text:
Kuşadası

Kuşadası is a beach resort in the Central Aegean region of Turkey, 95 km south of Izmir. It has a resident population of 113,580 (as of 2018), which doubles in summer with tourists and seasonal workers.

Understand
"Kuş adası" means "bird island", referring to the shape of Pigeon Island, and in antiquity this was a small port, overshadowed by Ephesus inland. Fortified and garrisoned, it was never an important town but grew on the mainland, until the name came to apply to the mainland conurbation. The big development was from the 1970s when the Turkish Aegean coast came within non-stop flying distance from the cities of North Europe, and the region became a budget to mid-price destination for package tours. Kuşadası nowadays sprawls over 25 km of coastline. Its has few antiquities but is close to must-see Ephesus and other sights.

Get in
By road from Istanbul follow O-5 (toll) to Izmir, and from Ankara follow E96, to join E87 south then D550 and D515 into town.

Direct buses from Istanbul take 9-10 hours via Bursa, Izmir and Selçuk, for a single fare in 2022 of around 500 TL. Operators are Metro Turizm, Pamukkale and Flixbus. Altogether it's a hourly service (with some overnight), otherwise take one of the frequent buses to Izmir and change.

the inter-city bus station is by D515 highway at the east edge of this sprawling town. You'll need a taxi or a dolmuş to reach your accommodation.

Selçuk 20 km northeast is the nearest railway station, with IZBAN suburban trains every hour or two from Izmir via Adnan Menderes Airport. Regional trains run from Denizli (for Pamukkale) via Aydın and Çamlık to Selçuk and Izmir.

is a frequent port of call for cruise ships to bus their passengers to Ephesus and the other antiquities.

There are foot-passenger ferries daily Apr-Oct to Samos operated by Meander Travel. These leave Kuşadası around 09:00 for a one-hour sailing to Vathi the main settlement, returning around 17:00, so a day-trip is possible from Kuşadası to Samos but not reverse. In 2022 a day-trip is €36 adult and an open return is €47. Hellenic Seaways and Dodekanisos Seaways no longer longer sail this route. See Greece for entry requirements, as Samos is part of the EU.

Get around
Transport up and down the lengthy coast strip is best done by dolmuş. Join any group along the road who look as if they're trying to flag one down in the direction you're going.

Taxis are a welcome sight as their appearance means the dolmuş is only a minute behind, and they're tring to scoop the trade. The drivers are mostly a decent lot but beware of fake taxis and scammers: the taxi number plate must start with "09 T".

Taxis cluster by the sea port and bus station touting for trips to Ephesus. The advantage is a quick journey to the south gate of the complex, then they pick you up on exit from the north gate, but Ephesus is easily reached by dolmuş. Where taxis help most is in exploring the ruins of Priene and Miletus away south, awkward by public transport. Negotiate a hire for say four hours and they'll take you to as many classical stumps as you can stomach.

See

 * (Güvercinada) is reached from town by a 200 m causeway. The castle has been restored as a museum, open daylight hours.
 * Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai is by the harbour entrance. It's a restored Ottoman Kervansaray built 1615/18 - a secure place for merchants to lodge with their goods. It has been a hotel but is abandoned in 2022.
 * Kaleiçi Mosque 100 m south down Barbaros Bvd was built along with the Kervansaray by Öküz Mehmet paşa.
 * Muvaffak "Maffy" Falay (1930-2022) was a famous jazz trumpeter from Kuşadası, commemorated by the statue next to the Miniature Museum.
 * is a Byzantine / Venetian fortress. In 2022 the area is closed to the public.
 * Priene, Miletus and Didyma: see Didim for these Grecian ruins south of the peninsula.
 * : see the separate page for this magnificent Roman site 15 km northeast of town. It's an easy day trip by dolmuş or taxi.
 * Selçuk a further 4 km east was the original site of Ephesus, and has a museum and ancient citadel. See this page also for antiquities outside the Ephesus ticketed area, such as the House of Mary.
 * Priene, Miletus and Didyma: see Didim for these Grecian ruins south of the peninsula.
 * : see the separate page for this magnificent Roman site 15 km northeast of town. It's an easy day trip by dolmuş or taxi.
 * Selçuk a further 4 km east was the original site of Ephesus, and has a museum and ancient citadel. See this page also for antiquities outside the Ephesus ticketed area, such as the House of Mary.
 * Selçuk a further 4 km east was the original site of Ephesus, and has a museum and ancient citadel. See this page also for antiquities outside the Ephesus ticketed area, such as the House of Mary.

Do

 * The beaches are long and sandy. They're safe for kiddy-bathing as the drop-off is shallow, and this blunts the waves. They're heavily commercial; the beaches themselves are free to access but hotels jealously guard their own terrain. Watch out for pickpockets and other lowlife.

 * Town beach between the port and the marina is one for viewing the sunset from rather than bathing. It's sandy but grubby.
 * (Kadınlar Denizi Plajı) was for women only in Ottoman times, but has long been mixed. Being so close to town it gets very crowded. A couple of recliners and parasol for the afternoon might be 100 TL in 2022.
 * is well named, stretching away for 10 km down to Güzelçamlı at the start of the peninsula. Multiple access points, and the southern portions have more specific names: Davutlar, Sevgi, Venus. Tortuga Pirate Island is a theme park in the northern section. The nearby Aqua Atlantis has closed down.
 * is the first strip going north. It's quieter here.
 * is the end of the long northern beach.
 * Skydive: see Selçuk for Efes Skydiving Centre, next to the north gate of Ephesus.
 * Football: Kuşadasıspor were promoted in 2021 so they now play soccer in TFF Third League, Turkey's fourth tier. Their home ground Özer Türk Stadium (capacity 8000) is mid-town on Yüksel Yalova Cd.
 * Kuşadası Youth Festival (Gençlik Festivali) is held on Sevgi Beach. The next is probably 5-9 July 2023, tbc.

Buy

 * Supermarkets are here and there, such as Migros on Öğe Sk near the harbour, open daily 08:30-22:00. A101 is the commonest chain store further out.
 * Rug shops scrummage by the harbour.

Eat

 * You are seldom far from a kebab or a dollop of fish & chips. There's a whole slew along the beaches, but the best are along the pedestrianised alleys inland from the port.

 * Murphys next to Casablanca also gets good reviews.
 * Murphys next to Casablanca also gets good reviews.

Drink

 * The beach cafes mostly serve alcohol, but the free-standing pubs are in old town near the port.
 * Efes beer is named for nearby Ephesus and is brewed in Izmir and elsewhere.

Sleep

 * No hostels in town, but plenty of budget hotels and pansiyons where you can get just as flea-bitten. Upper range places may be block-booked by package tours, who want to party, so rooms are clean but noisy.

Connect
Kuşadası and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers, extending to Ephesus and beyond; day-trippers arriving on cruises need to think about roaming charges. As of July 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Ephesus is a well preserved Greco-Roman site. The city formerly stood 4 km further east at Selçuk, which has a Byzantine church and citadel.
 * Didim is a resort town close to ancient Didyma, Miletus and Priene.
 * The Greek island of Samos is an easy day-trip.

title: Kuşadası


text:
Kusatsu

Kusatsu (草津) is a famous hot-spring resort town in Gunma, Japan. It is one of the Three Famous Springs (三名泉) in the 17th-century ranking of Hayashi Razan, and remains highly rated and popular.

Understand
Kusatsu is an onsen town, about 1,200 metres above sea level, beside several volcanoes including the active Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane (Shirane), and known for its healing waters. Water for the town originates from Mt. Shirane with a flow of more than 32,000 litres per minute. This is one of the largest natural outputs of hot spring water in Japan. The water is very acidic, having a sterilizing effect. A 6-inch nail is said to dissolve to only a small metal shard after 10 days.

During the Edo period, Kusatsu became famous for its therapeutic waters. One of the shoguns at the time was said to have shipped its waters to his castle to bathe. Then, in the Meiji period, a German court physician to the emperor, Dr. Erwin Bälz, popularized the healing effects of the water even more by researching and championing its healing properties. Today, Kusatsu continues to be a popular hot spring destination, with upwards to 3 million visitors a year.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only portal site.

By rail
Unusually enough for Japan, Kusatsu does not have a train station of its own. The nearest station is (長野原草津口駅) on the JR Agatsuma Line. The limited express Kusatsu runs twice in the morning (10:00 and 12:12) from Ueno Station in Tokyo, taking 2 hr 20 min and costing ¥5,070, from which you can take a connecting bus (25 min, ¥710) to Kusatsu. At any other time, you'll have to take the Shinkansen to Takasaki and transfer to local services (3 hours, ¥5,810), or the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa (about 70–80 minutes, ¥5,710) and arrange further transport, or take local trains with 2 or 3 transfers (3½ hours, ¥3,020).

By bus
JR operates the Jōshu Yūmeguri (上州ゆめぐり) direct bus to Kusatsu bus terminal several times a day (hourly) from Shinjuku (Tokyo) Expressway Bus Terminal, which takes around 4 hours and charges between ¥3,000 (in advance) and ¥3,600 (on board). Buses also connect from Kusatsu to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi (¥710) and Karuizawa (¥2240) to link with the rail lines.

Get around
Kusatsu is not very big and major transportation is going to be bus or car. There is a Kusatsu town loop bus (¥100), which connects most of the major sights and big hotels within the town. Although hilly, most sights within the town centre can be explored by foot.

There are also free hotel shuttles that ferry people from either the bus station or the yubatake area to surrounding hotels. A bus line is available from the bus terminal to connect with the ski area.

Do

The water in the Kusatsu hot springs is strongly sulphuric, and is famous for making the skin beautiful. (The flip side is that it smells like rotten eggs.) In addition, it is said that Kusatsu hot spring has beneficial effects on poor blood circulation, muscular pain, and so on.

Hot springs
There are a variety of hot springs within Kusatsu for tourists to visit. Many accommodations will have onsen facilities present within their building. There are 19 public baths within the town, but not all of them are open to visitors.

In addition to hot spring facilities, there are free open air foot baths scattered throughout the town. One is right outside the bus terminal while another is beside the Yubatake fields. Dip your toes in the waters for a refreshing break after walking.

Events
There are several events in Kusatsu throughout the year.
 * Flower festival (花祭り) is in May.
 * Shirane shrine festival (白根神社祭り) is in July.
 * Kusatsu hot spring thanksgiving festival (草津温泉感謝祭) is in August.
 * Summer Insect-collecting (夏休み昆虫採集大会)  is in August for families.
 * Yubatake special light up (湯畑特別ライトアップ) is in March.
 * Yubatake special light up (湯畑特別ライトアップ) is in March.

