Top 10 Sights Of Kyoto Japan
When people first consider the idea of a
holiday in Japan, their
thoughts usually turn to Tokyo.
Now, theres nothing wrong with Tokyo its
soaring skyscrapers perfectly contrasting with its sombre temples but there
is a lot more to Japan
than the bright lights of its world famous capital. At our [ ], we tend to encourage people to look beyond just the infamouse capital.
Take Kyoto,
for example. The city is the historical and cultural capital of Japan a fine
mix of urban sprawl and cultural gems. Indeed, Kyoto
was home to the Japanese Imperial family from 794 all the way up to 1868 when
the Emperor decided to relocate to Tokyo.
Kyoto is one of the few major Japanese cities to
avoid the destruction of aerial raids during World War 2, and aside from
anything else that makes it a fascinating part of any holiday in Japan.
How much time you wish to spend in this
amazing city is mainly down to your tastes in sightseeing. Outside of the
shopping and purely commercial aspects of the town the main sights are almost
entirely made up of by cultural sights such as Buddhist temples and Zen
gardens. Because of the quantity of historical and cultural sights, it is very
easy to overdo Kyoto
sightseeing if done too quickly. Thankfully, tour chùa hương 1 ngày walking from sight to sight
through the marvellous city tempers this nicely and allows visitors to enjoy
the rich contrasts a Japanese holiday in this region can offer. Still, if you
only have the time or energy to visit 10 of Kyotos cultural and historical treasures,
these are what Id recommend (in no particular order)
Heian Jungu
This Shinto shrine is famous for having the
largest torii in the whole of Japan.
The shrine was built in 1895 to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto (formerly
Heiankyo), and is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei. If you happen
to be on holiday in Japan on October 22nd, you will have the chance
to see the Festival of Ages (Jidai Matsuri) which takes place here and
celebrates the day when Kyoto became Japans capital. The festival includes a
huge procession of around 2,000 people which stretches for several kilometres.
Gion
Gion is the district of Kyoto renowned for
its geisha houses and is the best area of the city to see geisha and maiko
going about their everyday business. Gion was built in the middle ages, but due
in part to some areas being declared a national historical preservation
district, some of the architecture and entertainment remains similar to how it
was when first established.
To clarify a popular misconception geishas
are not prostitutes, and Gion has never been a red light district.
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion
Temple)
The most striking feature of Kinkakuji (and
where it gets its name) is from the gold leaf that entirely covers the top two
tiers of the pavilion. It is a stunning site and one that Japanese holiday
makers cannot help but associate with Kyoto.
The temple is placed next to a pond, allowing a shimmering mirror image of the
structure to be viewed by all who visit, creating a powerful image of a
connection between heaven and earth. Although the gold leaf covering makes the
temple extremely valuable, its value is not entirely monitory, but also
spiritual: within its walls it houses relics of the Buddha.
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion
Temple)
Listing this directly below the Golden Pavilion
Temple is slightly
misleading, because while the aforementioned temples golden covering makes it
something of an ostentatious monument, this temple is comparatively minimalist.
This is because while the original plan was to make this temple a silver
accompaniment to its golden cousin, the plan was never carried out and it
remains a delightful example of minimalism and restraint.
The temple itself is a simple two-story
building, but its beautiful appeal is found in the surrounding serenity of the
two gardens. The first is a pond garden
composed of rocks and plants the aim being to grant a different perspective
from every angle. The second garden includes two carefully sculpted sand mounts
which offer a sense of perfect serenity.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Kyotos Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) was once the home of Japans Imperial family, but when the capital
shifted to Tokyo
in 1868, the rulers followed. The structure has burned down on many occasions
and the present reconstruction was only built in 1855.
The complex itself is encased in a long wall
and is made up of several halls, gardens and gates. Although the enthronement
ceremonies of Emperor Taisho and Emperor Showa were held within this palaces
main hall, the current Emperor was inaugurated in the Tokyo Imperial
Palace.
Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera (or Pure
Water Temple)
is one of the most famous temples in Japan with both tourists and
locals. Founded in 780 by one of the oldest sects in Japanese Buddhism (the
Hosso), the temple is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Located in the wooded hills in eastern Kyoto, the temple offers
a fabulous view over the city from its wooden terrace. The spring below said
terrace is said to have water with healing properties and is the reason the
temple has its name.
Fushimi Inari
Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes
are supposed to be his messengers. For that reason, the Fuhimi Inari shrine is
dotted with many fox statues. The many tori gates make for an unforgettable
experience, but if you can manage it, visiting the shrine in the evening is a
must the dim lights and sounds of the wildlife make for a delightfully
atmospheric walk through the shrines tori gates.
Tenryuji
Temple
Tenryuji Temple is considered the most
important Zen Temple
in Kyoto, and
the literal translation of its name is heavenly dragon temple. The building
started out its life as a private villa of Emperor Go Daigo, tour chùa hương 1 ngày and was later
converted after his death to a temple in his memory. Legend has it that a
Buddhist priest had an uneasy dream where a dragon rose from a nearby river,
making him believe that Go Daigos spirit was uneasy and that a temple should
be built to appease him.
The temple has been damaged by fires an
unlikely eight times, though the last instance was over 150 years ago. As a
result, Tour Chùa Hương the current incarnation of the building is only 100 years old, but the
garden is one of the oldest in the country, dating from the 14th
century.
Ryoanji
Temple
The Ryoanji temple has been designated as a
World Heritage site by UNESCO. The name means temple of the peaceful dragon
and it belongs to the Myoshinki school of the Rinzai branch of the Zen sect.
The garden itself is regarded as one of the most pure examples of Japanese
culture. Perfect in its simplicity, the garden consists of clay walls[ ], raked
sand and 15 rocks.
