Originally Posted by
Scifience
As others have said, this isn't classified information. The Rough Guide to Japan says something to the effect of "If you were expecting nothing but traditional buildings and temples and green space, you'll be sorely disappointed when you step out of Kyoto Station." It goes on, of course, to explain that there are lots of places where this stereotypical beauty of old Japan does exist.
And this quotation is just what I misinterpreted. I thought that meant the area around the train station is ugly. This is true in lots of cities. I didn't interpret it to mean much of the city is ugly.
I am sure Pickles is right that this isn't a secret. But it also isn't commented on very frequently by visitors.
Iwould have appreciated it if there had been more discussion of this fact. Perhaps it wouldn't have helped Pickles.
I do want to be clear here. I am not saying that I did not enjoy Kyoto, both beautiful and 'ugly'. I am merely saying that it was different from
my expectations.
Also, I concur with scifience about the people of Japan. I was commenting on a very specific aspect of Kyoto and how it struck me, nothing else.