Japan’s former imperial capital, Kyoto,
perfectly showcases the nation’s
ancient traditions and architecture.
Secret temples and shrines pepper the
city and surrounding mountainsides,
confectioners create sweets to reflect
the blossoms that are in bloom and
revered geisha women, with their
powder white faces and painted red
lips, bustle elegantly down the streets.
SAKURA SPOTTING
One of the most magical times in Kyoto is early spring when
the beautiful pink sakura
(cherry blossoms) burst out of the
trees. The most famous hanami
(cherry-blossom viewing) spots
are Maruyama Park and the Heian Shrine. The blossom season
only lasts for about two weeks, but people get so excited they
put on sakura
-patterned kimonos and party under the trees.
DAINTY DISHES
The Japanese take their food very
seriously and Kyoto is definitely
one of the best places to eat
in the whole country. Kaiseki
cuisine is the most famous,
where chefs show off their
skills by serving lots of tiny,
beautifully presented dishes.
Diners sitting down to a
typical kaiseki
meal would
get up to 15 courses, probably
including mukozuke
(sashimi or
raw fish), konomono
(Japanese
pickles) and yakimono
(grilled fish).
GION GEIKA
Kyoto is the heart of Japan’s
geisha world. The neigbourhood
of Gion, with its traditional wooden
townhouses, teahouses and
gardens, is home to the geisha
(here known as geiko
) women
of Kyoto. Geisha are ladies
who have trained for years
in traditional Japanese
arts to become the perfect
entertainers. Girls begin
training from the age of 15 as
maiko
(pronounced ‘my-ko’),
before gaining geiko
status.
They learn music, dance, tea
ceremonies and conversation.
With their coiffured hairstyles,
lavish kimonos and distinctive
okobo
(wooden sandals) they
resemble moving works of art.
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
When it comes to status, Tokyo is just a
newcomer. Kyoto was the imperial capital of
Japan for over a thousand years, between
794 and 1868. It was originally designed as
a square-shaped city, neatly split into two
halves – the ‘Right Capital’ and the ‘Left
Capital’. A central avenue divided the sectors,
with the emperor’s palace presiding at the
top. This perfect shape (which is hard to
see now that Kyoto is covered in modern
buildings) was supposed to mirror the perfect
order of the empire.
WET YOUR WHISTLE AT KIYOMIZU
Kyoto is a very spiritual place – it has over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines. Shintō
is an ancient Japanese religion, in which people worship gods called kami
. Perhaps the most
extraordinary temple is the Buddhist Kiyōmizu-dera Temple, perched on the side of Mount
Otowa. There has been a shrine here for over 1,200 years. While the current buildings ‘only’
date back to the 17th century, they’re among some of the most beautiful in the country. There’s
a waterfall in the centre of Kiyōmizu, from which visitors can drink the sacred water of Otowa.
MIGHTY NIJO CASTLE
Nijō Castle is one of Kyoto’s greatest sights. It
belongs to a time now known as the ‘Warring States’
period, when Japan was a violent and lawless country
and warlords fought each other for power. Nijō
Castle was built at the very end of this era, between
1601 and 1603. It became the Kyoto home of
the Tokugawa Shogun (a military governor
and head of the Tokugawa family). The
castle boasts two sets of walls, a
moat, multiple gates and
the Ninomaru Gōten, a
splendid palace built
out of gold and
precious wood.
NEVER BE RUDE
TO A SAMURAI
During the Tokugawa period,
the Shogun employed fierce
warriors to defeat his enemies
and control the people. These
were the samurai, men who lived
by a code called bushido
. The
samurai increasingly became
rulers rather than warriors during
the relatively peaceful times of the
Tokugawa period, but they were
still allowed to use their swords
on any commoner who didn’t
show them enough respect!
There are no samurai left today,
but Kyoto has many sites –
like the Sanjõ Bridge – that
are associated with the
legendary swordsmen.