Sleep
Hotels with outdoor bath

Go next

 * Nakanojō
 * Yamanouchi
 * Obuse
 * Karuizawa
 * Tsumagoi
 * Naganohara
 * Kuni
 * Higashiagatsuma
 * Minakami

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Kusatsu


text:
Kusatsu (Shiga)

 * For the Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, see Kusatsu.

Kusatsu  (草津市) is a city in Shiga prefecture.

Understand
Kusatsu city used to be a prosperous town as a crossroads of Nakasendo road and Tokaido road for travelers to Tokyo from all over Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site and info pages in English on Matcha.

Get in
Kusatsu has two stations along JR's Tokaido Main Line, Kusatsu Station and Minami-Kusatsu Station, so it is very easy to access from Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. All local, kaisoku, and shin-kaisoku trains stop at both stations. Kusatsu Station is also served by the Kusatsu Line, which connects Kusatsu to Ritto, Koka, and Iga (Tsuge Station) in Mie.

See

 * Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden
 * Lake Biwa Museum

Eat

 * Ubaga-mochi, a small bean-paste cake

Go next

 * Moriyama
 * Otsu
 * Ritto
 * Yasu
 * Omihachiman
 * Kyoto
 * Konan
 * Koka

title: Kusatsu (Shiga)


text:
Kushimoto

Kushimoto (串本町 Kushimoto-chō) is a small coastal town in Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. It is a useful base for exploring and enjoying the activities of the prefecture's extreme south. In relation, the town sits on the southernmost point of Japan's main island of Honshu, which serves as tourist attraction itself.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By Train
The town is served by Kushimoto Station (串本駅 Kushimoto Eki).

From Kyoto, Osaka, and Wakayama, the quickest way to reach Kushimoto is via limited express train, either on the Kuroshio (くろしお), Super Kuroshio (スーパーくろしお), or Ocean Arrow (オーシャンアロー) services. Cheaper but slower train service is also available and will require one or more transfers. Both express and local services go via the JR Hanwa Line (阪和線), directly connecting to the JR Kinokuni Line (きのくに線), which is also sometimes labeled as the JR Kisei Line (紀勢線). Total fare from Wakayama City via limited express is ¥4170 (about 2hr 10min) and via local is ¥2520 (about 3 hr 40 min).

''Insider's Tip: on Kushimoto bound trains, ask for a seat on the right side (右側 migi-gawa) of the train to ensure unobstructed views of the coast. Moreover, a viewing car open to all passengers is available on all Ocean Arrow trains.''

From Nagoya, the best way to reach Kushimoto via train is through the limited express Nanki (南紀) leading to Kii-Katsuura Station (紀伊勝浦駅), then transferring to a local train bound for Kushimoto or Kii-Tanabe Station (紀伊田辺駅). This costs ¥9470 and takes about 4hr 30min. Local train travel from Nagoya is not recommended.

Train services run roughly once per hour from the big cities. All lines are run by JR, and Japan Rail Pass holders are covered when riding them.

By Car
Driving is a viable (and highly recommended) option, and it will be very useful to have a car when exploring the area. From Wakayama City onward, take the tolled Hanwa Expressway (阪和自動車道) southbound for Shirahama (白浜). Exit at Nanki-Tanabe Interchange (南紀田辺IC), which is the last exit, and get on Route 42 bound for Shingu (新宮) following it all the way to Kushimoto. Driving time from the exit is about 2½ hours.

From Nagoya, follow the Higashi Meihan (東名阪自動車道) and Ise Expressways (伊勢自動車道) to get to the Kisei Expressway (紀勢自動車道). Exit at Omiya-Odai Interchange (大宮大台IC), which is the last exit, and get on Route 42 bound for Shingu (新宮) following it all the way to Kushimoto. Driving time from the exit is about 6 hours.

Once off the expressway, the route has many winds and turns and follows the coast very closely, and at some points it's quite a steep drop to the ocean, so use extreme caution when driving especially in bad weather. During the summer months, the expressways and Route 42 are heavily traveled by beach-goers coming from the Osaka area, particularly on weekends and holidays. this causes lengthy delays, as the roads are not meant for heavy traffic.

By Air
The nearest airport is Nanki-Shirahama Airport in the town of Shirahama (白浜) about 2 hours away. There are daily flights to/from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, but international routes are not served. Take a bus to Shirahama Station (白浜駅) take one of the limited express trains mentioned above to get into town.

The nearest international airport is Kansai International Airport. Take a train or limousine bus to Wakayama Station (和歌山駅) and transfer onto one of the limited express trains mentioned above to get into town.

Get around
Anything in Central Kushimoto is easily accessible by foot, however the more interesting attractions outside town will not. Taxis are available at Kushimoto Station.

Local road conditions in town vary widely; steep, narrow, windy, unpaved, or all of the above combined are common traits. Car-navigation is highly recommended, if not necessary. Major roads are:
 * Route 38 - main road for Koza, follows the Koza River. Starts off of Route 42 and eventually connects to Route 371.
 * Route 40 - branches off of Route 41, crosses the Kushimoto Big Bridge, eventually ending at the Turkish Memorial Museum and Kashino Lighthouse.
 * Route 41 - starts/stops on Route 42, loops around Cape Shiono-Misaki.
 * Route 42 - main business thoroughfare and the primary route for getting in and out of town. Stay on this and you won't get lost.
 * Route 227 - parallels Route 38 opposite the Koza River
 * Route 371 - mountain road for getting to the Koza River, Shichi-kawa Dam, and eventually to Tanabe City.

Talk
Though the local Kushimoto dialect (串本弁 Kushimoto-ben) shares many traits with the bigger, regional Kansai dialect (関西弁 Kansai-ben), it naturally has its own unique peculiarities. Locals claim that their dialect remains very close to the language spoken in Nara- and Heian-period Japan. If you have a decent command of Japanese, you might consider using some of the following phrases to score some laughs, brownie points, or maybe even a free beer with the locals:

 * あがら (標準:わたしたち) we
 * あたんする (標準:八つ当たりする) get angry suddenly
 * いくで (標準:いくよ) I'm going... (で can be used with most verbs you would use よ with)
 * かいだるい (標準:疲れた) tiring, tired
 * がい (標準:ですよ) You know...!
 * がいに (標準:強く) strongly
 * くらんし (標準:ください) Please...
 * まいせー (標準:やめておけ) Don't do that!

Other standard Kansai phrases should also get some smiles out of people.

See

Diving
The Kushimoto Coral Communities, designated as a protected wetlands by the 2005 Ramsar Convention, encompasses 574 hectares (3.4 sq mi) and is home to numerous species of coral and waterfowl. Numerous dive shops along Route 42 offer dive tours and rentals.

Money
As with most small Japanese towns, many businesses (especially restaurants) do not take credit cards. Be on the safe side and secure enough cash before heading into town.

That said, people with cards issued in Japan may be able to use ATMs these local banks:

Major international currencies may be exchanged at the Kushimoto Post Office (串本郵便局 Kushimoto Yūbin Kyoku), located just off of Route 42 near the Lawson Convenience Store in Central Kushimoto. They may not be able to exchange large sums of money (over ¥50,000).

As the case with the rest of Japan, most local post offices have ATMs that take major international cards and have English menus.

Shops

 * A-Coop Supermarket (Aコープ) - Chain supermarket, good selection of bento boxes and fresh sushi to-go. On Route 41, across the street from Kushimoto Junior High School.
 * Eiden - Electronics. On Route 42 just before Hashigui-Iwa.
 * Matsuda Souvenir Shop (松田土産物店) - Convenient location and good selection of food and non-food gifts. Outside Kushimoto Station.
 * Okuwa Shopping Center (オークワ) - 24-hour grocery store. Biggest selection of clothing, housewares, and 100-yen goods in town. On Route 42 just after Kushimoto Station
 * Tsutaya - Books, music, and movies. On Route 42 across from the Okuwa Shopping Center.
 * Wakamatsu-ya Bakery (若松屋) - local bakery with the good selection of pastries and desserts. On Route 42 just after Tsutaya

Local Delicacies

 * Awabi (アワビ) - abalone
 * Ise-ebi (伊勢海老・イセエビ) - Japanese spiny lobster, highly prized.
 * Katsuo (鰹・カツオ) - bonito (aka skipjack tuna) caught through local "kenken" style fly fishing. One of Kushimoto's more important exports.
 * Kinkan (キンカン) - kumquats, abundant in late winter.
 * Mikan / Ponkan (ミカン・ポンカン) - relative of the mandarin orange and tangerine, found anywhere and everywhere during colder months.
 * Maguro (鮪・マグロ) - tuna
 * Sazae (サザエ) - sea snail
 * Tobiuo (飛魚・トビウオ) - flying fish
 * Zori-ebi (ゾウリエビ) - Japanese mitten lobster

Restaurants

 * Daikichi (大吉) - Branch of the fairly well-known yakitori chain. Across the street from Kushimoto Station. ¥1500 per person up.
 * Kuroshio Sushi (黒潮寿司) - Kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi restaurant, fairly cheap prices and good selection. Safe bet for tourists who don't speak Japanese. Down the street from the Okuwa Shopping Center toward Hashigui-Iwa. ¥130 per sushi plate up.
 * Hikochan (彦ちゃん) - Local izakaya that takes advantage of the local seafood. Known for Ochazuke Rice & Tea Porridge (お茶漬け), Miso Yakisoba (味噌焼ソバ), Minced Bonito (鰹たたき Katsuo Tataki), and of course various kinds of sushi. Down the street from Kushimoto Station. ¥1500 per person up.
 * Oak (レストランオーク) - Fairly drab and uninspired family restaurant chain serving typical Japanese and Western meals. Next to Tsutaya. Full meals ¥1000 up.
 * Sun Doria (サンドリア) - Locally owned family restaurant. As the name states, they specialize in Japanese-style doria (casseroles), but also carry standard Japanese and Western fare. Down the street from the Kushimoto Cultural Center (串本文化センター Kushimoto Bunka Senta). Full meals ¥1000 up.
 * Udon Hashigui (うどん橋杭) - Serves a full selection of udon. Shrimp Tempura Udon is probably the best in town. Across from Hashigui-Iwa. ¥600 up.
 * Yakiniku Juju (焼肉樹樹) - Tabletop charcoal grills, serves kuroge wagyu beef (黒毛和牛). On Route 42, near the turnoff for A-Coop and Kushimoto High School. ¥1500 per person up.

