During my two months in Kyoto, I stayed in the Fushimi District, which is very different from Downtown Kyoto in the Gion and Sanjo area, as well as around Kyoto Station. Fushimi is a lot more residential and suburban, so there are a few things I would like to touch upon to help you with your planning.

1) Make good usage of the 100 yen stores, like Daiso. Daiso will become your favorite store to visit as it is so affordable, and offers a wide variety of products ranging from dish-ware to snacks to gardening supplies and random gadgets. If you are planning a long stay in Fushimi or anywhere in Japan, you will most likely need some cutlery and dish-ware even if you are not planning to cook a lot. A mug or glass will also be very useful to have during your stay, and all of these items can be bought for ¥100 yen at Daiso or any 100 yen shop. Don't bring items and things that you will most likely be able to buy in Daiso! Things that you should buy instead of stationery and organizational items like foldable boxes or drawers, toothpaste and bodywash (you can buy them at drugstores), and too many pairs of socks (Daiso has a great selection!).

 

2) Make sure you leave enough empty space in your suitcase so that you will be able to bring back pieces of Japan with you after your trip. Double check that you will not overpack! If you need to sit on your suitcase or ask someone to help you close your suitcase, you have most likely packed too much.

3) Another tip on packing: don't pack too much clothing. You will most likely pack the most clothing of all things to fit into your suitcase, but I assure you, that you will not end up wearing the seven full outfits you have prepared enough times to justify packing all of the individual items of clothing. Pack light, and if you want, you can even do a bit of shopping while you're in Japan, so don't worry about bringing too few items of clothing! I made the mistake of packing too much clothing during my stay, and I didn't even wear all of the clothes I brought.

 

4) Try Japanese sake in Fushimi! Even if you find sake a little too strong for your taste, you may still want to sample some as Fushimi is very famous for its sake, and it would be a shame not to try the local sake! Visit one of the sake museums like Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum to sample sips of sake and read about Fushimi's history with sake and about the sake brewing process.

 

5) Use "Discount Ticket Vending Machines!" The ones I encountered were all for the Keihan Railway, which is perfect because in my opinion and in the general public's opinion, the Keihan Railway is the most convenient and affordable way to travel in Kyoto. These discount ticket machines are usually located near actual Keihan Railway stations, so keep an eye out for them! The average discount varies, with weekend tickets having the largest discounts. ¥10 or ¥30 yen may not seem like a big deal at first, but as you travel around Kyoto these transportation expenses add up, and in the end, every bit of yen counts! In Fushimi, there is a ticket vending machine right by Fushimi-Momoyama Station, so be sure to buy your ticket before you enter the station. Maybe you'll even want to advise some of the people buying tickets at the machines inside the station, so that they know the secret to saving money on tickets as well!


By Cordelia Ding