A trip to Japan is not complete without a visit to the former Imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto. Kyoto is located in the central part of the island of Honshu and is the capital of the Kyoto prefecture. It is Japan’s 7th largest city with 1.5 million people calling it home.
History
For over a thousand years, Kyoto was the home to the Emperor of Japan when the imperial court was transferred there in 764. During the 8th century, Emperor Kanmu decided to move the capital from Nara to Kyoto in the north. For over 1000 years Kyoto served as the Imperial capital of the country before the Emperor moved to Tokyo in 1869. In 1997, Kyoto hosted the worldwide conference that set historic standards on greenhouse gas emissions and resulted in the Kyoto Protocol. Source
Shinkansen
Our journey to Kyoto began on the Shinkansen, or ‘bullet train’. From Tokyo. The Shinkansen can travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200mph) and the trip from Tokyo to Kyoto took approximately 3 hours.
Thankfully, with a little tacker in tow, when you need to use the loo, you have these awesome little holders for toddlers to use!
Ryokan
Our accommodation in Kyoto was in the Gion quarter of the city. The Gion quarter is famous as one of the most exclusive Geisha (geiko) districts in all of Japan. As an older section of Kyoto, the architecture of the quarter is very typically traditional Japanese.
Our accommodation was a traditional Ryokan in the centre of the Gion quarter. Sleeping on futons on the floor was a large component of the experience and added to the atmosphere and experience. (yes there was WiFi!)
Dominating the skyline is Kyoto is the relatively modern Kyoto Tower. Standing at 131 metres high, it is a contrast against the traditional Japanese architecture found across Kyoto.
Temples and Shrines
With over 2000 religious places, Kyoto is home to many different temples and shrines, making it one of the best preserved cities in Japan. During WWII Kyoto was taken from the top of the atomic bomb sites due to its cultural importance resulting in this city having the greatest collection of pre-war building in Japan.
Kiyomizu-Dera
Officially Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, this site is a Buddhist temple in the eastern part of Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
Deva Gate (Main Gate)
The temple was founded in 733 and the current building that occupy the site were built in 1633. It is an imposing building that sits on the site of a steep hill. One of the fascinating facts is that there is not a single nail used in the entire structure.
Kiyomizu-Dera Main Hall
Situated beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall. Here three channels of water fall into a pond. You can catch and drink the water, which is believed to have wish-granting powers.
Triple Fountains of Fudo Hall
An imposing orange pagoda is part of the complex
The complex also offers various talismans, incense, and omikuji (paper fortunes).
Kodaiji Temple
Established in 1606, the Kodaiji Temple is a temple of Zen Buddhism. The gardens of Kōdai-ji are a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty.
Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine)
One of the most famous shrines in Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine was founded over 1350 years ago. It is a Shinto shrine found in the middle of the Gion district. Whilst we were visiting, we were lucky to witness an initiation ceremony of a local Japanese boy.
There are many other temples and shrines throughout the city that can be visited, including the Imperial palace and Nijo Castle. With so much to do and see, we didn’t get the chance to get around to all of the historic sites during this visit.
Kyoto Kamo River (Duck River)
The Kamo River is popular walking spots for residents and tourists. We spent some of our evenings sitting on the banks of the river, eating some traditional food and driking cold Asahi beer. Drinking alcohol in public is legal in Japan. Drunk and disorderly is not an issue in the country hence the relaxed laws around consumption.
Cigarettes or Beer? These are everywhere!
Higashiyama District
The Higashiyama District along the lower slopes of Kyoto's eastern mountains is one of the city's best preserved historic districts. The architecture of this area is that of traditional Japanese.
Nishiki Markets District
Nishiki Market is a 5 block long, narrow shopping area lined by over 100 shops and stalls. Also known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, this lively market place is the area to go to immerse yourself in the culinary delight of the region. There are often samples to be tried and we often got a ‘surprise’ when testing out new foods in the market.
The market area has been operating for over 400 years, originally starting out as a fish market. Definitely a ‘must-visit’ area in Kyoto to immerse yourself in the astmosphere and food of the region.
Gion Corner Theatre
Gion Corner is a unique theatre presenting shows of seven of Kyoto's performing arts - kyogen classical comedy, kyomai dance, gagaku music of the imperial court, koto harp, bunraku puppet theater, the tea ceremony, and flower arrangement.
We visited this Gion Corner as another must-do to experience the traditional arts of the region during our visit.
'Geisha Dancing Performance
Okonomiyaki – Japanese savoury Pancake
One of our favourite foods during our visit was Okonomiyaki. We found a fantastic little restaurant in the Gion district called Issen Yōshoku. It was a fun little restaurant to eat at and was very kid friendly as well. Okonomiyaki is a savoury type pancake where all of the ingredients are mixed together and placed into a folded pancake.
Issen Yōshoku Restaurant (typical Japanese humour)
Okonomiyaki
Kyoto is a vibrant city full of traditional Japanese culture and cuisine. It’s history and preservation has resulted in city that is of historical importance for Japan culture.
If visiting Japan, I recommend that a visit to Kyoto is a must on any itinerary to immerse yourself in the ancient aspects of Japan and the beauty of this city.
Thanks for reading.
