There are no scheduled science programs on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18. This is a great opportunity for you to explore the beautiful city of Kyoto, find inspiration, and enjoy informal time with fellow participants. Note that the banquet will begin at 7:00 PM at Fumiya, located in the city center.
Self-Guided Small Group Tours
In Kyoto, group bus tours with a tour conductor are not ideal. Instead, the organizers suggest several activity options listed below.
You can sign up for the one you prefer upon arrival, or feel free to explore the city on your own. For each group activity, we aim to assign someone who speaks Japanese to help with directions, local communication, and navigating public transportation.
Note that June is the rainy season in Japan, so some of the activities can be affected by the weather.
- Hiking Mt. Kurama (northern suburb): from Kurama Station to Kibune Shrine. 2-3 hours.
Related information in Japanese https://kyoto-design.jp/plan/3257
in English https://www.travelynotes.com/blog-japan/kurama-to-kibune-hike-a-guide-to-kyotos-mystical-mountain-trail
- Exploring the Sagano/Arashiyama area (west).
Some information: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html
It takes about 1h from Kyoto University by public transportation.
- Fushimi Inari Taisha (south)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushimi_Inari-taisha
This is one of the photogenic places in Kyoto. You can do a 2-hour hike in Mt. Inari.
It takes about 40 minutes from Kyoto University by public transportation.
- Kinkaku and Ryoan-ji (north west)
Two famous temples are located in the same area. Kinkaku is the famous Golden Pavilion inside Rokuon-ji temple. Ryoan-ji is a Zen temple well-known for the stone garden. The two spots are 4 minutes distance by taxi.
- The Higashiyama area (center, east)
In this area, there are many tourist destinations including Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji, Chion-in, and Yasaka Jinja. If you extend your leg, Nanzen-ji is also a beautiful place to visit. It's easy to get there, so you can explore anytime.
(modified from https://www.asiaodysseytravel.com/japan/kyoto-tourist-map.html)
