Explore KYOTO
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.
1. History
Heian Shrine was built in 1895, which was the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of Heian
(Kyoto)
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)
Architecture
Today, Ginkakuji consists of the Silve Pavilion,a main Hondu, Togudo, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry
sand garden.
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.
Mishimatei
Nanzenji Junsei
Here’s a one of the Best
restaurants in Kyoto
Taruhachi
Shunsaidining Aoisho
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 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 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