Visit Kyoto, Uji & Ōtsu, Japan (UNESCO sites)

Add to My List Check Off

Kyoto, Japan has an ancient history and is considered to be one of the best preserved cities in Japan. Kyoto previously served as the country’s capital but that role has been assumed by Tokyo with Kyoto now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture. The city counts 1600 Buddhist Temples and 400 Shinto Shrines among its treasures. Kyoto’s beauty is found primarily in its historical buildings and parks. Kyoto avoided much of the damage incurred by other Japanese cities in World War II which allowed preservation of the architectural masterpieces located in the city. Kyoto presents 14 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto as designated in the UNESCO World Heritage List among its extensive array of revered monuments, buildings and gardens. Visitors to Kyoto find unlimited opportunities to visit historically significant sites and are usually challenged to fit all the tours into their agenda. The tea houses (ochaya) in Kyoto are frequent targets of tourists where the ancient art of Geisha is alive and well at many of these establishments. The most traditional tea houses are located in the Gion section. The neighborhood of Higashiyama presents stone paved lanes that wind their way through traditional pockets of Japanese housing mixed with modern shops and homes while the erstwhile pagoda spires loom over the landscape. A walk through this section of town provides visitors with a good sense of the synergy of Kyoto combining the old and new. Among the plethora of must-see sites in Kyoto are the various Temples and Shrines scattered about the city. Tops on many lists are Ryoan-Ji Temple (known for its quintessential zen rock garden), Daitoku-Ji Temple (with its own 600 year old garden) and the Koto-In Zen Temple (established by a great warrior and revered for its simplicity). Visitors to Kyoto also include a number of locations that are part of the modern Kyoto in their can’t-miss itineraries which includes such offerings as the Museum of Kyoto and . The Nishiki market provides an opportunity to sample the shopping experience of the locals with stalls offering everything from bonito flakes to sashimi on a stick. A visit to Kyoto, a city dripping with tradition a sense of cultural importance, belongs on your list if you have dreamed about visiting a Japanese city that has preserved its ancient buildings and culture and successfully combined them with modern life. Add a trip to Kyoto to your list today and begin working on the best way to make that dream come true.

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›