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    Tourist Attractions in Kyoto

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Kyoto. Photos and a brief description.

    Kyoto
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    About Kyoto

    The ancient capital of Japan, although it lost this official status, remained one of the main cities of the country. For many centuries, the imperial families rebuilt Kyoto, giving it its current features. Architectural features of the districts are difficult to convey in a nutshell. The number of buildings in the traditional Japanese style is impressive. These are tea houses, pagodas, and pavilions. There are many wooden structures among them, which is usually not typical for cities with millions of inhabitants.

    The main attractions of Kyoto are temple complexes. Some of them are converted from the palaces and villas of the shoguns, for example, the Golden Pavilion. The national peculiarities of Japan are not forgotten in our time. Visiting the Gion quarter or Nishiki Market allows tourists to plunge into the color of the land of the Rising Sun.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Kyoto

    Gion Quarter

    The most famous geisha district in the country. It began to form in the Middle Ages. The streets are still lined with old buildings, mainly tea houses, restaurants and matiya — traditional Japanese houses. Geisha lessons are available to tourists: you can learn dancing, playing instruments, ceremonies or just try on an outfit. The block is partially declared a National Historical Monument.

    Ponto-te Quarter

    One of the areas of traditional Japanese nightlife. The small street is filled with tea houses, restaurants, shops and entertainment establishments. In the quarter you can meet a geisha, as well as visit the Kabuki theater. Twice a year, an unusual performance is given in the district — the legacy of the Pontote Kaburendze Theater. A colorful show is a symbiosis of dancing, playing musical instruments and geisha ceremonies.

    Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka streets

    They are located in the foothills of the Higashiyam Hills. The streets are narrow, rise steeply up, there are steps. There is a superstition: if you fall on Sannen-zak, then death will overtake you within three years. Wooden houses have been built on both sides of the streets. Shops are located in them. Typical local products are hand—painted ceramics. If desired, you can observe the process of creating dishes.

    Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka streets
    Fushimi Inari Temple

    Fushimi Inari Temple

    The very first buildings on this place appeared in the VIII century. However, Fushimi Inari began to take shape as a full-fledged Zionist temple only in 1499. Then the main hall was erected. The Imperial House actively supported the temple during the Heian period. There are many statues and images of foxes on the territory. These animals are messengers of Inari– the god of rice. According to legend, the temple is dedicated to his passage through the country.

    Golden Pavilion

    It is part of the Rokuon-ji complex. It was built in 1397 and was the residence of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. He finally moved here when he was tired of state affairs. There is a vast green area around, including both man-made parks and "wild" forests. After the shogun's death, the villa was turned into a Buddhist temple. The territory has undergone redevelopment. Religious symbols will appear in the main hall.

    Golden Pavilion
    Kiyomizu-dera

    Kiyomizu-dera

    The temple complex dates back to the XIV-XVI centuries. The translation of the name is "temple of pure water". The ensemble includes many buildings and objects. The most notable of them are the main temple, the pagoda, the prayer hall, the bell shed, the sutra storage and the horse pen. For the most part, the complex is dedicated to the goddess Kannon. Since she is characterized by reincarnation, different images of Kannon can be seen in the temple.

    Silver Pavilion

    It is located at the foot of a mountain covered with dense forest. Together with the garden, the pavilion is part of a single complex. The landmark is dated to the end of the XV century. The palace was built for Shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga. Two floors are crowned by a traditional-style roof and a Phoenix statuette mounted on its top. A gallery runs along the perimeter of the second floor. A man-made lake has been created right in front of the pavilion entrance.

    Silver Pavilion
    Ryoan-ji Temple

    Ryoan-ji Temple

    Dated 1450. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. He became famous largely due to his rock garden. It was created for meditation by Buddhist monks. The playground is covered with white sand and gravel, and is surrounded by a wall of clay. The location of the stones has a certain interpretation. On the territory of the temple there is a Ryoan-ji Tsukubai — a stone vessel, an ox from which is used for rituals.

    Toji Temple

    The temple complex was founded in 796. Its main pagoda, at a height of 57 meters, holds the title of the tallest wooden building in the city. The five-tiered structure is open to tourists only a few days a year. Despite a number of reconstructions, the complex remained within the same boundaries and retained the initial style. One of the halls of To-ji is a Treasury. Artifacts and valuables from different periods are stored here.

    Toji Temple

    Sanjusangan-do Temple

    The construction was completed in 1164. The name can be translated as "A hall thirty-three meters long". Do is the designation of a measure of length in Japanese architecture. After the great fire in 1249, the temple complex was not completely restored. We limited ourselves only to the main hall, which has survived to this day. Sanjusangan-do is famous primarily for its collection of 1001 statues of the goddess of mercy Kannon.

    Nanzen-ji Temple

    The main Buddhist temple of the city. He has been in control of the five Great Temples of Kyoto since 1386. A villa was originally built on this site, and in 1293 it was converted into a religious object. There are several temples and two gardens in the complex. Two reservoirs have been created in the Southern Garden. Nanzen-ji is famous for holding the longest batch of shogi recorded: it lasted a week.

