I Got Lost in Kyoto with only a Paper Map

@Abroad in Japan

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Join Chris and Pete on a challenging cycling journey from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, navigating Japan's scenic routes with only a paper map, and experiencing the beauty of the Kansai region.

1 plan · 5 places · 3 experiences

Plan · 3 places · Kansai, Japan

Lake Biwa to Kyoto Cycling Adventure

“We finished Leg 2 of our journey, cycling from Niigata City all the way to Kyoto, down the Sea of Japan. This leg took us through the beautiful Lake Biwa area and into the outskirts of Kyoto, navigating with only a paper map.”

Experience · 1 place
Cycling the scenic shores of Lake Biwa
We started our day on the majestic, glistening shores of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. It's so beautiful at this time in the morning, with the fresh lake air and mountains, a really nice place to kick things off. The scenery around here has been absolutely stunning, probably the most picturesque route and day so far. The weather's been perfect, and the visibility is so clear you can see all the mountains around the lake. I honestly think Lake Biwa might be my new favorite cycle spot.
1
Lake Biwa
Lake
4.5
Creator's voice
Japan's largest freshwater lake, offering majestic, glistening shores, fresh air, and stunning mountain scenery. It's a beautiful spot to start a day, especially for cycling, with picturesque routes and clear visibility of the surrounding mountains.
Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Finding the Torii Gate in the Water at Shirahige Shrine
We cycled down Route 161 along the coast of Lake Biwa until we stumbled upon Shirahige Shrine. I'd never seen one of those shrines that are in the water before – a torii gate in the sea! It was a beautiful reward after cycling 15km, making it feel like we were on the edge of heaven.
2
Shirahige Shrine
Shinto shrine · Kyoto
4.5 (6)
Shirahige Shrine, 180 Kuramakibunecho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1112, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Navigating to Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto by night
Cycling at night in Kyoto through the rain was absolutely stunning, even though I usually despise cycling in the rain. The rain just bounces off the lights, illuminating the pools of water. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and absolutely terrifying, feeling like an immersive 4D experience. We finally made it to Yasaka Shrine on the edge of Kyoto, soggy and tired, but we survived.
3
Yasaka Shrine
Shinto shrine · Kyoto
4.4 (33,681)Closed
Creator's voice
A prominent shrine located on the edge of Kyoto. It served as our final destination after a challenging day of cycling and navigating with a paper map.
Yasaka Shrine, 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan

Also in this video

4
Kansai Region
region · Kyoto
Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.
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5
Lawson
Convenience store · Kyoto
2.9 (135)Closed
Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward
Lawson - Kyoto Station Higashi-Shiokoji-cho, 558-8 Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan
- Paper map — We bought a paper map from Lawson to navigate our journey, as Google Maps was not allowed. It was a challenge to use, especially in the dark and rain, and ultimately ended up ripped and soaking wet.

3 extraction issues

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