Known for its serenity, with over thousands of temples and shrines, beautiful gardens, centuries old traditions and once also the capital of Japan. Our next stop is: Kyoto! It’s one of the biggest cities in the country and served as the emperor’s residence for over a thousand years. This has made Kyoto a cultural center of Japan, preserving the traditions like nowhere else.

Today, we step back in time and explore the elegant halls, architectural details and thoroughly maintained gardens of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Here you have the opportunity to experience the deep cultural traditions that shaped the nation’s identity. Established when Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Kyoto in 794, it became the symbolic and political center of Japan for centuries, until the 19th century when the emperor moved to Tokyo (then called Edo)

 

 

The palace you see today was actually rebuilt in 1855, after a fire destroyed the previous structure. It incorporates architectural elements from different periods throughout the city's history, surrounded by high walls on all sides.

 

 

The interior of the rooms in the palace are adorned with fusuma sliding doors, shoji (similar but transparent, whereas fusuma is opaque) and walls with paintings of figures, flowers, birds, animals and landscapes From vibrant and colourful works to complex ink paintings. Showcasing a variety of artistic expressions throughout the palace.

 

 

 

A very recognisable landmark, dedicated to Inari (the Shinto deity of rice) and famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, we have Fushimi inari Taisha, the most important of several thousand shrines, found in Southern Kyoto. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred mount Inari. Many fox statues can be found on the shrine grounds as foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers. The full hike takes a couple of hours, but even a short stroll can deliver one of Japan's most unforgettable sights!

 

 

Moving on to the western edge of Kyoto, we have the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Surrounding you with towering green stalks, swaying and creaking in the breeze. It creates a sound so distinctive that Japan has designated it as one of the country’s protected soundscapes. Accessible directly from the main street of Arashiyama or when coming from the Tenryu-ji Temple, exit the north gate to the left and you’ll be in the forest in no time!

 

 

Kyoto is also known around the world for its cherry blossom season, from late March until early May, parks are filled with hanami (flower viewing) picnics beneath the famous cherry trees. Paths become a tunnel of beautiful pink petals as the city fully bursts into bloom. While the cherry blossom brings the peak spring magic, the fiery maple leaves during autunm give the blossoms a real competition!

 

 

 

Beyond the temples and the beautiful nature, in a small district named Gion is the living heartland of the traditional arts of the geisha and maiko. Geisha are highly trained performing artists, specialising in traditional dance, music, conversation and hospitality. In Kyoto, they are known as geiko, and their apprentices are known as maiko.

 

Official performances, seasonal odori (dance) events, licensed tea-ceremony experiences and special public events are the safest and most respectful ways to see geisha.

 

       

 

They are NOT to be confused with escorts, public performers for casual photos, characters from movies or staged photoshoots. Their true role is to preserve refined arts with skill, elegance and deep cultural knowledge.

And of course no visit to Kyoto would be complete without a trip to the small city famous for its green tea and tea ceremony, Uji. Just south of Kyoto in a green valley, Uji is a beautiful city on the banks of the fast-flowing river: Uji-gawa. But not just the tea, its World Heritage sites and the association with the Tale of Genji (the world’s first novel) as well.

 

 

The Tale of Genji is a very well known piece of classical Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the Heian Period. Whether you are familiar with her classic novel or not, The tale of Genji museum is a way to immerse yourself into the world of Heian court literature. Various scenes from the novel can be found on display, as well as historical reproductions, models and dioramas (miniature model).

 

 

It is said that it was Zen Master Eisai of the Rinzai sect who brought tea seedlings (seeds) and how to drink tea back to Japan at the beginning of the Kamakura period. Blessed with good soil quality and among other favorable conditions, tea cultivation in Uji rapidly expanded. The formal tea ceremony was born in Kyoto. Refined in its temples and teahouses, this city remains the center of the Japanese tea ceremony world. Much of the tea is grown in the town of Uji.

 

 

It’s also widely known for its green tea culture, Uji has grown some of the country's finest matcha for over eight hundred years!

 

 

Now we can’t end our trip without enjoying one of Japan’s most popular summertime festivals: Gion Matsuri in Kyoto. The celebration of the most famous shrine in the city, the Yasaka Shrine. Every year during this month-long festival in July, you can enjoy centuries old traditions, lively parades, mouth-watering street food and lots of fun! 

 

 

Kyoto has endured fires, wars, political change, tourism blooms and more. According to history, this festival began in 869, the Emperor called for a ritual to appease angry spirits as he believed they were the cause of a widespread illness in the midsummer. Today the roots of the festival still remain, it’s a month-long purification ritual, including countless prayers for a year full of protection.

Among many events, the floats on July 17th (Saki-Matsuri, or “early festival” procession) is particularly spectacular. You can also enjoy the vibrant festive evenings prior to the floats called Yoimiya, during these nights the streets are filled with food stalls! On July 24th the second procession (Ato-Matsuri, or “later festival” procession) is held with fewer and smaller floats.

 

 

- Known for its temples, beautiful gardens and centuries old traditions, Kyoto is a  preserved cultural center that served as the emperor’s residence for over a thousand years.

 

- Rebuilt in 1855, the Kyoto Imperial Palace showcases Japan's history through its halls, architectural details and rooms adorned with paintings and traditional sliding doors.

- Fushimi Inari Taisha is a highly recognizable landmark dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, famous for its trails lined with torii gates and messenger fox statues.

- Kyoto's beauty shines through the stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the pink tunnels of spring cherry blossoms and the maple leaves of autumn.

- In the Gion district, geiko and maiko preserve Japanese arts with skill, elegance and deep cultural knowledge through traditional music, dance and hospitality.

 

- The nearby town of Uji cultivates the country's finest matcha and celebrates The Tale of Genji, while Kyoto itself comes alive every July for the month-long Gion Matsuri festival.

 

 

We hope you loved learning a little bit more about the city of Kyoto and Japan!