Explore KYOTO

Kiyomizu-dera 

1. History

Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is  

UNESCO World Heritage site. Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period.  The temple was

founded in 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633,

 

The main hall has a large veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. Large verandas and main halls were constructed at many popular sites during the Edo period to accommodate large numbers of pilgrims

Beneath the main hall

is the Otowa waterfall,

where three channels

of water fall into a

pond. Visitors can

catch and drink the

water, which is

believed to have wish-

granting powers.

Short statement or caption.

Heian Jingu Shrine

1. History

Heian Shrine was built in 1895, which was the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of Heian

(Kyoto)

2. Architecture

Heian Shrine Torii Gate

Main gate (Ōtenmon)Castle in the corner (Sōryūrō)

The Garden of Heian Jingu Shrine

Nishi Shin'en (West Garden)Minami Shin'en (South Garden)

Naka Shin'en (Middle Garden) Higashi Shin'en (East Garden)

3. Festivals of Ages.

Hold in October every year

GINKAKUJI

Built in 1482

Architecture

Today, Ginkakuji consists of the Silve Pavilion,a main Hondu, Togudo, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry

sand garden.

Ginkakuji's Garden

Approach in Autumn Approach in Winter

The path climbs a hill

The view of Ginkakuji from a hill

Everyday foods are called "obanzai" in Kyoto. These are some typical obanzai.

Very small fish called "chirimen jako" and spicy

"sansho" are seasoned with soy sauce.

Pacific herring wrapped in kombu

seaweed and stewed.

Dried cod called "bodara" stewed with a kind of

potato called "ebi imo."

Tofu heated in a pot of kombu seaweed stock. Tofu is topped

with sauce and eaten. Condiments include green

onions, momiji oroshi (grated daikon and chili pepper), and yuzu (a kind of citrus fruit).

Yuba has a creamy texture. Here it is eaten with wasabi and soy

sauce.

Tofu is skewered, covered with miso sauce, and grilled. 

Sugukina, a kind of turnip, is pickled in salt and fermented.

Pickles made from thinly-sliced shogoin kabu turnip, which is picked

with salt and then seasoned.

Kyo-Tsukemono

Kaiseki Ryori

Mishimatei

Nanzenji Junsei

Here’s a one of the Best

restaurants in Kyoto

Taruhachi

Shunsaidining Aoisho

Kinkakuji

Kinkakuji is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto

whose top two floors are completely covered in

gold leaf

• Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu's grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later.

Kinkakuji is an

impressive structure

built overlooking a

large pond, and is the

only building left of

Yoshimitsu's former

retirement complex.

The present structure

was rebuilt in 1955

Kinkakuji was built to

echo the extravagant

kitayama culture that

developed in the

wealthy aristocratic

circles of kyoto

during yoshimitsu's

times. Each floor

represents a different

style of architecture.

The second floor is built

in the bukke style used

in samurai residences,

and has its exterior

completely covered in

gold leaf.

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the

Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu,

the first shogun of the Edo Period

(1603-1867).

Nijo Castle can be

divided into three

areas: the

Honmaru (main

circle of defense),

the Ninomaru

(secondary circle

of defense) and

some gardens

that encircle the

Honmaru and

Ninomaru.

Nijo Castle

• Visitors to Nijo Castle enter the castle grounds through a large gate in the east. English audio guides are available for rent (500 yen) at a kiosk just inside the gate.

Karamon Gate

The Ninomaru

Palace served as

the residence and

office of the

shogun during his

visits to Kyoto.

Karamon Gate Surviving in its original

form, the palace

consists of multiple

separate buildings that

are connected with each

other by corridors with

so called nightingale

floors, as they squeak

when stepped upon as a

security measure

against intruders

Ninomaru PalaceThe tour route passes by

multiple waiting and

audience rooms. Only

the highest ranked

visitors were allowed all

the way into the main

audience room where

the shogun would sit on

an elevated floor,

flanked by bodyguards

hidden in closets

Ninomaru Palace

Outside of the

Ninomaru Palace

extends the Ninomaru

Garden, a traditional

Japanese landscape

garden with a large

pond, ornamental

stones and manicured

pine trees.

Ninomaru Palace

Ninomaru GardenThe Honmaru (main circle of defense)

was the site of a second palace complex and a five story castle keep.

Honmaru Palac

• Unlike the Ninomaru Palace, the Honmaru Palace is not regularly open to the public, although there are occasional special openings

Honmaru PalacThe castle also features a plum orchard, which is typically in bloom from late February to early March, and Seiryuen, a half Japanese, half Western style garden built in 1965 for cultural events such as tea ceremonies.