Kyoto Holiday
The Japanese city of Kyoto has a long and colourful history and is full of impressive temples, shrines, gardens and buildings
The Japanese city of Kyoto has a long and colourful history and is full of impressive temples, shrines, gardens and buildings.
Nestled in the mountains, the former imperial capital of Japan and the residence of the emperor from 794 to 1868, it lies south of Tokyo, near the city of Osaka a great place for a holiday. The seventh largest city in Japan, with a population of around 1.5 million, Kyoto is also its cultural heart.
Kyoto has a staggering 1,600 Buddhist temples, 200 classified gardens, imperial villas, museums and 400 Shinto shrines and old Japan is at its most alive here. The city has more geishas than anywhere else in Japan and ancient ceremonies, such as moon-viewing parties and tea ceremonies, still take place.
It is impossible to see all that Kyoto has to offer in a single holiday, but some of the highlights include Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, with flowering trees and carp filled ponds, Ginkaku-ji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion), the vast and extravagant Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), the Zen gardens of Daitoku-ji and Ryoan-ji and the 17th century palace Nijo-jo.
The imperial villas of Shugaku-in Rikyu and Katsura Rikyu are popular with tourists, as is the Museum of Kyoto, the moss gardens of Saiho-ji, Nijo Castle and the Buddhist Nishi Hongan-Ji temple.
For those seeking more active pursuits, it is possible to go hiking in the stunning mountains around Kyoto and cycling in the city, with its straight, flat roads. A more relaxing time can be found at the many bath houses, spas and hot springs in and around the city. A number of companies offer walking tours of Kyoto which start near certain hotels, concentrating on a number of the most popular sights.
Shopping in Kyoto should include visits to its traditional shops and markets, as well as its charming boutiques and stores, for delicate china, carved items, calligraphy and textiles. The city is home to large numbers of traditional craftspeople and some charming and colourful bargains can be picked up to take home.
Night time in the city is lively, with numerous bars, clubs and karaoke venues open until the early hours. For more cultural entertainment, attend performances of traditional geisha dances, mesmerising No and energetic Kabuki theatre and the Kyoto Connection arts centre.
Kyoto has some excellent restaurants, serving delicate Japanese cuisine in delightful surroundings. The cultural vibrancy of the city has also resulted in a large collection of non-Japanese restaurants, serving a range of Asian and other dishes.
Kyoto is closest to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, though it is also easily reached from Tokyo. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses to temple lodgings, luxurious international hotels and sumptuous ryokan.
The city is at its most charming in spring and autumn, though the warm summer can be pleasant and the cold winters dramatic. Kyoto is also home to a number of festivals, the best of which are the cherry-blossom season and Golden Week in April.
