One thing is for sure: no visit to Kyoto would be completed with at least one visit to a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine. They are the main draw of Japan’s former imperial city where over 2,000 religious sites jostle with each other.
Continue reading Kyoto: The City of Shrines and TemplesTag Archives: Kyoto
Arashiyama: A Beautiful Retreat near Kyoto
Resembling an ink wash painting, Arashiyama in the western outskirt of Kyoto has long been a favorite escape of the Japanese elites. Since the Heian period, the nobles came here to unwind from the hustle of the city. Today, foreign and domestic tourists flock here to see the evergreen bamboo groves of Arashiyama, as well as to find serenity at Tenryūji – a temple with a stunning mountain backdrop.
Continue reading Arashiyama: A Beautiful Retreat near Kyoto35.009449135.666773
Nijō Castle and a Spectacular Kimono Exhibition
With wide moats, massive stone walls, and imposing keeps, Nijō Castle demonstrates the power of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled over Japan for more than 260 years. Hidden behind this intimidating facade are, however, dreamy gardens and a magnificent palace where an exquisite collection of kimonos was on display.
Continue reading Nijō Castle and a Spectacular Kimono Exhibition
Fushimi Inari: A Stroll through Thousands of Torii
Best known for its endless trail of vermilion torii, Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. It is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, and has attracted pilgrimages and merchants for centuries. These days visitors from all over the world pour into this place to have a stroll through the beautiful holy gates, as well as to pray to the deity for luck and business success.
Continue reading Fushimi Inari: A Stroll through Thousands of Torii34.9671402135.7726717