    Nanzen-ji Temple
    Nijo Castle

    Nijo Castle

    Construction started at the very beginning of the XVII century and stretched for several centuries. The total area of the complex, including the park area and gardens — 275 thousand m2. In the past, the castle was the residence of the Tokugawa family. Here, in 1867, the transfer of power from the last Japanese shogun to Emperor Meiji took place. Since 1940, anyone can visit the territory. The castle is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Imperial Palace

    Construction began in 794. During its history, the palace burned to the ground several times. During the reconstructions, changes were made to the complex in accordance with the wishes of the reigning emperor at that time. The premises were mothballed at the end of the century before last when the capital was moved to Tokyo. Two more coronations were held in Kyoto. The surrounding area is gardens, otherwise called the "imperial park".

    Imperial Palace
    Kyoto International Manga Museum

    Kyoto International Manga Museum

    It has been working since 2006. It is also a research center based on Seika University. The exhibition includes about 200 thousand copies of manga. Three floors are occupied by the "Manga Wall": publications of the last five decades are presented here. In the manga cafe, you can have lunch and read, and the visitor pays at the exit for the amount of time he spent in the institution. The museum is open all days except Wednesday.

    Kyoto Railway Museum

    It occupies a vast area and tells about the history of Japanese railways. The heart of the exhibition is 36 trains in perfect condition. Among them are old models – real rarities, as well as modern high-speed trains. A library has been created at the museum, which contains 34 thousand magazines and books about different types of transport, but the railway is in the first place. There are driving simulators on site.

    Kyoto Railway Museum
    Samurai and Ninja Museum

    Samurai and Ninja Museum

    It is located closer to the city center. The museum collection covers 5 periods in total from 794 to 1868. Among the copies there are particularly valuable originals of clothing, armor and weapons. During the tour, the guide tells about the way of life of samurai and ninjas. For a fee, you can take a picture in full attire of Japanese ancient warriors.

    Kyoto National Museum

    It was founded during the reign of Emperor Meiji. Tokuma Katayama, a follower of Western styles in architecture, was responsible for the design. Therefore, the museum building was built in the style of the French Renaissance. The expositions are divided into three areas: fine arts, crafts and archaeological finds. The permanent exhibitions include not only Japanese values, but also artifacts from other Asian countries.

    Kyoto National Museum
    Nishiki Market

    Nishiki Market

    The history of the market dates back several centuries. It is also called "Kyoto cuisine". A narrow street in the central part of the city is surrounded by hundreds of shops and shops. Many of them have been run by families for several generations. They sell traditional Japanese pickles, sweets, fruits, fresh seafood and all kinds of dishes prepared right here in Nishiki. The trade goes on until the evening.

    Kyoto Tower

    The tallest building in the city. The height is 131 meters. The construction was timed to coincide with the Olympic Games in Kyoto in 1964. The plan has caused a lot of controversy. Some believed that the tower would spoil the appearance of the old capital, others insisted on the need to modernize the panoramic view. As a result, the tower was placed on a 9-storey building, where shops and a hotel are open. The structure can withstand strong earthquakes and typhoons.

    Kyoto Tower

    Togetsuke Bridge

    It was transferred across the Oigawa River. Its length is about 150 meters. The name translates as "bridge crossing the moon". So Emperor Kameyama began to call him: he noticed that at night it seemed as if the moon was touching the bridge. In December, the night illumination festival takes place in this area. Tourists can go boating: boaters are waiting right at the bridge. Locals come here to fish.

    Sagano Scenic Railway

    It was put into operation in 1990. The length is 7.3 km . Connects Saga and Kameoka stations. Trains use thermal traction, there is no electrification. The trains consist of 5 cars. Some of them are open. This allows you to take better photos. There are several stops along the way. Tourists can go out, buy souvenirs and look around. Of particular interest to travelers is a huge diorama.

    Sagano Scenic Railway
    Maruyama Park

    Maruyama Park

    It was opened in 1886. More than 800 cherry trees have been planted in the park. The most famous of them is "Gion", the main natural attraction of Maruyama. You can spend time here, not only walking or arranging photo shoots. It offers restaurants and tea houses. To the west is the Yasaka Temple, so many tourists prefer to get there through the park.

    The Philosophical Path

    It is also called Tetsugaku-no-michi. It is laid at the foot of Mount Higashiyama. The length is about 2 km . There are many temples nearby. The trail runs along a channel lined with stones. Cherry trees planted nearby make the area even more picturesque. During their flowering period, the trail turns into a kind of tunnel of flowers. Tetsugaku-no-michi is included in the list of the 100 most popular tourist roads in Japan.

    Bamboo Forest

    Bamboo Forest

    Located in the vicinity of the city. For convenience, special paths have been laid in the forest and bridges have been made: in places the soil is very loose, and it would be problematic to walk without them. The protected area has been known since the XIV century. It was created by monks led by Muso Soseki. Its area currently reaches 15 km2. In the evening, lanterns light up along the paths. You can buy bamboo crafts at the entrance.

    Iwatayama Monkey Park

    It is located in the suburbs of Kyoto. The park is home to about 200 individuals — representatives of different species of primates. They feel very at ease here. The area around often acts as a film set, and the park itself belongs to a film company. Monkeys can be fed by hand if you buy special food. The park is located on a hill, so there are wonderful views of the city from here.

    Iwatayama Monkey Park