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Down the cobbled paths and behind the tranquil noren curtains of Kyoto, the old way of life goes on, nurtured in the restrained furnishings of the traditional inns and in the old shops where fine handmade items still add a touch of quality to life. Since the first edition appeared in 1986, this lovingly written travelogue-cum-guidebook has become de rigueur for knowledgeable travelers seeking to find "the real Kyoto" behind the modern face of the city's constantly changing boulevards. OLD KYOTO focuses on the family establishments that have been in business for at least a hundred years, and in some cases for over ten generations. Astonishingly, many of the old shops and inns of Kyoto can still be found on narrow backstreets, under the heavy, tiled rooftops of traditional machiya dwellings. Here, the adventurous traveler will uncover treasures: the way in which a hand-crafted calligraphy brush is bound, a miniature garden tended, a bamboo basket woven. For critics and travelers alike, OLD KYOTO has long been regarded the essential guidebook to Japan's most cherished city. This second edition of OLD KYOTO is completely updated. Shops have been added, and maps, prices, directions, descriptions, and general information have all been thoroughly revised.
Customer Review:A3IIDJRKOK0O4A
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Summary: Fantastic Book
I just took this book with me on a trip to Kyoto -- it was indispensable. I stayed at one of the ryokan profiled in the book and patronized at least half a dozen of the traditional shops and restaurants. HIGHLY recommend -- these shops and restaurants are hard to spot in the din of modern Kyoto. Not only are they wonderful to visit but it is wonderful to support local arts and crafts. I also took along Lonely Planet's Kyoto for info on when the temples are open, how to use the subway, etc. and any more modern shopping or dining you want to do.
Customer Review:A207DM3PZ73B19
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Summary: Why we love Kyoto
I'm writing this as we leave Kyoto on our latest trip here. By now, we own multiple travel guides to the region. Every time we come we bring two books: any one of the guides plus this book. We use the usual guides for accommodations, good maps of the streets in the central area, and descriptions of the temples, things this book doesn't really try to cover and which you shouldn't expect from it. We use this book to explore the back alleys and find the traditional shops.
This morning we ate fresh tofu skin and bought tomorrow's breakfast at Yubahan, we snacked on grilled rice balls at Ichiwa right north of Daitoku-ji and we're bringing back salted natto snacks from Isoda. All three are stores none of the usual books would mention and which we would likely never have ventured out to or into, should we by chance pass by.
This book is an incredible recording of wonderful shops, restaurants, and ryokans where one can see practiced unique arts of long ago. From broom making to textile dyeing, truly hand-made tea sweets to tofu eateries, and countless gorgeous old buildings, many of these establishments will sadly disappear in the coming years with their owners.
Thank you for this book. It's shown us an incredible side of Kyoto.
We were glad to see others walking about with this book. Word of mouth must be working.
P.S.: some of the shop maps should be redrawn with all the small alleyways accounted for. We've lost ourselves a few times finding the right alley for a store.
Customer Review:A1XIDKCJ7SOVXP
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Summary: Excellent
The title of this book is very descriptive. It tells you exactly what you will get. So this is a supplementary guidebook since you will not find good maps or information about temples or geishas in this book. But in terms of identifying restaurants (many not that expensive - but traditional), traditional inns and traditional stores, the book is great!
Customer Review:A2IWBW0YEQV790
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Summary: Old Kyoto: Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Trad.
3 people tried to use this book. 13, 45, 60 years of age. Print is way to small to read. We left it on a train for someone with microscopic vision.....
Customer Review:A2MGUNKW1ANLT5
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Summary: Historic corners of Kyoto
"Old Kyoto" is not a guidebook, but rather an insider's guide on interesting attractions and mom-and-pop shops you should visit if you are in Kyoto for a while. I read the book cover to cover on the bullet train from Tokyo (it's a short read) and enjoyed it very much. Even though the book focuses on specific attractions with no pretention of tying them all into a coherent story, it effectively gives you a sampling of the history of Kyoto, its industries, and their sensibilities.
At the very end of the book the author dedicates a couple of paragraphs to actually planning your trip to Kyoto - wish there was more information there. A chapter on suggested routes through the city, or even a map to place all of the mentioned attractions would have been a great addition to the book.
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