Kyoto was once Japan’s capital city. It is known mostly for its temples, shrines and cultural practices just like the rest of its country. It may have been one of the targets for bombings during the World War II but luckily, most of its temples and shrines survived. Kyoto is the second most visited place in Japan because all the beautiful sceneries it has.
Kingaku-ji Temple (The Golden Pavilion)
The Kingaku-ji Temple has served as the home for Shoguns in its historical years. Its second and third floors are covered with gold leaf which makes it majestic from every angle especially the way it reflects from the water around it. It is the rebuilt version of the temple because it has been burned down several times in history.
(winter of Kingaku-Ji Temple)
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
This place looks exactly like a scene from a painting or a movie. It may be just a walkway but it is not a simple one because there are a lot of bamboo groves in temples of Japan but this Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama is unlike them for it is larger in size. Imagine how tranquil it would be to walk here just from seeing the photo.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
This place is a widely worshiped holy place of their deity Kannon. The main hall is made entirely of wood and is situated on the top of a cliff which allows you to marvel at the wonderful cityscape of Kyoto. During the Edo period of their history, people believed that your wish will come true if you jumped off the cliff and survived. This practice isn’t allowed nowadays for obvious reasons.
Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
This place has a huge number of Torii gates with inscriptions of the company which donated it to the shrine. These gates are believed to bring a good fortune with the estimated count of 10,000 gates. They are distributed in rows or individually across the place.
(winter at the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine)
Gion District
Gion District is a place with a large number of Geisha. You’ll actually feel the spirit of Japan here because Geisha are known around the world which I think is an icon of Japan. The real Geisha aren’t usually allowed outside. Some business offers a Kimono rental (even if you’re a foreigner) that can allow you to dress like one of the Geisha. This makes the use of kimono predominant in everyday life in Gion District because some only wear them during festivals.
Based on the places that I chose; going to Kyoto is like stepping back in time. I am really amazed at how they managed to preserve over thousands of shrines in their city. I really admired the way how they value innovation while still keeping their feet for their culture. This will always be the symbol of Japan across the nations.
Dos and Don’ts of Kyoto:
· Given that I have mentioned a place with a number of Geisha, you are not allowed to force them to take pictures or selfies. You should ask them politely if you want to take pictures with them.
· Sunglasses and hats aren’t allowed inside the temples and shrines.
· With train being the main mode of transportation in Japan, taking pictures near train tracks aren’t allowed because of your safety.
· Refrain from touching old objects and buildings. Those are treasures and part of their culture. Wouldn’t you be ashamed if you just damaged one of them?
· Picture taking in prohibited areas isn’t allowed. Some shrines and temples wouldn’t allow this to respect the place or their deity.
· Taxi doors open and close on their own.
· Say “okini” instead of giving a tip as a way of thanking the server.
· Smoking outside of the designated areas will face a fine of 5000 yen.
How to get there:
- A bullet train directly from Tokyo to Kyoto costs 10,100-13,710 yen (one-way).
- A bus ride from Tokyo to Kyoto costs about 3,520 yen, taking about 6-9 hours.
- You can book your hotel online by using the “Hotels Combined” app.
-Jamaica Alberto
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