Our 1st share house in Kansai!
Oakhouse opens its first share house in the Kansai area! It is located in world-famous tourist spot, Kyoto! The closest station is Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae. Ito from marketing took a look around!

Compasso Teramachi
URL: http://www.kyoto-teramachi.or.jp/

High-class tea
Cha Ippodo tea shop is a large presence along the street, with a pure Japanese atmosphere. This tea chooses its tea leaves very careful and takes create care in brewing the tea. Their large menu is written in beautiful calligraphic style. There were many foreigners inside too!
In the back of the shop is the tea room Kaboku, where you can enjoy the tea. The staff is friendly and teaches you how to pour the tea. Whether you drink matcha, zencha, gyokuro, or anything else they have, there's a different method for each. Even though I'm Japanese, I didn't know any of this! I really recommend you try it for the full Japanese tea experience!

Ippodo tea shop
URL: http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/index.html

Hip local record shop
This record shop started in 2002 and has a devoted fan base. They keep everyone up to date on what records come in on their website, blog, and facebook pages. You can buy online from them too, as well as find rare records only sold in Japan. If you're a music fan, it will probably be worth it to check it out. They also carry psychedelic, drone, and Indian music.
When you walk into the store the first thing you may notice is the scent of incense, as well as the dogu figurines and spiritual goods. It's a very world-wide kind of place. They have so much music old and new. I'm a big music fan so I spent a lot of time checking things out!

Meditations
URL: http://www.meditations.jp

Kyoto bathing!
This place opened in 1919! Everything is so "Kyoto", from the exterior wood to the shoe box to the doors... Even Japanese people are often surprised that a bath house like this still exists. It's the perfect place for foreigners to experience Japanese bath culture. Of course I wasn't able to take pictures inside, but it really was great. Don't forget to do the grand Japanese tradition of drinking a glass of milk after getting out of the bath! :-P

Sakura-yu
URL: http://www.kyo1010.com/sakura-yu/

The lifeline of Kyoto!
You can't have Kyoto without the Kamo river. It is near Kyoto's busy areas of Kawaramachi, Gion, Sanjo and Shijo bridges. It's a huge river and here you can see the changing of the seasons. See blooming sakura in spring, or autumn leaves in fall. The paths along the river also make for a great date spot or running course. There are even giant salamanders that live in the river! I couldn't see any for myself, but you can see them at the Kyoto aquarium!

Kamo river
URL: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/kamogawa/

Enjoy summer weather on the river
I wanted to get out of the city center to explore more of what the surrounding area of Kyoto has to offer. I took the Keihan line from Sanjo station to Demachi Yanagi station, then took the Hiei main line to Kibuneguchi station and got off there. Then I took a bus up the hill. Deep in the mountains along the Kibune river is this Kyoto-style restaurant. It is built on a platform on the river. You can eat fresh fish, or nagashi-somen for 1,300 yen! They don't take reservations so get there early so you can get a reservation number.

Hirobun
URL: http://hirobun.co.jp/menu/

I loved having nagashi somen while looking at the waterfall. They also have a Japanese sweets set. All this for 1,300 yen!

Popular power spot!
Along a small road past Hirobun, then down a small hill, is the lantern-lined entrance to Kibune shrine. Not only is it a popular sightseeing spot, but it's also known as a place to pray for romantic success. I visited just after the Tanabata holiday, so the trees were decorated with wishes written on slips of paper, blowing in the wind. It's the perfect Shinto shrine atmosphere.
The hike from Kifune shrine to Kuruma temple is nice too. There is a legend that Tengu live on Mt. Kuruma neat Kuruma temple. Maybe you'll meet one!

Kifune shrine
URL: http://kifunejinja.jp

So that's my Kyoto Explorer report! I tried to go to some famous places, as well as some more deep places. Kyoto is well-connected with many bus routes, and it has many old shops as well as new places to shop. It's such a great place to live! The first km by taxi is about 100 yen cheaper than Tokyo, so it's easy to get around. From the Oakhouse, it's a 12-minute ride to Kyoto station from Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae, and from there only 30 minutes to Osaka. What a great place to live and explore! This is your chance to live in Kyoto!