Go next
The following towns can be easily explored as day trips from Kushimoto:
 * Tanabe - Small town with an important religious history and ancient hot springs. Home of Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine mentioned above.
 * Kozagawa (古座川町 Kozagawa-chō) - As the name suggests, this town centers around the Koza River. Lots of beautiful scenery and home of Shichi-kawa Dam.
 * Nachi-Katsuura - Home of Nachi Falls (one of the tallest waterfalls in Japan), Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine, the Urashima Hotel (pseudo hot springs "theme park"), and a big tuna market.
 * Shingu - Though a "city" by political defitions, still maintains a small town charm. Biggest selection of movie theaters, restaurants, and shopping in the extreme south. Home of Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine mentioned above.
 * Susami (すさみ町 Susami-chō) - Quaint little town that has the world's only undersea mailbox.
 * Taiji - a small town infamously known for dolphin hunting, featuring in Oscar winning documentary The Cove.
 * Shirahama
 * Kiho
 * Kumano

title: Kushimoto


text:
Kushinagar

Kushinagar is a city in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the holy site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's demise (Parinirvana). Today it is an important Buddhist Pilgrimage and tourist spot. Biddhist tourist from all over the world visit this place.

Understand
Kushinagar along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath are places directly involved with the life of Buddha. Lumbini was the place of his birth, Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya is the place of enlightenment, Sarnath is the place of first sermon and Kushinagar is the place of death. These four places are known as char dham and are part of the Buddhist Circuit.

By road
Kushinagar is connected to Lucknow by the NH-28. Buses between Gorakhpur and Kushinagar are frequent and take around 2 hours.

By train
Deoria Sadar is the nearest railhead (33 km). Gorakhpur (55 km)is the nearest major city. Gorokhpur has a better connectivity.

Get around
The archaeological sites, museum and new temples are located in a short distance and can be covered on foot. Autos are also available but there are no fixed rates, so do bargain before you start the tour.

Historical Sites
The historical sites consist of three archaeological sites consisting of Matha Kuar (last sermon), Mahaparinirvana (death) and Ramabhar Stupa (creamation). The fourth historical site is the relic distribution site. There are no historical structures at this site.

New Temples
Apart from the archaeological and historical sites Kushinagar also houses several new Buddhist temples. These are constructed by countries with Buddhist presence and include China, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Autonomous regions like Tibet also has there temple in Kushinagar.

Do
Soak up the peaceful atmosphere, conducive to meditation and reflection.

Eat

 * Restaurant at Pathik Niwas
 * Dhabas near Mahaparinirvana Temple
 * Dhabas near Mahaparinirvana Temple

Respect
Wear clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site. Do not climb onto statues or other sacred objects.

Circumambulate (walk all the way around) the stupas and other sacred objects in a clockwise direction. Preserve the peace and tranquillity of the area.

title: Kushinagar


text:
Kushiro

Kushiro (釧路市) is the fourth largest city in Hokkaido and the largest city in Eastern Hokkaido. Despite its population and size, it is still quite rural, with a sparse public transportation system. It is home to Japan's largest marshland and is a year-round home to endangered Japanese cranes, making it a popular stop for birdwatchers.

Understand
Like most parts of Japan, the Kushiro area is volcanically active and it is especially prone to small tremors from off-shore earthquakes.

In 2005 the town of Akan and the town of Onbetsu was merged into Kushiro. Old Onbetsu town area has become the enclave.

Kushiro is the birthplace of Akira Ifukube, the classical and film composer best known for his work in the Godzilla film series.

Tourist Information Site
Super Fantastic Kushiro/Lake Akan is the city's official multilingual guide site.

By plane
Kushiro is accessible by air from Tokyo (both airports), Osaka (both airports) and Sapporo (both airports). Rental cars are available across the street from the airport. If traveling without a local contact, a rental car is strongly recommended because public transportation within the city and greater Kushiro area is few and far between. Akan Bus also operates airport shuttles (Japanese-only) that correspond with every inbound and outbound flight between the airport and Kushiro Station. One-way adult ticket costs ¥910.

By train
Sapporo Station to Kushiro Station is a 4-hour train ride. It is the last stop on the Super Ozora Limited Express train line. There are 6 trains daily from Sapporo.

By bus
Kushiro Bus operates daily buses (one midday bus and one overnight bus) to and from Sapporo (schedule and pricing on their Japanese-only website).

Get around
Kushiro Bus (Japanese-only) operates local buses around the city but are difficult to navigate with Japanese-only route maps and schedules.

Akan Bus (Japanese-only) operates buses further out of the city, to Tsurui, Shibecha, Akan, and Mashu.

Local taxis are rather cheap and are the easiest form of travel within the city proper. Rental cars are available at the airport.

See
Kushiro City Zoo

Kushiro City Zoo is the second largest zoo in Japan, built in 1975. The zoo is located near Kushiro Shitsugen (wetland). It is about 20 km from the city by car and about a 50-minute bus ride. It is also located near a very nice onsen.

Kushiro Wetland (Shitsugen)

Kushiro Marsh is the largest wetland in Japan and accounts for 60% of Japan's wetland. It was designated under the Ramsar Convention in 1980 and became Japan's 28th National Park in 1987.

Kushiro City Marsh Observatory

Situated in the Kushiro Shitsugen, visitors should climb the stairs to the top of the Kushiro City Marsh Observatory and take in the views of the luscious forests that surround the area. There are also forested walking trails and a replicated Ainu settlement. Bring your bug spray, during the summer there are a lot of mosquitoes, but the wooden boardwalk forests and views of the expansive wetlands make a visit essential. It is a 35-minute bus ride from Kushiro JR Station or about a 20-minute car ride.

Kushiro Art Museum

This art museum is located down a short walking path from the Fisherman’s Wharf. Though it is small is size, the gallery hosts many lovely exhibits and its facilities are quite nice.

Buy
As with all Japanese cities, the most famous souvenirs of the area are all gathered in the airport and train station. The MOO is also a good place to buy souvenirs and food.

Though logging is no longer as big of an industry as before, wooden carvings remain a popular souvenir. Carvings in Ainu designs are also common.

Akan's cheeky Marimokkori mascot also makes funny souvenirs. The character is based on Lake Akan's famous marimo algae, and features a prominent crotch lump ("mokkori" is Japanese slang for such a protuberance in the crotch area). You can find on all manner of merchandise.

Edible products include Kujirasuku, a dark chocolate-soaked biscotti-like biscuit that does not contain any whale (contrary to its name and logo - the name means kujira-shaped rusks), and many types of commemorative cookies and sweets. Of course, there is also all manner of seafood and you can buy your own steamed king crab in a box if you'd like.

Eat
As a port city, Kushiro's seafood is top notch.

On the wharf by the MOO, you can grill your own seafood outside over charcoal grills (robatayaki) from early spring until late fall, when it closes for the winter season.

For conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi), there are two Hokkaido local chains Matsuriya (まつりや) and Nagoyakatei (なごやか亭). Matsuriya's portions are generally larger. Menus at both places are Japanese-only, but photo-filled. You can also of course grab plates off of the belt. Choices include the traditional salmon and tuna nigiris, but you will also find California rolls, whale meat (kujira) and tiramisu.

Kushiro is famous for whale meat (kujira), which you can eat raw or cooked in many restaurants around the city. However, it is not for the faint of heart, as it is very pungent, with an oily texture and a very fatty taste. A sushi restaurant is probably the best place to sample a small bit of whale meat (you can easily spot it on a conveyor belt, as it is the reddest meat you will see), as it does not taste much different cooked.

Further east from Kushiro, the city of Akkeshi is famous for oysters. It holds two oyster festivals a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Akkeshi oysters are quite plentiful in Kushiro restaurants as well.

Besides seafood, you can also have Hokkaido-style barbecue Genghis Khan (with Genghis pronounced "jengis"), and Korean-style barbecue (which is not very Korean). There is also the uniquely Hokkaido soup curry.

Non-Japanese food in Kushiro include the ubiquitous McDonald's and KFC, "American-style" hamburger steak restaurants, Italian restaurants, a few Southeast Asian restaurants, and a Nepalese curry restaurant.

Vegetarians who do not eat seafood will have a hard time finding food they can eat.

Drink
Suehiro-cho in the downtown area is the nightlife center of Kushiro, with many Japanese-style bars (izakaya), restaurants, karaoke boxes and snack bars (bars where female hostesses entertain guests) condensed in a few blocks. Most bars have a cover charge of ¥500 and one alcoholic drink generally costs the same.

A notable local drink is Tantakatan (鍛高譚), a shochu made with shiso leaves grown in the Shiranuka area (40 minutes west of Kushiro).

Sleep
Couch surfing hosts are also available in the city.

title: Kushiro


text:
Kuta

Kuta is the best known tourist resort area on the island of Bali, Indonesia. With a long broad Indian Ocean beach-front, Kuta was discovered by tourists as a surfing paradise. It has long been a popular stop on the classic Banana Pancake Trail backpacking route in South-East Asia.

Understand
Back in the 1980s they used to talk about the three Ks: Kathmandu in Nepal, Khao San Road in Bangkok and Kuta. Today Kuta still attracts some hardcore backpackers as well as families and tourists from all over the world, and is most notably a playground for young visitors from Australia.

Due to the ever increasing popularity of Bali, Kuta is continually developing, and is not short of unsightly, poorly planned buildings. It is chaotic, overcrowded and congested. However, amongst all the mayhem this place somehow works, and hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy their time in Kuta every year.

Infrastructure has come a long way in Kuta, although it is still insufficient for the amount of visitors who stay in the area. Some side alleys still have significant potholes and road rules still don't mean very much. Most roads are constantly busy with motor scooters, metered taxis and private cars. Instead of using signals, locals and the seasoned travellers honk their motor vehicles to signal overtaking or squeezing into a tight spot near you. Cars often fold in their side mirrors when negotiating narrow single lanes with parked vehicles. Now you can access free Wi-Fi in local convenience stores, restaurants, cafes and hotels. There are half a dozen prepaid mobile phone sim cards available everywhere with competitive top up plans. Touts will persistently try to get you to buy something from them, whether you're walking on the streets or seated in a restaurant.

The 5-km-long sandy stretch of Kuta is among the best beachfronts in Bali. The beach is safe, mostly clean, and well-maintained with areas for different activities. The beach nearest to the sea is for sunbathing and no hawkers will annoy you. Behind it is for beach vendors such as massages, hair braiding, and surf boards and maybe they will annoy you when you enter their area. And near the half-body fence wall is area for vendors, mostly from East Java, who sell cigarettes, foods and drinks, cheaply, so many taxi drivers buy over the fence wall. These areas are cool under the trees. The long wide stretch of sand is often full of sunbathers and although most of the serious surfers have moved on to newer pastures, there are still plenty of surf dudes around at most times of the year, and especially so during peak season. As you move north along the beach to first Legian and then Seminyak and Petitenget it becomes progressively quieter and less frenetic.

The area of south Kuta closest to the airport is more correctly known as Tuban, but this name is rarely used.

