitors to Kyoto as a new tourist information center has just opened at Kyoto Tower (just across the street from the massive JR Kyoto Station (featured in Gamera 3)). As many kaiju fans are aware, Kyoto Tower was blasted by Godzilla in 1983's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

According to PR Newswire:

KYOTO, Japan, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- JTB Western Japan, Corp. and Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd. jointly opened Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto (KTIC Kyoto) on June 1, on the third floor of Kyoto Tower. KTIC Kyoto will cater exclusively to overseas visitors to Japan. 

http://www.tic-kansai.jp/ja/kyoto/  

JTB Western Japan has been expanding a network of tourist information centers for inbound tourists in the Kansai region and KTIC Kyoto will be the third of its kind after previous openings at Shinsaibashi in Osaka and Kansai International Airport. 

The widely diversified Keihan group based in Kyoto is pouring resources into "tourism creation" and aiming to attract more overseas visitors through the establishment of KTIC Kyoto at Kyoto Tower, one of its group companies. 

JR Kyoto Station is the gateway for visitors to Kyoto, one of the world's most popular sightseeing destinations, and is expected to attract many more overseas visitors in the future. Kyoto Tower is a landmark located at the north entrance of JR Kyoto Station.

To read more, go here.

Hostel Rocket: How To Visit Kyoto On A Budget

Above, JR Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everybody likes to save money, right?

If you are one of those who are thrifty in their demeanor, here's a blog post that will get you to the ancient city of Kyoto on a budget.

The blog, Hostel Rocket has posted some tips on saving some cash on getting to and seeing the many attractions that Kyoto has to offer.

They begin with:

When most people think of Japan they think of breath taking temples, of elegant geisha and of stunning kimono; stereo-typically they think of Kyoto. Japan has some stunning sights to experience but it all comes at a price. In this guide I will help you to experience this ancient city without blowing your budget.

Above, Kyoto Tower from a video by Armand Vaquer.

For kaiju fans, there are some Kyoto locations/landmarks that were featured in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) and in Gamera 3 (1999) that you can visit, such as Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto Station and Kyoto Tower. These are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto Mayor Outlines Tourism Plans

Above, the massive Kyoto Station was the battleground for Gamera and Irys in 1999. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If there is one Japanese city a tourist ought to visit, it is definitely Kyoto. There are plenty of historical places to visit in Kyoto, such as shrines, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and other places.

The mayor of Kyoto has ambitions to boost Kyoto as a tourist destination.

According to InsideJapan News Network:

Known as the former capital - some locals still say the current capital - of Japan, Kyoto already attracts more than its fair share of international visitors. The city's stunning temples, exemplary Shinto shrines and traditional geisha district make for splendid exploration.

But for Daisaku Kadokawa, mayor of Kyoto, it's not enough. Even the city's inclusion in the popular US magazine Travel + Leisure annual Best City listings - where it became the first Japanese city to be included two years ago and has this year conquered the top ranking - has failed to impress him.

Instead of resting on his laurels, the mayor is instead concentrating on creating a more welcoming atmosphere for tourists, with more attractions and an easier environment for them to get around. 

Besides the usual places that draw foreign tourists, kaiju enthusiasts also have reasons to visit Kyoto. There are movie landmarks and locations in Kyoto they can explore:

• Kiyomizu-dera was featured in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993.
• Kyoto Station was featured in Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys in 1999.
• Kyoto Tower was featured (and blasted) in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993.

These places are spotlighted on page 43 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more of the mayor's plans for Kyoto tourism, go here.

The Japan Daily Picks Up 3 Blog Posts

Above, the Godzilla statue in Hibiya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest edition of The Japan Daily picked up three recent blog posts of mine.

They picked up the posts on the U.S. dollar's surge against the Japanese yen, how tacked on taxes and fees impact airfares and the one on Kyoto Tower (Godzilla got a mention in that one).

To view The Japan Daily, go here.

Visit Kyoto Tower

Above, Kyoto Tower in 2004. From a video by Armand Vaquer.

In 1993, Kyoto Tower, along with other buildings in Kyoto, Japan, was blasted to bits by Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

One Way Japan has a page of factoids on Kyoto Tower which includes:

Kyoto Tower ( 京都タワー Kyōto-tawā ) is an observation tower located in Kyoto, Japan. The steel tower is the tallest structure in Kyoto with its observation deck at 100 metres ( 328 ft ) and its spire at 131 metres ( 430 ft ). 

The 800-ton tower stands atop a 9-story building, which houses a 3-star hotel and several stores. The entire complex stands opposite Kyoto Station.

Above, the observation deck of Kyoto Tower. From a video by Armand Vaquer.

Of course, Kyoto Station is best known to kaiju fans as the final battleground between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3.

To read One Way Japan's write-up on Kyoto Tower, go here.

JapanVisitor's Kyoto Travel Guide

Above, Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most impressive cities in Japan is Kyoto.

I visited Kyoto in 2004 and found it a very beautiful city and rich in ancient Japanese culture. There are shrines and temples galore. Thankfully, Kyoto was spared from bombing attacks during World War II.

JapanVisitor has posted their Kyoto Travel Guide.

They begin it with:

Being the ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto is a paradise full of marvellous remnants of its former glory. Ancient temples, exquisite gardens and shrines are just a few of the many attractions that the city has to offer. What you will find in our Kyoto travel guide would be of immense value to the traveller who seeks to have a memorable time in fascinating Kyoto. Our Kyoto guide will offer you up to date and useful information on all that is relevant in the city of Kyoto.

Above, the JR Kyoto Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For kaiju fans, Kyoto was visited by both Godzilla and Gamera (but not at the same time).  Godzilla was the first in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993.  Gamera arrived in 1999 in Gamera 3.  Kyoto is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 43.

Godzilla threatened Kiyomizu-dera and blasted Kyoto Tower while Gamera battled against Irys inside of Kyoto Station.

Read more: http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/city-guide-kyoto#ixzz2YqJt1EFC