Places

Yata Dera

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

Situé dans la rue Teramachi (la rue des temples, en français), Yata-Dera fait parti des trois temples historique de cette rue avec le temple Honnonji et le temple Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine. Yata-Dera a la particularité de se trouver au milieu des boutiques à l'intérieur d'une zone protégée par des arcades. Une localisation plutôt atypique pour un temple. Un lieu de culte à ne pas rater lors de votre visite de la ville de Kyoto.

Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace)

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

The Nijo Castle is a listed world heritage site and is set in an idyllic setting and some magnificent gardens. The palace is surrounded by stone ramparts which are reminiscent of those of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. In addition to its architectural elegance in lovely Samurai style, the principal attraction of this castle is a visit of its interior. This helps the visitor to better understand the history of the country at the time of the Shoguns, the military dictators who ruled Japan before the Meiji era. There are also some magnificent paintings adorning the sliding doors of the 33 rooms of the castle. The sobriety of the place is striking: not a single piece of furniture or a superfluous item of decoration. The only feature is the 800 tatami mats which cover the floors.

Manga Museum

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

The Manga Museum of Kyoto is dedicated to preserving and displaying everything to do with Manga. Over 200,000 rare and precious items are exhibited here including magazines dating back to the Meiji era, modern popular works as well examples from other countries. The museum was inaugurated on the 25 November 2006 and collects all precious items relating to the world of Manga. A real paradise for Manga lovers!*/ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

The Silver Pavilion or Ginkakuji

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

Hidden behind the trees, Ginkaku-ji is better known by the name Jisho-ji or sometimes the Silver Pavilion. The Silver Pavilion is dedicated to the goddess Kannon. This temple, built on a human scale, is particularly appealing. It was designed in 1482 for the shogun Yoshimasa as a private retreat. When he died, the retreat was turned into a temple. Its magnificent green garden is also charming. The temple also marks the start of the philosophy walk. UNESCO declared the temple a world heritage site in 1994.

Fushimi Inari Sanctuary

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

The film Memoirs of a Geisha, does this remind you of anything? This is, of course, the setting for a scene from the film. The Fushimi Inari sanctuary was built for the Goddess Inari taisha. The entrance is easy to recognise, with its red painted ""torii"". It is a very fine example of a Shintô sanctuary. On either side, two stone foxes, a supernatural animal in the Japanese imagination, welcome the visitor. One of them is holding the key of a rice granary in its mouth and the other a ball, the symbol of Treasure.

Gion District

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

Kyoto's Gion district is the area that is most conducive to sensuous reveries involving coloured silk kimonos, poetry, music, dancing, drama, make-up and eroticism. The area of Gion, to the East of the river Kamo, is regarded as the acme of pleasure in the widest sense of the term but is also characterised by the wooden architecture which still subsists in many of its buildings and by its traditional arts and crafts - makers of shoes, accessories and lutes are legion here. Remarkably, a number of famous Ochayas tea houses have managed to retain the same style and location for the last 400 years, despite a series of wars and fires.

Daimaru department store

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

The name Daimaru stems from the merger between three shops, Dai Monjiya, Matsuya and Daimaruya. It is one of the biggest retail chains in Japan. The decision to turn one of its sales areas into a venue for thematic or artistic exhibitions was ahead of its time and helped introduce its customers to the notion of culture. This Japanese store therefore not only has a philanthropic role but plays a part in the education of each of its visitors, turning its sales area into a living, intellectually rewarding forum of exchange.

Nishiki Ichiba Street

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

Nishiki Ichiba Street is famous for its food market. Itchiba actually means market-place in Japanese. Don't miss it: it is a truly exotic spot and you will find all sorts of different foods there in a typically Japanese market atmosphere.

Kisshoin Tenmangu Sanctuary (Kisshoin no Tenjinsan)

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

Kisshoin Tenmangu Sanctuary is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a statesman in the Heian era, but also to Tenjin-Han, the god of learning. This explains why so many students come here to pray for success in their exams. The garden of the sanctuary is full of plum trees, as these were Sugawara Michizane's favourite trees. On the 25th of each month, an extraordinary, highly popular flea market takes place here.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:36 +0200

The famous temple of Kiyomizu-dera, which was built towards the end of the period known as ""Nara"", in around 780, is one of the symbols of Kyoto. It forms a vast complex made up of a number of buildings in a formalised natural setting, like many Japanese temples. The temple helps one to gain a greater understanding of Buddhism and the monks' way of life and its lovely gardens also make it a perfect place for a stroll. For over one thousand years, pilgrims have been climbing the hill that leads to the eleven-headed goddess Kannon, the goddess of compassion and the main object of worship in Kiyomizu-dera. The site is also reputed for its sacred water source and is actually called Otowasan Kiyomizu Dera, which means ""the temple of clear water in the mount known as 'the sound of feathers'."" It is a UNESCO world heritage site and dominates the Eastern Mountains, offering a magnificent view over the city.