Once the sun goes down, Kuta is the rough and ready party zone of Bali. Even the most hardened of party animal will find something to please them on Jalan Legian at night.

By plane
Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport, is in fact directly south of Kuta, about 15 minutes away by taxi. More information about the airport is in the main Bali article.

Pick-up zone for taxi, gojek and grab. AIRPORT TRANSPORT FIXED PRICELIST (Jun 2024): ZONE1 Rp 100K (TUBAN, KEDONGANAN), ZONE 2 Rp 120K (Kuta, Jimbaran)… ZONE 5 Rp 200K (Sanur…)… Zone 12 Rp 850K (Gilimanuk, Pemuteran). If you don't have too much luggage, you can save some money by walking 200 metres out of the airport area, and take a metered taxi (taksi berargo) from a company that does not pay service fees to the airport authority and is therefore not allowed to enter the airport to pick up customers. For example, a metered taxi from Bali Taksi (+62 361 701111) will run to about Rp30,000 for the same trip. You could book a fixed price taxi via a smart phone app such as Grab (cars and motorbikes) or Gojek (cars and motorbikes). Go up lift or escalators to 3rd level. Use the airport's free Wi-Fi to book before walking outside. Grab taxis typically wait on the other side of the elevated road inside multi-story carpark's top level C (A and B below it) and will likely give you a column number to meet at, such as C81. You can also catch a bemo from outside the airport to Kuta for Rp5,000-10,000. If you can find one as they are rare now. Or many passengers booked car rental by online and the car will be delivered to the airport for free. Public teman bus K2B ends at airport from Terminal Ubung and can switch to K5B to Sanur, Rp 4,400 each ride.

If you have a flight arriving or leaving at night, you can either book a nearby hostel, either wait at the airport. For domestic terminal, before checkin, there are a lot of sittings outside or inside (part can lay down), wifi is available but few spots have power plugs (better in boarding room but after checkin which usually starts only 2h before flight). There is a separate holding room for priority persons (disabilities, pregnant, infant, elderly, blind, deaf, religious leader). Didn’t see water fountain. There are ongoing construction work at Jun 2024 that may affect operations.

By car
Kuta is reached by the main Jalan Ngurah Rai bypass from points north (Denpasar, Sanur and Ubud), and south (Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu. If you are coming in from Seminyak be sure to take the Jalan Sunset bypass and not the congested beach route along Jalan Raya Seminyak and Jalan Legian.

By bus
Kuta is connected by bus routes from all areas of Bali. There are various scheduled shuttle services including Perama. Perama shuttle buses to Kuta leave from Sanur, Ubud, Candidasa, Padang Bai and Lovina.

By public bus
From Denpasar, Teman bus K1B (Trans Metro Dewata) ends in Sentral Parkir Kuta, Rp4,400.

From Ubud, chain bus K4B (switch at stop Titi Banda, right side of road) and K5B (back of city, stops Simpang Dewa Ruci, Sunset barat, or sentral parkir kuta), Rp4,400 each, only with bank transport card or qris, no cash, about 1 hr 45 min trip.

By bemo
As elsewhere in Bali, bemos (motorised trycles) are rarer and far less important in Kuta than they used to be. This reflects both the increased number of Balinese who are wealthy enough to afford their own transport, and the huge expansion of tourism in Bali. Bemo Corner, in the heart of Kuta at the junction of Jalan Legian and Jalan Raya Kuta, used to be an institution on the backpacker circuit. These days it is almost irrelevant, but the little blue buses are still there albeit in greatly reduced numbers, and they will still try to charge you five times the real rate.

Kuta is served with some regularity from Denpasar's Tegal bemo terminal.

By boat
Benoa Harbor — not to be confused with Tanjung Benoa — is around 20 min northeast of Kuta, and speedboats and cruises from the Gili Islands, Lombok and Nusa Lembongan arrive here. Most companies operating from Benoa offer free pick-up and drop-off in and around Kuta.

Get around

Kuta stretches along the beachfront all the way from the airport to Legian, and small lanes lead from the beaches into the densely populated accommodation zone. To avoid traffic-related frustrations, the best option is a combination of walking in small lanes and using metred taxis or a rented motorbike for longer excursions.

By car
Traffic jams are a constant hassle here and especially so when it is raining. It is often best to park your car before you reach central Kuta, and then walk in. The centre is only about 1.5 km long and 500 metres wide but when stuck in traffic you might easily spend 30 minutes or more to travel these short distances.

There are some designated parking areas in the middle of Kuta (usually Rp5,000 for an unlimited stay) including a large one on Jalan Legian near the top of Poppies II. There are also public parking bays on Jalan Pantai Kuta right beside the beach, but these can get very busy.

Finding a rental car company is easy in Kuta, especially in Poppies I and Poppies II. A small rental car starts from Rp140,000 with third party insurance. Add another Rp100,000 or so for a comprehensive cover. Check your rental contract for specifics before signing. The rental car can be driven to your accommodation for pick up.

By shuttle bus
South Bali has a public local shuttle bus service called Kura Kura Bus. The bus service connects popular tourist areas daily from 08:30 until 22:00 (depending on the line). Flat fare rates for a single journey. Rates vary for each line. Kuta, Legia, Seminyak are all Rp20,000. Jimabaran and Sanur are Rp40,000. Nusa Dua and South Nusa Dua is Rp50,000. Ubud is Rp80,000.

By taxi
Metered taxis (taksi berargo) are ubiquitous on the streets of Kuta and are a relatively cheap and reliable way to get around, especially at night. Avoid any taxi where the driver refuses to put the meter on. This is increasingly rare but you will still find the odd taxi driver who is stuck in a 1990s timewarp. It's still a common problem at night time along the main bar and club stretch of Jalan Legian.

The largest, most reputable and most reliable taxi operators are Bluebird and Bali Taksi. Sometimes these taxis are not available at night in the immediate vicinity of discos and bars as other smaller companies may have exclusive arrangements with these businesses. However, the more reputable and reliable taxis can be found easily by walking a little up the street. It would be in your interests to seek out a Bluebird taxi in this situation.

Since BlueBird and Bali Taxi have the best reputations, a number of other drivers have started to try and make their taxis look very similar, using blue vehicles with names like Taxi Bali, or a logo that's similar to the BlueBird. Look very carefully, sometimes at first glance the imitators can be quite convincing.

If you wish to use a taxi ensure the destination is clear with the driver before you enter the taxi and that the driver will be using the meter. If the driver does not agree to use the meter seek another taxi.

Having entered the taxi ensure the driver understands the destination requirement and turns on the meter (argo). At the end of the journey pay the amount showing on the meter. Do not accept any requests from the driver for extra payment or surcharges of any kind other than the payment of tolls or parking fees, these are the responsibility of the passenger, not the driver.

The driver may not provide change if you only have large notes, ensure you obtain smaller notes prior to travel or stop on-route, otherwise you will most likely have to round-up the payment and not receive any change.

To avoid paying too much or to avoid the haggling, try using a smart app booking service such as GrabTaxi. You are more likely to find a driver if you position yourself at an easy and convenient location for pick up on a major road and by a well known place such as outside a KFC or mini mart and not down a narrow alleyway.

By motorbike
Those with a sense of adventure should try hopping on the back of a local scooter. They are always looking for a passenger, making negotiation easier and more successful. This type of informal transport is called an ojek and is fast and cheap. It is now possible to download booking apps for finding ojek drivers at fixed rates, including insurance. For example Go-Jek.

You can choose to rent a scooter for your stay. There are literally thousands of scooters available for rent: these should cost no more than Rp60,000-70,000 per day rental, and between Rp45,000-50,000 per day for rental of a week or more. Insist on a helmet for the motorcycle, for both your own safety and because wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in Indonesia; you will be stopped by the police and fined for riding without a helmet. It should be understood that the streets can be chaotic and dangerous for inexperienced riders so consider carefully before renting a motorcycle. If you intend to surf, there are plenty of specially modified motorbikes with surfboard hangers.

By bicycle
You could hire a bicycle to get around on, it would save on too much walking or needing to pay for taxis. Sadly there are not many places to rent bicycles in Bali anymore except in Sanur. If you want a good quality bicycle to rent the try Bali Bike hire. They can deliver bicycles to you if needed.

Bicycle sharing company oBike were operating in Kuta using a smart phone app but it seems they have stopped operating. A few obikes can still be seen parked up. (July 2019).

On foot
Kuta has become quite more pleasant to walk, with pavements being reformed and touting on the streets dramatically reduced. Kuta beach contains a long walking lane which is surprisingly almost free of touts. In busy roads, guards help pedestrians to cross the street. On narrow streets, pedestrians need to share the road with motorbikes, which isn't particularly dangerous but requires constant attention.

See

Surfing, shopping & partying are the three main events in Kuta, and interesting attractions are very thin on the ground. The beach is of course very scenic here, if nearly always crowded.

 * Beach offerings. In the mornings you regularly see Balinese people throwing offerings into the sea, especially when Nyepi is approaching. The best spot is the temple right next to the beach about 200-250 m to the north of the Hard Rock Hotel.
 * Hard Rock Hotel is something of a tourist attraction and is definitely worth a look and the odd photo.
 * Hard Rock Hotel is something of a tourist attraction and is definitely worth a look and the odd photo.

Surfing
Kuta is a well known destination amongst surfing enthusiasts. A long sandy beach with a lack of dangerous rocks or coral, makes the area attractive for beginners.

 * Some of the surf dudes in the shops also offer private lessons. They are considerably cheaper than the surf schools but just as good. Many of the dudes have been working for the schools or do it on the side. You can't find them on the web so you should look around. One good one is the "Sion Surf Shop" on Poppies I, around from the beach.
 * There are several surf shops on Poppies II which all seem to be much of a muchness. Friendly local surfer dudes will happily chat wth you about the waves, offer to fix a ding, rent you a board and sell you just about anything surf-related.
 * Be careful when you rent on a beach: some boards are in such a poor condition that you are very lucky if you don't break them. And that is what some who operate the rental business are looking for. If you break it, then they may demand that you pay for it. So choose only the boards that appear to be in good condition, or you may get ripped off.
 * It is also possible to rent equipment from locals on the beach for between Rp20,000-80,000 per half day, however prices asked are often closer to Rp40,000-100,000 for one hour. If you rent from the same company for a few consecutive days you will almost certainly get a better price. The equipment quality is lower than of the formal outlets. The surfers on the beach can also give you some basic lessons, and look after your stuff while you are in the water. If this is your first experience of surfing it is safer to use a surf school or private lessons before heading out on your own.
 * If you want to rent for a few days, rather consider rentasurfboard.com. Their price is Rp100,000/day, the boards are usually in good condition.
 * If you want to rent for a few days, rather consider rentasurfboard.com. Their price is Rp100,000/day, the boards are usually in good condition.

