Introduction
Kyoto will satisfy a Fuji-sized appetite for the classic Japanese aesthetic. Kyoto, with its hundreds of temples and gardens, was the imperial capital between 794 and 1868, and remains the cultural centre of Japan. Its raked pebble gardens, sensuously contoured temple roofs and mysterious Shint ō shrines fulfill the Japanese fantasy of every Western clich é hunter.
With an astonishing 1600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shint ō shrines, a trio of palaces, and dozens of gardens and museums, Kyoto is Japan's cultural treasure house. Seventeen of Kyoto's ancient structures and gardens have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The city is commonly divided into five sections - the raku-ch ū (central), raku-t ō (eastern), raku-hoku (northern), raku-sai (western) and raku-nan (southern) areas of town, plus raku-gai, which refers to the outskirts of the city. It's laid out on a rectangular grid system based on the classical Chinese concept, and is easy to navigate. The main business district is in the south and centre of town; the less populated northern parts have a far greener feel, and you can still find people tending the rice fields sandwiched between apartment buildings. Although many of the major sights are in the centre, the best of Kyoto's sightseeing is on the fringes of the city in the north, east and west.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9
Area: 610
Coordinates: 35 latitude and 135.75 longitude
Population: 1400000
Languages: Set aside several years if you want to learn to read Japanese. Japan has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, using three different scripts (four if you include the increasingly used Roman script romaji). Fortunately, for visitors to Japan, it's not all bad news. Unlike other Asian languages, Japanese is not tonal and the pronunciation system is fairly easy to master. In fact, with a little effort, getting together a repertoire of travellers' phrases should be no trouble - the only problem will be understanding what people say back to you.
Currency: Yen ( ¥ )
Area codes: 075
Getting there and away
There's no major international or domestic airport in Kyoto, but Osaka's Itami domestic airport and Kansai International Airport (KIX) are both within easy reach. Japan's expansive and highly efficient railway services make train travel an ideal way of getting from anywhere in the country to Kyoto. Buses are slower, but as reliable as every other form of Japanese public transport.
Getting around
Because central Kyoto is laid out in a logical grid, it's an easy city to get around by public transport, cycling or walking. There is an intricate network of bus routes at a moderate price, and many of the routes used by visitors have announcements in English. Kyoto has two efficient subway lines, which operate from 05:30 to 23:30. Getting around by car is less enticing, given Kyoto's traffic problems, and you will almost always do better on a bicycle or public transport. Kyoto is a great city to explore by bicycle; it's mostly flat and there is a new bike path running the length of the Kamo-gawa.Walking is often the best way to explore the city, taking away the cost and concerns of traffic and parking and allowing you the chance to wander through narrow backstreets where you're far more likely to catch a glimpse of old Kyoto.
Weather
There's no question that the most appealing seasons in Kyoto are spring and autumn. Summers are too muggy; the surrounding mountains keep the air from moving around, making things stifled and sticky and producing ample rain. Winter is cold but not devastatingly so, and aesthetically speaking it's quite pretty. However, spring cherry blossoms and autumn amber leaves are just too good to miss.
Events
Kyoto's greatest living treasures are its raucous matsuri (festivals). The city hosts some 500 of these colourful events throughout the year, and almost any visit should provide the chance to catch at least one. Some of the more fascinating festivals include Hatsu Ebisu, 8 to 12 January, where a party is held for Ebisu the patron deity of merchants, and Godai Rikison Ninno-e, 23 February, at which participants lift two gigantic rice cakes: 150kg (330lbs) for men, 90kg (200lbs) for women. Gion Matsuri, 17 July, is perhaps the most renowned of all Japanese festivals, when over 200,000 people throng the Shijo-Karasuma area. Its climax is a Yamaboko-junko parade of over 30 floats accompanied by flutes, drums and gongs. During Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi, 16 August, enormous fires are lit on five mountains in the form of Chinese characters or other shapes.
