Kyoto Budo Center

[hideyoshi74]

Can anyone tell me where the Kyoto Budo Center is located? I'm planning to visit on Thursday, but I only know that it's near the Hieian Shrine. What's the nearest train line/station? And how do I get there from the station?

Your assistance is appreciated in advance.

[Fonsz]

Hello hideyoshi74,
Here you will find a link from the Butokuden, I can't read Japanese but I'm sure there are instructions how to get there.
Good luck,
http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/%7Ekyoken/

[JSchmidt]

Grab any half-decent touristmap/guide book and the budokan will be on it.
You can take a bus from Kyoto station to Heian jingu.

Jakob

[don don]

You can go to the front of Heian Jingu by bus. Then walk west, then North up the side of the Shrine grounds. You'll find it on the North West corner of the block. If you're stuck, just get a taxi direct all the way. Enjoy the training!

[hideyoshi74]

Guys,

Thanks for the help with finding the Budo center. I went and got my first glimpse of kendo tonight, though before that I also took in a little Iaido as well.

I'm quite impressed and I'll be back hopefully sometime next week, either on Wednesday or Thursday. Nobody gawked at me or anything, though nobody really made much of an effort to talk to me, either. But I think I understand where they're coming from - lots of people drop in to watch kendo a time or two, but only the serious spectators are worth remembering. I did talk to one guy but he spoke to me in torrents of Japanese, only some of which I could understand. Guess I'll have to hone my language skills as well.

By the way, while I'm at it, could anyone tell me how much lessons costs, and what equipment costs are like? Thanks.