Spa and massage
There are spas by the dozen, and as Kuta is the most competitive place in Bali, prices are the lowest (as is the quality of experience). Shop around and ask for package discounts. Take a look at the place first and do not allow yourself be talked into something by touts. A well known spa is Villa de Daun on Jalan Legian. Many hotels have their own in-house spas or partner with a local operator. Reborn and Cozy are two excellent spas on the outskirts of Kuta, on Sunset Road just before the roundabout. The price is around Rp120,000 for 2 hours, but have "happy hour" specials.

Beware of the women offering massages on the beach. They are seasoned at ripping off tourists: be sure you have agreed to a price and a duration, or you'll find yourself with a 10-minute massage.

Other
Enjoy the sunset. In the evenings plenty of people head down to the beach or seaside cafes to watch the wonderful sunset. Be in place by about 17:30, for a sunset between 18:15 and 18:45. The area in front of McDonald's and the Hard Rock Cafe can be a bit hectic with touts selling spearguns, henna tattoos and massages. Going north, the hassle drops exponentially, with the Legian/Padma Beach area being a wonderfully relaxing place to watch sunset.

Learn

 * Yoga is very popular and courses are always on offer.
 * Some hotels offer courses to learn Bahasa Indonesia.

Buy

 * There are lots of popular surfwear/sportswear stores including Volcom, Rip Curl, Rusty, Surfer Girl Billabong and Quiksilver. These well known brands can be purchased in Kuta at prices 30-50% lower than you will pay at home. Your best bet is to wander the length of Jalan Legian between bemo corner and Jalan Melsati where you will find an almost unbelievable number of outlets.
 * Kuta Square is a popular shopping area at the north end of Jl Kartika Plaza. There are a host of small shops on both sides of the street, and a big Matahari department store, with a cheap and utterly wacky collection of T-shirts on the 3rd floor.
 * If you buy things from hawkers on the beach, you will attract dozens more and they will do their best to make you feel guilty for not buying from them. Be prepared for offers at "good luck prices" or "morning/sunset prices". The trick is to not look them in the eye and respond to their offers with a firm "no thank you", but to always stay polite.

Shopping malls
Large, western-style shopping malls are hardly a typical Bali shopping experience, but the best ones on the island are in the Kuta area.

Eat
You can find any manner of international and local food here. Restaurants are usually either very cheap or in the mid-range. Exclusive restaurants are rare but there are some gems. For luxury dining head 15 minutes up the road to Seminyak.

Halal restaurants can be found along Jalan Raya Kediri. Big chain restaurants such as Pizza Hut, Mc Donald's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken are also halal certified and can be found easily near the beach.

Budget
Beach-stall food is delicious, filling and very cheap. These are dotted along Kuta and Legian beach beneath the trees or road-side awnings.

If looking for cheap local food aka Rp10,000-25,000, try Kuta market (e.g., Bubur Ayam Bang Yossi Khas Jakarta - Bubur Ayam Rp14,000). Near Bali caps hostel, often bakso street vendor (Rp20,000) and in the parking of Mal Bali Galeria (near Mushola and K3 place), hidden warung (nasi goreng telur Rp13,000).

Drink
Kuta is the low end party centre of Bali popular with Backpackers and young Australians on holiday. It has recovered well from the bomb blasts in 2002 and 2005 and tourists still flock to the bars where alcohol is served freely and excessively. Many of the bars have a house cocktail with a local arak (rice spirit) base. These go by charming names like Jam Jar and Fish Bowl, pack a huge punch and make customers very ill.

Jalan Legian bars
Jalan Legian between Poppies Gang I & II is the main party area and things tend to get going around midnight and go until 03:00-04:00. The biggest venues are:

Poppies Lane II bars
Closer to the hotels and eateries and having a more laid back sort of atmosphere, Poppies Lane II is where many of the younger crowd go to start their night off before hitting the dancefloors at the clubs on Jalan Legian. Gets busy from 21:00 until midnight. The more popular places are:

Kuta waterfront bars
Along the waterfront on Jalan Pantai Kuta there are some slightly more sophisticated bar and lounge options. Most are lounges that offer food and entertainment afterwards. Definitely an option to explore and not so overrun by the Australian party groups.

Coffee
Several global coffee chains are here, including Gloria Jean's (Australia), Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (USA), Starbucks (USA). There are also independent coffee shops too, such as Bemo Corner Coffee.

Sleep
Kuta has a huge range of accommodation mostly in the budget and mid-range markets, but for the last few years there are many 4-star hotels also. Prices are often negotiable. Nowadays, Kuta is the most competitive area of hotel businesses in Bali. Many 3-star hotels offer discounts. The other hotels of all classes have also lowered their rates. Many hotels have been/being built between Tuban Beach and Kuta Square street. Closer to Kuta Square street means farther to Kuta Beach. Several 3- or 4-star hotels are also located in narrow streets and usually have limited car parking slots. Booking ahead is not necessary even in peak seasons, except if you want to guarantee a stay in one particular hotel, as supply is greater than demand.

All prices stated below are normal prices without discount.

Budget
There are a lot of cheap guest houses in the Rp100,000-250,000 range on Poppies II, but you can often find nicer places on the small lanes between Poppies I and II. Most guest houses in this area allow adults only. A lot of the budget accommodation in Kuta is very tired. Always see the room first & haggle. It is becoming difficult to find budget accommodation if you arrive late in the day. Budget places (under US$10) may not take reservations, so trying to arrive around 12:00 or 13:00 as people check-out is a good strategy to try and find cheap accommodation.

Stay safe
The safety advice given here applies more in Kuta than anywhere else in Bali. Take heed, have fun, but be sensible.

 * Swimming safety is extremely important in Kuta. It is prohibited to swim near the special flags, that are placed where currents are especially strong. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, where the lifeguards have deemed it safest. Do not swim out too far as the waves and currents here are stronger than you might expect and change very rapidly. The sea water in Kuta can be filthy and you should try not to swim in the obviously polluted areas.
 * Watch your belongings at the beach, better yet do not bring your valuables to the beach if you intend to swim or surf.
 * Touts and scammers will constantly look for their chance. Be wary of deals. If its sounds too good to be true then it probably is. When walking alone (especially down Jl Pantai Kuta and Jl Legian) you will be hassled by touts offering transport on motorbikes. Generally this is harmless and can be used as a means of getting around, although the shear volume of touts offering transport can be an annoyance. Remember to stay calm and don't be pressured into buying anything you don't want.
 * Drunken Australians are mostly friendly, but occasionally you might find the odd dickhead looking to start a fight.
 * At night, drunk driving & big potholes in the streets are a problem, so be very aware of road safety after dark, and don't do foolish things with motorbikes.
 * Drugs should be avoided in Kuta (and all of Indonesia). Punishments for possession are harsh and there have been a number of arrests of tourists over the years. Beware of unsavoury touts offering drugs (often after initially offering transport). These "dealers" are often working with the police in order to get small payouts for arrests. Say "no" and walk away.
 * Pickpockets have been known to be a problem outside bars, specifically on Jalan Legian (Sky Garden, et al.) One common method used against drunk tourists leaving bars and clubs is for a large group of boys and teenagers to block the sidewalk. As the target attempts to squeeze through, the thieves attempt to reach into their pockets and/or bags and take whatever they can get.
 * Pickpockets have been known to be a problem outside bars, specifically on Jalan Legian (Sky Garden, et al.) One common method used against drunk tourists leaving bars and clubs is for a large group of boys and teenagers to block the sidewalk. As the target attempts to squeeze through, the thieves attempt to reach into their pockets and/or bags and take whatever they can get.

Connect
Free Wi-Fi for customers has become very widespread in cafes, restaurants, hotels in Kuta - look for the signs.

You can easily buy a prepaid mobile SIM card at a local sundry shop for about Rp25,000, which will come in handy when making hotel reservations or booking tours. They are also available at Circle-K and other convenience chains, but will cost more for the same deal. Get the seller to activate the SIM card for you unless you understand instructions in Bahasa Indonesia fairly well. There should be no need to top up the card, as text messaging and short local calls will cost you next to nothing. If required, top up plans are competitive and sold at the same type of outlets.

There is a post office in a small lane off Poppies I which is also home to several 'wartels' (phone shops) which provide public IDD and fax facilities.

Cope
The following nations have honorary consulates in Kuta, though the names of the consulates confusingly include the words "in Denpasar":

 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Go next

 * Kuta is a major transport hub and is well connected to the rest of island via a bemo and shuttle bus network. Check the myriad of advertising boards on Poppies I, Poppies II and Jalan Legian for details.
 * Legian and Seminyak are within walking distance from Kuta.
 * A car journey to the cultural heart of Bali in Ubud will take about 45 minutes.

title: Kuta


text:
Kuta (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Kuta:

Indonesia

 * Kuta - the largest tourist resort on the island of Bali
 * Kuta (Lombok) - a city on the island of Lombok, in the province of West Nusa Tenggara

title: Kuta (disambiguation)


text:
Kuta (Lombok)

Kuta is a coastal town in the south of the island of Lombok in Indonesia. The scenery is spectacular, with cliffs and mountains reaching the coast to create jagged and awe-inspiring landscapes and views. The beaches are some of the best in Indonesia, with pristine white sand, and transparent blue-greens in the water. Kuta has some of the best surfing in the world, so naturally many visitors are surfers.

Understand

Kuta has a wide variety of accommodations and restaurants, ranging from backpacker offerings to a four-star resort for wealthier travellers. Many people come to Kuta just to unwind, lie on the beach, rent a motorcycle to look around or to just relax by reading a book or taking a nap in the afternoon.

Most of Kuta retains its sleepy, natural character as a typical fishing village. The local people live in housing clusters (called kampungs) and are largely unaffected by tourist activity. Travellers can walk along dirt roads and see the villagers going about their normal daily activities. Food is usually cooked over a wood fire and the children live a carefree life of playing on the beach and climbing trees. Most people are exceptionally friendly to foreigners, although a very small element have growing hostilities. With the High numbers of surfers coming to Kuta Lombok, some frustrations can lead to aggression and ugly incidents. Should you run into any trouble report it at the local police office on the bypass. Remain cautious and use common sense; particularly at night, around local surfer-dudes who are drinking.

Lombok International Airport is around 20 minutes away, and there has been a huge amount of land speculation in the Kuta area from high-end hotel operators and other investors.

To search in Google Maps, type Kuta Lombok to avoid confusion with Kuta Bali.

This area of Lombok has been designated as a tourist development area in Mandalika Beach, 2.6 km away from Kuta Beach and 300 m from Seger Beach. However, the area has been named "Kuta Mandalika" and has wide road boulevard.

