Life in Kyoto

Kyoto Station, located in the southern area of Kyoto City, is a huge terminal where Shinkansen, highway buses, local buses, and various railroad systems converge. It is well-known for its modern open architectural design.
Offering department stores, hotels, theaters, and many other attractions, the station sees over 600,000 visitors per day. In close proximity are an aquarium, a large shopping mall, and the Nidec Kyoto Tower, which offers a panoramic view of Kyoto City.
If you are coming to Kyoto from the airports or another area of Japan, you will probably reach this station first. From Kyoto Station, you can get anywhere in Kyoto by subway, JR line, or bus.
For directions from Kyoto Station to KUAS, please see the Location page.

The Kiyomizu area stretches along a mountainside to the east area Kyoto City. This old town is home to many temples and shrines, the most famous being Kiyomizu Temple, one of Kyotoʼs many World Heritage sites. From its high wooden hall, visitors can catch a panoramic view of Kyoto City. Nearby is Kodaiji Temple with its beautiful autumn foliage and Yasaka Pagoda (Hokanji Temple), a legendary photo spot. In addition, the pottery industry has long flourished in Kiyomizu, and many stores sell traditional ceramics and other items created by craftsmen. Ceramic technology is used in modern electronics, and it is said that Kyoto’s high-tech industry developed from Kiyomizu’s pottery. Many traditional houses are located in this area, and visitors can enjoy the historical scenery that Kyoto has beautifully preserved over the years.

The Gion area is located on the east side of the Kamogawa River and is a staple sightseeing spot along with the Kiyomizu area. It is mainly known as an entertainment district where maiko and geiko perform, but the sublime historical heritage of Yasaka Shrine and Kenninji Temple are also notable aspects to experience. There is also a theater where you can watch classic kabuki performances and a museum where you can learn kanji, allowing you to experience Japanʼs multifaceted culture. The streets are lined with stores selling traditional Kyoto foods such as teas, sweets, and pickled vegetables. Gionʼs visitors can enjoy all of the cityʼs unique elements, making it one of the most stimulating areas in Kyoto.

“Shijo-Kawaramachi” refers to the intersection where Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Street meet. This area is constantly bustling with foot traffic due to its lengthy shopping streets, vast selection of department stores, and electronics stores that have an expansive stock of computers, games, cameras, and other outlets for entertainment. This area also offers karaoke, movie theaters, and stores selling anime and video game character merchandise, making it the perfect place to take a deep dive into Japanese pop culture. Walk a short distance off the main street, and you will find various restaurants, cafes, and food markets, where you can indulge in one of Japan’s greatest attractions, its food culture.
The area is conveniently located near the Kamogawa River, a legendary leisure spot for Kyoto residents. This river is a place for everybody, and stopping here to take a breather and enjoy the scenery is highly recommended.

Karasuma-Oike is located in the center of Kyoto City. It is convenient for commuting, being the transfer point for the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines. This area is a business district with many office buildings, hotels, and public facilities such as Kyoto City Hall, banks, and a large-scale post office.
Aside from being a place to handle business matters, Karasuma Oike is also home to the International Manga Museum, Japan’s first library dedicated to manga. Kyoto offers access to many cultural centers, both old and new.
Go just a little further north from Karasuma-Oike and you will arrive at Kyoto Imperial Palace, the former residence of Japanʼs emperors. The gardens and structures remain the same as they were centuries ago, and visitors can engulf themselves in previous eras when Kyoto was the capital.

Okazaki is another area that puts Kyotoʼs rich tradition on display and is located at the foot of Higashiyama (Mt. Higashi) on the east side of Kyoto City. It is home to famous temples and shrines such as Heian Shrine, Nanzenji Temple, and Eikando Hall, as well as many museums, concert halls, and a zoo. It is also known for its beautiful cherry blossoms that add a vibrant tint to the spring scenery. Okazaki is also home to the Kyoto International Community House, which provides information and services for international students and foreign residents.

The nearest station to Uzumasa Campus, Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station, is adjacent to the SANSA Ukyo building, which houses the Ukyo Ward Office, a library and a gymnasium.
Since Uzumasa Campus is located in Ukyo Ward, most students living in the area use the Ukyo Ward Office for resident registration, national health insurance and other administrative procedures. There is no need for concern, as the International Office staff will assist you with these tasks. Additionally, there is a supermarket across the street from the ward office.

About a 10-minute walk south of Uzumasa Campus lies a large intersection where Shijo Street and Kadonooji Street meet. Surrounding this area are shopping malls, affordable interior goods stores and a home improvement center. Numerous cafes and restaurants are also located nearby, making it a convenient location for shopping and dining.

“Eiga” means movie in Japanese. In fact, Kyoto is also known as the birthplace of Japanese cinema, and there is a studio in Uzumasa where traditional Japanese period dramas are filmed. Part of the studio has been transformed into a theme park called Toei Uzumasa Eigamura, where visitors can enjoy Edo Period streets, ninja houses and samurai shows. The park is located not far from Uzumasa Dormitory B.

Located on the edge of the mountains southwest of Uzumasa, Matsuno-o Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, with a history spanning 1,300 years. The shrine is dedicated to the god of sake. Its extensive grounds include an ancient shrine pavilion, Japanese gardens and a sake museum. KUAS international students participate in a festival held at the shrine as part of a community exchange program.

Arashiyama is a low mountain situated between Kyoto City, where Uzumasa Campus is located, and Kameoka City, where Kameoka Campus is located. Renowned as one of Kyoto’s most scenic spots, it draws many tourists during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. The area is rich with numerous temples and shrines, World Heritage sites, hot springs and a park where visitors can interact with monkeys, offering a distinct experience of Kyoto beyond the city center.

Kameoka City Hall is situated between Kameoka Station and Kameoka Campus and can be reached by bicycle or bus from either location. If you live in Kameoka City, you will need to complete resident registration, national health insurance and other procedures here. The area around the city hall includes KUAS’ Kameoka Dorm, supermarkets, restaurants and more.

Kameoka City features several large shopping malls, all of which are easily accessible by bus or train. You will have no trouble shopping for groceries and daily necessities. Additionally, most of these Japanese shopping malls include 100-yen stores, where you can purchase many high-quality products at low prices̶an advantage when starting a new life.
Furthermore, there are shopping streets scattered around Kameoka Station, lined with small stores. Here, you can enjoy shopping while experiencing the local atmosphere of Japan.

A 10-minute walk from Kameoka Station lies the ruins of Tamba-Kameyama Castle, built by Mitsuhide Akechi, a general of the Warring States Period, to fight in the western part of Kyoto. Like Kyoto City, the town of Kameoka served as a significan’t historical stage where samurai warriors fought for glory. Many historical figures continued to reside in this castle until the Edo Period. Today, the stone walls and gates are preserved as ruins and are open to visitors.

Near Kameoka Station is Sanga Stadium, a full-scale stadium where professional soccer and university football matches are held. The stadium also includes a cafeteria and a state-of-the-art facility where visitors can enjoy e-sports and drone soccer.

Kameoka Riverside Park offers visitors the chance to experience the rich nature of Kameoka. Within the park, visitors can learn about sustainable environmental practices and enjoy waterfront activities such as fishing, barbecuing and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). Rafting from the park down the river will take you to Arashiyama.