Japan Interviews: Travel Advice & What to See in Osaka/Kyoto

Photo Credit: Christopher Chan on Flickr

Every once and a while we’re going to be bringing you some short interviews with people who either live in or who have traveled to Japan. You’ll learn through their experiences some great travel tips or things to do and see while in Japan.

Today we’re going to ask a few questions from our one-time Japanese teacher Asami who now lives in Osaka.

Let’s get to it!

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Where To Get Geisha/Maiko Pictures Taken in Kyoto

I love getting dressed up in period costumes and getting my picture taken. Through the years I’ve been a Cowboy, Civil War General, Canadian Mountie, Samurai, and plenty of other strange occupations. During my visit to Japan I wanted to make sure that there were plenty of opportunities for touristy dress up pictures.

The one thing I really wanted was traditional Geisha or Maiko pictures, but I was pretty sure the chances of me bumping into any real life Geisha walking the streets on Kyoto was pretty slim. So, with my wife’s permission, I booked a photo session with one of the top studios specializing in Geisha and Maiko pictures.

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Finding Long Term Accommodations in Osaka & Kyoto

Looking for short term accommodations in Japan is relatively easy with a wide variety of choices – from Japanese style inns (ryokans) to ultra modern business hotels – making booking short term stays a snap. But what if you are staying in Japan for longer, say a few months? Now things start to get a whole lot more difficult.

After doing some heavy research for a longer stay in Japan, here’s what I’ve found about booking accommodations for the Osaka and Kyoto area.

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Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) is to Kyoto what the Empire State building is to New York- a quintessential piece of architecture that defines the area. It is pretty rare to see a mention of Kyoto in a web site or magazine without at least one picture of this beautiful, gold-covered building.

But what is Kinkaku-ji and why was it built? And if you’re planning to visit, what camera gear should you take to get the best shots?

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