From Bali
There are many shuttle bus companies which have scheduled transport from Bali. Expect to pay around Rp200,000 per person (one way) from main Bali departure centres such as Kuta or Ubud. The price will include the ferry and connecting shuttles. The popular Perama bus company will charge only an additional Rp10,000 per surfboard. The one-way trip by bus and ferry usually requires more than 12 hr of travel to reach Kuta. It is a slow, but inexpensive and comfortable way to travel if that fits your style.

From Lembar
From Lembar the price to Kuta must be negotiated in advance. Competition is fierce and porters will often place your luggage in a taxi prior to settling the price. If using a taxi you should ensure that the driver uses the meter. Assertive behavior can ensure you choose the type of transport and price that suits your needs. The taxi fare from Lembar to Kuta should be around Rp250,000. If using a hired car ensure that the price is clearly defined before you enter the vehicle and depart.

Perama will also run this route if there are two of more passengers booked beforehand (Rp125,000 per person). The Perama bus will be waiting for you when you get off the boat in Lembar Harbour.

By shuttle
Perama shuttle tickets can be booked at the Perama office at Segare Anak Bungalows from 07:00-22:00, They have daily departures to destinations on Lombok and Bali. Transport to Lembar, the port for connecting ferries to Padangbai in Bali, costs Rp125,000 per person. To travel further north, prices to Senggigi and the Gili Islands should be Rp150,000 and Rp180,000 respectively. There are also many other reliable shuttle companies which can be booked through the tourist information booths or through your hotel or homestay.

Get around
In the village of Kuta, all local facilities are within a reasonable walking distance. For local transport in and around Kuta you can use a ojek (motorbike with rider).

By bemo
An extensive, but complex public transport system runs throughout all of Lombok. The standard mode of public transportation is the bemo, a small, covered pick-up truck with narrow benches.

The bemo is designed to transport local people; tourists may find them confusing and difficult to use. Public transport is not recommended for the uninitiated traveller, especially if traveling with luggage or surfboards and unable to speak Bahasa Indonesia. To reach almost any destination, expect numerous stops en route, bemo changes, and sometimes very crowded conditions. True backpackers wishing to save money by conquering the bemo system should carefully get advice about the route in advance and write down the name of the destination to show the driver. Traveling on a bemo is certainly one way to experience local culture.

Public bemo's are located at the junction and also on the beach road.

Wisata Car
In Kuta arfatourindo operates transport from Kuta beach to other beaches, e.g. mawun, tanjung aan, mawi, seger, selong belanak where surfing, diving and snorkling could be done. It costs Rp15,000-50,000 for one way. The passengers are at least 4 people. You may reserve this transport via arfatourindo@gmail.com or call +6278739518019.

By car
Many visitors consider the most efficient way to get around is by renting a local driver and a comfortable car. They are readily available at most hotels to transport you around the island at the rate of Rp350,000 for a half day

By motorcycle
If you wish to explore the South Lombok area surrounding Kuta, the preferred way by many is to do so by motorcycle. Motorcycles can be rented at rates of about Rp50,000 per day, without petrol. Insist the bike be in as new condition, then carefully inspect and make note of the bike for scratches and any other damage. Ensure the bike is in proper mechanical condition including the lights, brakes and tyres. Ask for a surfboard rack if desired as some rental operators have them available. Never give your passport or drivers licence as security to rent the bike and ensure the current STNK – Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan (Certificate of Registration) is with the motorbike.is.

Should you suffer an accident and damage the bike beware that local renters may ask for over the top compensation. It is always safest to rent from your hotel who do not want to have a problem with their reputation and will ask for fair and reasonable compensation. There are no bikes with insurance in Kuta.

By boat
Local boatman may be available to take you for an outing but be careful to negotiate the price and details to common agreement before boarding or determining a final price. Do not automatically expect the boat to have adaquate or possibly any safety equipment at all. Ensure you check such equipment for yourself prior to agreeing to the charter. Some traditional perahu boat operators cannot swim so do not expect them to be able to save you should difficulties arise. Also ensure that the price includes fuel and where you will be travelling and for how long a time. Ensure you will return to shore well before dusk. Do not expect the boat operator to be able to communicate with you fluently in English or even Bahasa Indonesian.

Beaches
Around Kuta there are some beautiful beaches. Kuta offers you the private white beaches you have seen on travel posters and always dreamed of experiencing. There are six main beaches in and around Kuta:

Other
Visitors can make day trips from Kuta to the pottery village of Penunjak and to the weaving village of Sukarare.

Surfing
Kuta is a surfers destination, with world class shore, reef and point breaks along the coast. Personal transport is the best way if not the only way to access the surfing spots. Since there have been reports of thefts in Southern Lombok, you should expect to pay a few thousand Rupiah to a local to guard your bike during your time in the water. Board can be hired in Kuta town or at the Gerupuk village.

Surfing can get busy, with locals and boatmen all joining in. Be aware that some locals can become aggressive following any mishaps in the surf, regardless of who is at fault. This is usually to cause intimidation (and demands for money) but can lead to physical threats. Stay respectful, handle any incidents calmly and fairly, and other locals will almost always look out for you.

Popular surf breaks around Kuta:

 * Seger reef: the closest break to Kuta village, Seger provides a heavy right hander and is excellent under most conditions. It's a popular spot during the afternoon tide shift, and especially after the big rains in the wet season. Ride past the Novotel, then turn right after the small bridge and continue taking right turns until the road becomes unsealed. Entrance to Seger costs Rp5,000 for motorbikes and Rp10,000 for cars. There is a small hill that onlookers can climb for a phenomenal view of the surroundings, especially popular at sunset.
 * Air Guling: Air Guling is a beach to the West of Kuta village. The break is a fair paddle from shore, and is a strong right hander, which can become very hollow during a large swell. Continue West from Kuta, up the mountain and over the other side. There is a view of the beach when coming down, and don't be deceived when the road swerves away from the coast. Eventually on the left there will be an unsealed dirt road which can be very difficult to handle (unadvisable to ride when wet). Continue the road to the beach, and pay Rp5,000 to watch your bike.
 * Gerupuk: The most popular break in Kuta. There are two main breaks here, although some others pop up in the right conditions. You need to hire a boatman from the village to access the breaks (Rp80,000 for 1 person, Rp50,000 per person for 2, and Rp30,000 each for more.). The boat will wait while you surf, however the boatmen will often join you out on the surf, which can cause frustrations when crowded. To get here, take a ride east for 7 km (about 10-15 min). There is a common parking area for surfers and tourists, which the locals monitor. Parking is usually free (although the standard fee is Rp1,000 if you are asked to pay).
 * Inside Gerupuk: in a sheltered bay, it's is good for beginners/intermediate. Absolute beginners (first time on a board) may find this intimidating, during large swell and crowded conditions, and should look for a simple beach break (like Tanjung Aan). The floor is a soft reef bed which doesn't cause much damage. The wave breaks both left and right here, and can get busy. Ocean Bar is located a short paddle away from the break (floating on the sea) and offers cold drinks, fruit and basic food.
 * Outside Gerupuk: Cannot be seen from the village, it's a short boat ride away. Outsides is generally the most reliable bet for a surf - there is nearly always something to surf here (even in low swell conditions). The wave is a right hander and can be quite heavy.
 * Tanjung Aan: Beach break in between Kuta and Gerupuk, for absolute beginners. Take the usual route out to Gerupuk, and take a right hand turn into Turtle Warung - before the football field (around 2 km outside Gerupuk). There are a series of Warungs on the beach, which you will need to drive past. You can park at or near the Turtle Warung, and take a short walk over the hill to see the surf behind. Tanjung Aan can get blown out during afternoon wind, so better to hit it in the morning. The hill will give you one of the best views of Kuta's beaches and inlets, and the sunset is particularly good (with beers from the Warungs).

Fishing
There is excellent sport fishing to be had in waters off Kuta. Unfortunately, the only charter boats available locally are local wooden outriggers and these are not always ideal for the challenging fishing conditions. You can though get a decent day's fishing by hiring one of these boats with a captain from the local guys on Kuta Beach.

Diving
There are only two or three scuba dive shops in operation.

Tanjung A'an, around 4 km east of Kuta beach, is a pleasant place for snorkelling.

Races

 * is a motor-racing circuit hosting Grand Prix and other big events. The next MotoGP races are 13-15 October 2023.

Buy
The village of Kuta provides all the basic necessities for a traveler, such as toiletries, tropical clothing, souvenirs, fruits and bottled water. You can buy some medical supplies and antibotics in Warung Kita and Warung Virgin, Diapet is a local medicine for Bali Belly which you are advised to try before taking a trip to the overcharged clinic. Warung Jabar in Kuta village can process photos.

There are 5 ATMs in Kuta. They are well lit at night, but use caution if withdrawing cash after all the shops close and you've had a few beers. If you are paying per transaction fees the best place to withdraw money is the CIMB ATM located at Novotel reception where the maximum withdrawal is Rp3,000,000. The ATM at Warung Virgin has a maximum withdrawal of Rp1,000,000. The one at Tastura Rp1,250,000 and Sekar Kunning aka Yellow Flower Rp1,500,000. There is also an ATM inside the premises at Segara Anak Bungalows.

Eat
Most of the hotels and bungalows serve breakfast which is included in their room rates. Kuta beach area restaurants have many food options. Most of the restaurants serve Indonesian, European and international cuisine.

 * Cafe Cherry, a simple cafe offering Indonesian and western food, seafood on order including lobster and prawns.
 * Ocean Life Cafe, a bamboo and wooden cafe, gives you a bit of option in the menu. Incorporates shop providing imported drink and wines.
 * Bong's cafe, wood oven pizza and tacos for a different taste in the Kuta area.
 * Purnama Cafe, a simple and enjoyable cafe.
 * Cafe Seger, a skillful lady chef offers tasty Sasak food next to the beach with views of the sea, best fish in Kuta.
 * Alang-Alang Cafe, cafe on the beach with Beruga style seating in a small, open sitting area with grass roof.
 * Warung Murah Meriah, run by a local couple.
 * Cafe Cherry, a simple cafe offering Indonesian and western food, seafood on order including lobster and prawns.
 * Ocean Life Cafe, a bamboo and wooden cafe, gives you a bit of option in the menu. Incorporates shop providing imported drink and wines.
 * Bong's cafe, wood oven pizza and tacos for a different taste in the Kuta area.
 * Purnama Cafe, a simple and enjoyable cafe.
 * Cafe Seger, a skillful lady chef offers tasty Sasak food next to the beach with views of the sea, best fish in Kuta.
 * Alang-Alang Cafe, cafe on the beach with Beruga style seating in a small, open sitting area with grass roof.
 * Warung Murah Meriah, run by a local couple.
 * Warung Murah Meriah, run by a local couple.

