Welcome to Kyoto!
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, Kiyomizudera, Daigoji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Ryoanji, Tenryuji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge and Saihoji Temple.

FESTIVALS IN KYOTO:
Gion Matsuri (July 17) is one of the three biggest festivals in Japan Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (August 1st) is a summer-time Obon (Ancestral Remembrance Day) tradition.

Today a modern bustling city of more than 1.4 million residents, Kyoto is also one of Japan's oldest and is home to many of its national treasures. From 794 through 1195 (Heian period), Kyoto was the capital of Japan and during this time much of what is distinctly Japanese - its art, culture and traditions - developed in this picturesque region.

Toward the end of the eighth century, Japan started to turn away from the cultural influences of China and Korea as an independent aristocratic culture emerged. In 794, the nation's capital was moved to Heiankyo (now Kyoto) where large-scale civil engineering and construction projects were launched to build the new metropolis. Art was greatly influenced by Buddhism and Yamato-e (secular Japanese-style painting) emerged. E-maki or illustrated scrolls became a popular art form featuring stories and poems matched with pictures of daily life.

Kyoto is home to hundreds of temples and shrines, a surrounding landscape of scenic mountains and rivers and a tradition of cultural crafts which are still in production today.


KINKAKUJI TEMPLE
Kinkakuji or Temple of the Golden Pavilion is a two-story temple covered in gold leaf situated on a picturesque mountain lake. It was first built as a retirement home for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, however after his death in 1408, it became a Buddhist temple and is dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Kannon. Kinkakuji became a World Heritage Site in 1994.




GINKAKUJI TEMPLE
Located at the foot of Kyoto's Higashiyama (Eastern Mountain), Ginkakuji was built as a retirement home for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482. Originally intended to be covered by silver leaf, as Yoshimasa's brother Yoshimitsu's retirement home was covered in gold, this plan never materialized. Ginkakuji is considered an excellent example of Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period (1450-1598).


KIYOMIZUDERA
Situated on the side of Otowayama Hill, Kyomizudera or "Pure Water Temple" was built in 780 and is associated with Nara Buddhism - the oldest sect of Buddhism in Japan. One of its most notable architectural features is the 'Kiyomizu-no-butai,' literally the 'stage of kiyomizu' which is actually a veranda from which breathtaking views of the City of Kyoto can be seen. Next to the main hall, a series of waterfalls are known for their pure water and healing powers.


DAIGOJI TEMPLE
Designated a World Heritage Site, Daigoji is a temple complex consisting of individual monasteries, halls, pagodas and gardens. Its five-story pagoda, built in 952, is the oldest structure in Kyoto. Samboin, Daigoji's main monastery, was constructed in 1115 and houses many of Japan's national treasures including murals and painted sliding screen doors. The adjoining garden was built for Toyotomi Hideyoshi and is famed for its outstanding cherry blossom viewing.


FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE
Dedicated to the Shinto god of rice, Inari, Fushimi Inari Shrine is the head shrine for more than 30,000 Inari shrines found throughout Japan. It is one of Japan's oldest, dating back to the 8th century. There are five individual shrines located on the shrine grounds including a 2.5 mile long corridor of red lacquer torii, dedicated by individual businessmen. Throughout the property, there are many statues of foxes since it is believed that the fox is a messenger of the god Inari.


RYOANJI
Ryoanji is a Zen temple and garden initially constructed in the late 15th century. It consists of a temple building but it is most famous for its rock garden consisting of small stones and 15 large boulders. It is an excellent example of the 'karesansui' style of gardening in which stones and rocks are positioned to imitate the natural landscape. In the Ryoanji garden, the boulders appear to be islands and the carefully raked pebbles, the ocean - a scene reminiscent of Japan's own geography.


TENRYUJI TEMPLE
Considered one of Kyoto's 'Five Great Zen Temples,' Tenryuji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Originally established in 1339, the temple burned down several times and the current structure dates back to the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The surrounding temple garden, however, has been preserved since the 14th century and is one of the oldest of its kind in Japan.

TOGETSUKYO BRIDGE
Originally built in 836, the Togetsukyo Bridge crosses the Katsura River in the picturesque Arashiyama section of Kyoto. Because of its traditional character, Togetsukyo Bridge has often been used in historical movie making. It is a popular spot from which to feed the many koi fish which live in the river and for cherry blossom viewing in the spring.

SAIHOJI TEMPLE
Saihoji Temple also known as Kokederaji or 'moss temple,' is believed to have been founded by the Priest Gyoki during the Nara Period (710-794). It was later restored in 1339 by the Zen gardening master, Muso Kokushi. It contains some 120 different species of moss and classic Japanese landscape plants including maple, pine and cherry blossoms.

For more information, visit the City of Kyoto official Web site.

JapanCorner 2005