Kyoto will satisfy a Fuji-sized appetite for the classic Japanese aesthetic. Kyoto, with its hundreds of temples and gardens, was the imperial capital between 794 and 1868, and remains the cultural centre of Japan. Its raked pebble gardens, sensuously contoured temple roofs and mysterious Shint ō shrines fulfill the Japanese fantasy of every Western clich é hunter.
With an astonishing 1600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shint ō shrines, a trio of palaces, and dozens of gardens and museums, Kyoto is Japan's cultural treasure house. Seventeen of Kyoto's ancient structures and gardens have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The city is commonly divided into five sections - the raku-ch ū (central), raku-t ō (eastern), raku-hoku (northern), raku-sai (western) and raku-nan (southern) areas of town, plus raku-gai, which refers to the outskirts of the city. It's laid out on a rectangular grid system based on the classical Chinese concept, and is easy to navigate. The main business district is in the south and centre of town; the less populated northern parts have a far greener feel, and you can still find people tending the rice fields sandwiched between apartment buildings. Although many of the major sights are in the centre, the best of Kyoto's sightseeing is on the fringes of the city in the north, east and west.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9
Area: 610
Coordinates: 35 latitude and 135.75 longitude
Population: 1400000
Languages: Set aside several years if you want to learn to read Japanese. Japan has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, using three different scripts (four if you include the increasingly used Roman script romaji). Fortunately, for visitors to Japan, it's not all bad news. Unlike other Asian languages, Japanese is not tonal and the pronunciation system is fairly easy to master. In fact, with a little effort, getting together a repertoire of travellers' phrases should be no trouble - the only problem will be understanding what people say back to you.
Currency: Yen ( ¥ )
Area codes: 075
Getting there and away
There's no major international or domestic airport in Kyoto, but Osaka's Itami domestic airport and Kansai International Airport (KIX) are both within easy reach. Japan's expansive and highly efficient railway services make train travel an ideal way of getting from anywhere in the country to Kyoto. Buses are slower, but as reliable as every other form of Japanese public transport.
Getting around
Because central Kyoto is laid out in a logical grid, it's an easy city to get around by public transport, cycling or walking. There is an intricate network of bus routes at a moderate price, and many of the routes used by visitors have announcements in English. Kyoto has two efficient subway lines, which operate from 05:30 to 23:30. Getting around by car is less enticing, given Kyoto's traffic problems, and you will almost always do better on a bicycle or public transport. Kyoto is a great city to explore by bicycle; it's mostly flat and there is a new bike path running the length of the Kamo-gawa.Walking is often the best way to explore the city, taking away the cost and concerns of traffic and parking and allowing you the chance to wander through narrow backstreets where you're far more likely to catch a glimpse of old Kyoto.
Weather
There's no question that the most appealing seasons in Kyoto are spring and autumn. Summers are too muggy; the surrounding mountains keep the air from moving around, making things stifled and sticky and producing ample rain. Winter is cold but not devastatingly so, and aesthetically speaking it's quite pretty. However, spring cherry blossoms and autumn amber leaves are just too good to miss.
Events
Kyoto's greatest living treasures are its raucous matsuri (festivals). The city hosts some 500 of these colourful events throughout the year, and almost any visit should provide the chance to catch at least one. Some of the more fascinating festivals include Hatsu Ebisu, 8 to 12 January, where a party is held for Ebisu the patron deity of merchants, and Godai Rikison Ninno-e, 23 February, at which participants lift two gigantic rice cakes: 150kg (330lbs) for men, 90kg (200lbs) for women. Gion Matsuri, 17 July, is perhaps the most renowned of all Japanese festivals, when over 200,000 people throng the Shijo-Karasuma area. Its climax is a Yamaboko-junko parade of over 30 floats accompanied by flutes, drums and gongs. During Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi, 16 August, enormous fires are lit on five mountains in the form of Chinese characters or other shapes.
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