Sleep
Kuta has a good range of accommodation from cheap and slightly shabby huts all the way up to the 4-star Novotel. Most accommodation is located along the beach strip. Listed prices for budget and mid-range accommodation can change by a factor of 100% depending on the season. Even within one hotel complex the price of rooms can vary greatly depending on amenities, such as air conditioning, hot water and a television. The prices listed are only provided as a guide. In low season, you can bargain for discounted rates, in high season you may be thankful to get a room for any price. Call or check the hotel website directly for availability and/or reservations. Third party reservation agents are sometimes not reliable.

Budget

Hospitals
Several hospitals are in the main city of Mataram including the islands main public hospital Rumah Sakit Umun, Rumah Sakit Harapan Keluaga and the Risa Hospital in Cakranegara near Mataram mall.

 * Please see the Lombok main article for a list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Emergency service

 * Ambulance In emergency dial - 118

 * The reality is that unless within the confines of the main city of Mataram/Ampenan/Cakranegara an ambulance is normally too far away to provide prompt transport in the case of a true emergency. Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport.

Go next

 * Gili Islands - for more sand, sea and diving (but no surf to speak of).
 * Mount Rinjani National Park - Lombok's magnificent active volcanic peak.
 * Bali - next stop to the west in the Indonesian archipelago.
 * Senggigi - the principal tourism town on the west coast of the island
 * Mataram - the main city on the island and the provincial capital, not a lot to see there, has a mall, and an interesting museum

title: Kuta (Lombok)


text:
Kutaisi

Kutaisi is a city in the Rioni Region of Georgia. The city itself is very cinematographic and charming, and a visit to Kutaisi is almost mandatory to see the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites and offer views from the mountain slopes over the city and the Rioni River.

Understand
Kutaisi is the traditional rival of Tbilisi for capital status. Since the days of the Golden Fleece, Kutaisi has been considered the capital of Western Georgia (then Ancient Colchis). It is Georgia's third largest city (after Tbilisi and Batumi), but, to the irritation of the proud locals, it does not come even close to Tbilisi's present size and wealth. Nevertheless, Kutaisi is more respectful of pedestrians than Tbilisi. Its sidewalks are generally even and flat with very few cars parked on them, whereas in Tbilisi pedestrians are often forced into the streets because of cars sitting on sidewalks. Kutaisi drivers generally stop in front of crosswalks to let pedestrians cross, whereas in Tbilisi pedestrians have to be in the middle of the street to get a car to slow down for them.

Since the Georgian Parliament moved to Kutaisi in 2012, there has been a lot of work on restoring streets, buildings, parks and monuments in the city, and it has become much safer. There seems to be a bit more variety in the materials, facades, and designs of the buildings along Kutaisi's streets. In Kutaisi as in Tbilisi, a look up to the second floor can reveal balconies of elaborate ironwork. Kutaisi's central park is a nice (and safe) place to sit and watch people.

By plane

Specific destinations:
 * The Hungary-based, low-cost carrier Wizz Air provides low-cost, low-quality no frills flights from Budapest, Hungary; Berlin Dortmund Memmingen, Germany; Kyiv, Ukraine; London  Luton, England; Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Katowice, Poland; Larnaca, Cyprus; Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece; Bari and Rome and Milan, Italy; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia; Prague, Czech Republic; Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Paris, France; Copenhagen, Denmark; Vienna, Austria.
 * Ukraine Airlines flies from Kyiv and Kharkiv.
 * SkyUp Airlines flights from Kharkiv.
 * Ural Airlines flies from Moscow Domodedovo, Russia.
 * There are also occasional flights from Baghdad, Iraq, on Iraqi Airways.

Getting there/away

 * Marshrutka – Many go by the airport, heading east to Tbilisi (by Kutaisi), or west to Zugdidi, Batumi, Poti, Samtredia, etc. The prices for theses more distant destinations are pretty much like from Kutaisi itself (see prices below). Most marshrutkas will not go into the airport lane, so just head to the highway, 100 m from the airport, and hail them there. From the airport to Kutaisi it is 2 lari, not more!
 * Those from Kutaisi bus station towards Batumi, Poti, Zugdidi or Samtredia will also drop passengers off at the airport. But it depends on the mood of the driver, whether he is will take any short-distance passenger. Nevertheless, there are always more than enough marshrutkas going this way. Just wait at the, where they come out of the station and go west. Here you will also find the ones that come from the east and do not enter the bus station but directly continue after a short stop. It should not take longer than 10 min to find a ride.
 * From Tbilisi, a marshrutka from the Didube bus terminal to the airport is 20 lari. It is also possible to walk out of the airport onto the highway and hail a marshrutka if headed to a particular destination.
 * Having said that, at night the options become more sparse and you might have to resort to the shuttle buses. Ask the tourist information or your hotel or hostel beforehand.

 * Shuttle Bus – Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express provide bus service between the airport and Kutaisi city center, Tbilisi and Batumi, with bus schedules following flight arrivals. Shuttle buses to Tbilisi (20 lari, 4 hr) terminate at Freedom Square, while shuttle buses to Batumi (18 lari, 3 hr) terminate at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Shuttle buses to Kutaisi city center (5 lari) will stop at any address within the city. Tickets may be purchased online or upon arrival with cash or bank card at the Georgian Bus counter located near the exit, and when returning to the airport, may also be purchased directly from the driver. If you're riding the Georgian Bus service from Kutaisi, you must e-mail them with the name of the hotel from which you will be picked up from.

 * Train:
 * 1) (several times per day) Kopitnari railway station is 2 km away. Walk east along the main road. Only regional trains stop here (Direct destinations: Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi). The station has a very friendly countryside climate with staff always positively surprised to see foreigners. Expect to be greeted with local stuff. Tickets are very cheap, 2 lari to Batumi as of March 2019. However, the trains are old Soviet trains and occasionally catch fire (worth the experience but as a rule of thumb they're twice as slow as the road). The new station appears to be up and running.
 * 2) (several times during the day and 1 overnight) A way via Samtredia train station which is 13 km away (or Rioni, which is 30 km away). Hail marshrutka (couple of lari) or taxi (20 lari) to Samtredia. Overnight train to Tbilisi (departs around 01:00, arrives to Tbilisi 06:30), 20 lari. Besides overnight train, there are daytime trains (around 10:00, 13:00, 20:00 and takes 3-4 hr). Buy train tickets beforehand, because there might be no free beds/seats.

By train

 * Tbilisi – Ticket costs 9 lari (as of Nov 2020), 5 hr, 3 times daily. All trains from and to Tbilisi Station Square (next to the Station Square metro station) leave from and arrive at the Kutaisi I station. The train also stops in Mtskheta (the old capital of Georgia and Orthodox heart of the country), Gori (the birthplace of Stalin and home of the Stalin Museum) and Zestafoni. It is a relatively comfortable journey because passengers can stand and stretch and walk the length of the wagon) but slow due to long, intermediate stops, including one at Rioni, right outside Kutaisi. There are bathrooms on board (but bring tissue, just in case). There is no cafe or dining car, so bring water and snacks, too.
 * Train 633 – Kutaisi I-Sachkhere – 05:30-08:55, return: Train 634 – Sachkhere-Kutaisi I – 10:10-13:30
 * Train 635 – Kutaisi I-Sachkhere – 16:05-19:25, return: Train 636 – Sachkhere-Kutaisi I – 20:05-23:25
 * Train 6323 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 09:25-12:20, return: Train 6324 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 13:05-16:26
 * Train 6325 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 18:15-21:10, return: Train 6326 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 05:30-08:51
 * Train 6323 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 09:25-12:20, return: Train 6324 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 13:05-16:26
 * Train 6325 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 18:15-21:10, return: Train 6326 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 05:30-08:51

While private drivers and transport from Tbilisi are available (Mtskheta and Gori are day trips from Tbilisi and back), the Tbilisi-Kutaisi train route offers a good backbone for a tour of Georgia (with a look at its snow-capped mountains even in May) with leisurely overnights in Mtskheta, Gori, Kutaisi, and on to Batumi and the Black Sea.

By marshrutka

From specific destinations:
 * Tbilisi – Marshrutkas and full 54-passenger buses depart regularly for Kutaisi from 'Didube Bus Station' located at the Didube metro stop in Tbilisi. Marshrutkas (hourly, 3½ hr, 10 lari); large buses (every 3 hours, 4 hr). While marshrutkas get to Kutaisi quicker than the train, they are not as comfortable. The driver may not leave Didube until the mini-bus is full, which could mean as many 20 people sitting with bags and backpacks in five rows of four seats. There is no guarantee of any stops along the way to smoke or go to the toilet. There is no standing, of course, and, really, very little room to wiggle, especially if there are people sitting on the aisle seats. The best seats in marshrutkas are the ones next to the driver; however, he may, if he chooses, ask you to move to the back of the bus and give your seat to someone else.
 * Batumi – The marshrutka will get you to the town centre, or drop you off at the airport on the way, for 15 lari. Usually it takes 2-2½ hr, but give yourself about 3 or so. The bus will wait in Batumi until it is full, which could mean waiting on the bus for an extra 45 min. In Batumi, the buses leave from nearby to the entrance to the cable car, but the port. You will see them all parked there.
 * Borjomi – Several during the day, every hour or so, 8 lari, 2 hr. If you do not find a direct bus, it is said to be easy to change buses in Khashuri—3 lari between Borjomi and Khashuri.
 * Akhaltsikhe – 10:40, 15:00, and 18:10. 3½ hr. 17 lari. (updated Apr 2022)
 * Kharagauli – Twice a day, 10 lari, 3½ hr.
 * Zugdidi – There are hourly (or so) marshrutkas until 16:00. 1½-2 hr, 7 lari.

Get around
The interesting parts of the town are walkable. To visit the monasteries in the mountains nearby booking a day-tour may be a time-saving option.

By bus
No. 1 city bus is a useful circular route (both clockwise and anticlockwise direction) linking the main city square, Kutasi I (main train station), and Kutaisi II (bus station). 0.40-0.50 lari, pay the driver at exit, change given.

From Kutasi II (bus station), clockwise direction (to the left, cross the road from McDonald's) is the faster route to the city centre. Note each direction takes slightly different route on the centre of the city (east side of the river). The clockwise direction does not go in front of Kutasi I but goes south on Tsereteli St. along the river. The anticlockwise direction stops in front of Kutaisi I then goes uphill on Solomon Piveli Street and downhill on 26 Maisi (May) Street towards the main square.

Local marshrutkas ply the city but it can be difficult to find the route for average tourists. Nonetheless, bother enough locals with a map and some broken Russian, and eventually one will take pity and frog march you to the right bus stop.

