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Located at the northern end of the broad and fertile Kansai plain, Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, and as a consequence has an unusual abundance of temples, shrines, gardens and other points of historic and cultural interest. With a present population over 1.5 million, it remains one of the largest cities in Japan. This page covers a few of the many sights located in central Kyoto and the nearby town of Arashiyama; for other pictures, click here.
To-ji temple was founded in 794 when the Japanese capital was moved from Nara, and is one of the oldest temples in Kyoto. My nephew Steve stands in front of the Kon-do, or Main Hall, reconstructed in 1603. |
The five story pagoda at To-ji is the highest in Japan, with important Buddha images inside. |
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| Two views (above) of the Higashi-Hongan-ji temple, rebuilt after a fire in 1864. The Founders Hall at left is one of the largest wooden buildings in Japan. | |
Geishas are still occasionally glimpsed in the Gion district of central Kyoto. |
The Ryogen-in temple is one of several sub-temples within the Daitoku-ji complex. It dates from the early 16C. |
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| Two views (above) of the Ryogen-in temple, one of the oldest Zen temples in Kyoto dating from 1502. The main garden at right represents the sea (gravel), and islets (small rocks), and is in a style which was developed in the 13C. | |
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| Two views (above) of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), built in the early 13C as a villa for a wealthy shogun. In 1408 it became a Zen temple, and oddly enough survived intact until 1950, when it was burned by a disgruntled monk. The present structure is a faithful reconstruction regilded only in 1987. | |
Friends Yoko, Sachiko, and Mayumi (not pictured) were our gracious hosts in Kyoto. |
The Kama-gawa River conveniently bisects Kyoto almost in the middle. |
At Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo), completed in 1626 as the official residence of the Tokogawa Shogun Ieyasu. Shown here is the guardhouse (bansho) or eastern gate. |
The Ninomaru Palace is part of the Nijo-jo complex. Its 33 rooms comprise over 3000 square meters and 800 tatami mats. |
Yoko helps us find our way in Arashimaya, a nearby suburb of Kyoto known for its cultural treasures and craft shops. |
The Seiryo-ji temple in Arashiyama contains an important statue of Shaka Nyorai (the Historical Buddha), and a small museum of related artifacts. |
The Hozu-gawa River flows through Arashiyama, a venue for recreational possibilities such as river rafting. |
Steve brushes up on his map reading skills so I can get a picture of that interesting fellow at left. |
Map of the Kansai region courtesy of Kyoto University. |
Japan map courtesy of Mapquest.
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