By train
Schedule of Georgian railways is here.

See

Do

 * Do as the locals do: Sit in the city centre park (Central Garden) and watch the world pass by.

What
The homemade wine in the bazaar in Kutaisi is apparently not that good, because more than often they mix with sugar and other stuff. This is at least what some locals are saying.

Eat
Kutaisi has quite a number of decent restaurants. They are mainly in the city center, but a bit spread out, so just walk around to find what you're looking for.

In the city center is an US fast food chain which is less common worldwide:.

Drink
Kutaisi does not have a great bar or club culture like Tbilisi, but you can checkout the following:

Connect
The tourist office kiosk between the two main bridges is staffed during the summer season only. Rest of the year it is located in the annex building left to the city hall at the ground floor. (It is a bit hard to find since the mayor don't want to have signs to it. Ask in the city hall if you cannot find it.)

Dingy post office on Tamar Mepe St. Previously existing Internet cafés have closed due to numerous freely available hotspots.

Go next
The minibus station is located close to Kutaisi II train station behind the McDonald's. Most of the following destinations can be reached from there:
 * Batumi – The capital of Ajara and Georgia's third largest city is a pleasant Black Sea port with great Ajaruli cuisine
 * Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (for details see Borjomi) – The largest national park in Georgia. The diversity of physical, geographical and especially climatical conditions of it has shaped the wealth and variety of its flora and fauna. Apart from the largely untouched nature of Borjom-Kharagauli, there are numerous cultural monuments. In particular, there are two easily accessible churches, built in 9th century. Eight tourist trails are operating in the national park. They vary in length, duration and complexity. Open from Apr until October.
 * Jvari – A small town with a couple of great attractions nearby, namely Enguri Dam and Silver Lake. The latter is one of the most impressive alpine treks that you can do in Georgia. The marshrutka to Zugdidi leaves from the main marshrutka station behind the central McDonald's. The journey is 133 km. In Zugdidi connect with the Jvari marshrutka just over the bridge and a minute's walk away.
 * Mestia – The "capital" of Svaneti and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 * Tbilisi – The beautiful and interesting capital, Georgia's largest and most cosmopolitan city.
 * Tskaltubo – A balneological ex-resort that was very popular during Soviet times (8 km away from Kutaisi). Many sanatoria are populated with refugees since war with Abkhazia. Destroyed luxury Soviet-time hotels are very interesting places to see.
 * Zugdidi – A not very popular city with tourists for itself, however many of them pass through it on their way up to Mestia in Svaneti.

From Kutaisi I train station, the following destinations can be reached:
 * Oni (ონი) – 16:25. 10 lari. – A very pretty, rustic town on the Rioni River up in the mountains that was for millennia a center of Georgian Jewish culture. Today it is becoming a major tourist destination for domestic travelers as well as attracting adventurous foreign travelers attracted to its natural beauty, remote setting and a local culture that has not seen the effects of tourism yet.
 * Tkibuli (ტყიბული) – 08:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 16:40, 17:40. 3½ lari.
 * Chkhari (ჩხარი) – 08:00, 12:10, 16:25. 2½ lari.
 * Tuzi (თუზი) – 10:25, 17:30. 3½ lari.
 * Zeda Alisubani (ზედა ალისუბანი) – 13:40. 2.70 lari.
 * Tavasa (თავასა) – 10;00, 15:20. 3 lari.

title: Kutaisi


text:
Kutacane

Kutacane is the capital of Southeast Aceh Regency of Aceh Province.

Understand
A fairly big city with about 100,000 inhabitants built next to the main road going through the north Sumatra. It is a place where people, roads and transportation meets.

The ATM in Kutacane does not serve foreign cards as of 1 April, 2024, regardless of what you might have heard elsewhere. Bring enough cash with you!

Get in
By bus: All buses depart from the market. At the market there are several different bus companies. Ask around to get the best price.

 * From the south: There are several buses leaving from Medan every day, taking about 6-9 hours depending on weather and traffic. There are also buses from Lake Toba and various different locations east and south from Kutacane.
 * From the north: There is one main road leading north passing Ketambe, Blankenjeren and Takengon. However there few if any buses going further than Blankenjeren. The buses to Blankenjeren leave daily between 9-10 o'clock and take about 4-5 hours. There are many minivans going to Ketambe and different other villages leaving about twice an hour. It takes about an hour to get to Ketambe.

By plane: Ketambe has a small airport which serves two destinations (Banda Aceh and Medan several times a week for a cost of about 300 000 - 500 000. In late December 2011 there was a plane crash with the same or a similar company on northern Sumatra though.

Get around
By foot or taxi. You can find small taxis everywhere.

See
The market is basically the only thing worth seeing. It is quite impressive.

Eat and drink
Go to small restaurants, enjoy some coffee and typical Indonesian food. There are no western cafés.

Sleep
There are several hotels for travelers looking for a place to stay for the night. The standard is bad lacking proper toilets and showers. A room is about Rp60,000-100,000. Stay here only if you have to.

Go next

 * Ketambe: A small and charming village well worth a visit.
 * Takengon: Kutancane is basically just a stop on the road to Ketambe and Takengon.

title: Kutacane


text:
Kutch

Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch, and Kachchh) is a district in the north-west of Gujarat, India.

Kutch is largest district in India with more than 45,000 km².

Cities

 * — headquarters and major city of Kutch

 * — famous for handicrafts and bandhni, ajaqakh

 * — one of the oldest cities of the area. Famous for legendary Jesal-Toral

 * — city that was the center of the 1956 and 2001 earthquakes.

 * — important town and commercial hub 12 km away from Kandla port

 * — one of the important ports of India

 * — famous for Sea Beach and wooden ship-making industry

 * — a major port

 * — an old fort, now a ghost town

Other destinations

 * White deserts from Chobari to Dholaveera.

 * — a 4000-year-old site with forts, monuments, dams, natural beauty and the world's oldest culture, society, handicrafts
 * — largest (4594 km) wildlife sanctuary in India for an endangered sub-species of Indian Wild Ass

Understand
Kutch is the largest district of Gujarat wherein as many as 18 varied tribes live harmoniously, in spite of their distinct language, culture and customs. This is what makes it a paradise for cultural tourists worldwide.

Kutch Mahotsav or the great Kutch festival is organized during December - January every year near the days when Shivratri is celebrated in Gujarat. It offers access to the interior and beautiful recesses of the dessert district. Colorfully attired dancers, music concerts, Sindhi Bhajan performances, Langa Desert Music and shops selling traditional Kutchi embroideries and jewelry are to be enjoyed.

The desert-like Rann of Kutch occupies a big part of the region. Mostly marshy, the Rann runs into the horizon. During summer it is dry and has a white coating of salt. In India's monsoon, the flat dessert of salty clay and mudflats, averaging 15 meters above sea level, fills with standing waters, interspersed with sandy islets of thorny scrub, breeding grounds for some of the largest flocks of greater and lesser flamingos. The Rann Of Kutch is home to a wide array of flora and fauna. Migratory birds deem it an abode during diverse weather conditions.

The Rann is also famous for the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, the Little Rann of Kutch, where the last of three species of Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus khur or khar) still exists along with wolves, foxes, jackals, chinkara gazelles, nilgai antelope and blackbucks as well as 13 species of lark.

Kutch is famous for its handicrafts, hills, white deserts, beautiful virgin sea beaches, various forts and above all Dholaveera, one of the five largest Harappan sites and among the most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization.

Bhuj with a population of more than 150,000 lakh (2011) is a major city of the region. Mandvi and Pingleshawar are famous for sea beaches. The Black Hills (Kalo Dungar), 25 km north of Khavda, are a good vantage point to see the vast expanse of the white desert. The top of the Black Hills is the highest point in Kutch, at 462 m. From here, the entire northern horizon vanishes into the Great Rann, the desert and sky often becoming indistinguishable.

By train

 * Kutch Express (Daily) and Sayaji Nagri Express (Daily) from Mumbai via Surat, Ahmedabad and Gandhidham to Bhuj.
 * Ala Hazrat Express (Daily) from Delhi via Jaipur, Ajmer and Palanpur to Bhuj.

By bus
State transport and private buses available for Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Jodhpur.

By plane
Spicejet flies daily to Mumbai from Kandla Airport near Gandhidham town.

See

 * Aina Mahal
 * Greater Rann [The White Desert]
 * Bird Sanctuary
 * Mandvi Beach
 * Narayan Sarovar
 * Hajipir
 * Dholavira.
 * Mata na Madh
 * Jesal Toral Samadhi (near Anjar Railway Station)
 * [[Image:Rudramata Dam. A rain water reservoir that supplies water to deserted areas around capital city of Bhuj.jpg|thumb|Rudramata Dam]]
 * White desert

Do

 * An interesting feature for adventure lovers is a jeep or camel safari in and across Rann of Kutch with tented camps on the baits. These trips add more thrill as they last for about a week. If you are a photography enthusiasts, make use of the special rides and camouflaged boats provided.
 * A trip to a typical Saurashtra village and an insight into the art of hand loom weaving and dyeing Units can be enticing due to the vibrantly colored dyes and the exquisite craftsmanship. The age old craft of pottery can also be viewed from close quarters.
 * Tribal life is best experienced with the tribal people and there is no substitute for a stay at the typical tent. These camps are organized between July and September.
 * Bird watchers can see rarest kind of birds.
 * Experience the probable magnetic zone en route to Kalo Dungar near Khavda village
 * During winter "Rann Utsav" (Desert festival) is organized by Tourism department of Gujarat.
 * White Rann Festival "Rann Utsav" or Kutchutsav "Rann Utsav" is organized by government of Gujarat every year in early November. It's a unique festival where you can feel a full white moon on the full white dessert.

Buy
Kutch is also famous for exquisite crafts like embroidery, applique work bed sheets and cushion covers. The ever so popular Bandhani (tie and die) fabrics, enameled silverware and other handicrafts are also found here and are a thing of interest for tourists.

Around the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, you may shop for Patola Silk Sarees, Bandhanis, Ghagra-cholis and marriage costumes. You will also find interesting wall hangings, embroidered quilts, cradle clothes, cloth toys, embroidered footwear, lacquer furniture and curios.

Kutch is very much spread over west-south of Rann, and it is difficult to go without escorts.

Eat
Hotels and vegetarian food is available. Mostly food is made out of milk, bajara and wheat. Kutch's staple diet does not include rice but pulses (dal) are available.

Drink
Alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Kutch. Tea is the most popular drink in this region irrespective of gender or caste. Black tea without milk is considered as a sign of mourning and is not given to guests. For personal use, foreigners are allowed to bring one-two bottles of alcohol with them.

Mineral water bottles are available at cheap rates.

title: Kutch