KYOTO

A G R A C E F U L A N D T R A D I T I O N A L C I T Y

Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan and was formerly the country’s capital between 794 and 1868. Today it is a major tourist destination, home to numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens, 17 of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kyoto is also famous for its tofu, kaiseki cuisine and Buddhist vegetarian fare. REVERED SHRINE SHOWCASES TRADITION Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, one of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines, is a mere 5-minute train ride south from Kyoto Station.

In Japan, it is sacred to the deity Inari, the god of agriculture, industry, general prosperity, and worldly success.  e messenger of Inari is a fox, so shrines devoted to Inari usually feature of foxes.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the more than 30,000 Inari shrines spread across Japan, and its history stretches back about 1,300 years, to the Nara period, when Japan actively imported Chinese civilization.

For many years, the Japanese have made pilgrimages to such shrines to hope for a fertile harvest, successful business a airs, family safety, or various other desires.

Be prepared to be awestruck by the Senbon Torii, thousands of gleaming vermilion torii, the traditional Japanese gates that mark major Inari shrines.  is Instagram-friendly spot will lead you up to the crest of the shrine’s mountain, where you can gaze out on a panoramic view of Kyoto.

By climbing and descending this sacred path, with its brilliant red gates dappled by sunlight through the trees, you will connect with the essence of the Japanese spirit, full of tranquility and respect.

CALM RETREAT TO RURIKOIN If you’re looking for the perfect getaway from the bustling crowds in Kyoto, Rurikoin Temple is a

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine; Rurikoin temple; one of the bamboo forest’s narrow paths

remarkably calm and peaceful choice. It is only open to the public for two periods each year, from April to June and October to December.

A one-hour train ride and short walk from Kyoto Station, Rurikoin is located at the foot of Mt.Hiei.  e tranquil environment and historical architecture of the temple beautifully harmonize with nature, whether the fresh verdure of spring or the brilliant red leaves in autumn.

One of Rurikoin’s highlights is its famous garden, Ruri-no-niwa, otherwise known as ‘the Garden of Lapis Lazuli’, because it portrays the sparkling blue of the Pure Land in Buddhism. You can look down into the garden from the second  oor and enjoy the season’s splendor, while marveling the temple’s polished  oors and

furniture. Numerous varieties of moss give an ethereal impression, taking you far outside the realm of daily life.

Another exquisite garden on the premises, Garyo-no-niwa ( e Garden of the Reclining Dragon), is a sublime arrangement of stones and water that evokes the image of a dragon rising into the sky. It is said that gazing on this design will open your mind and bring you good fortune.  is rare meditative experience will draw you deep into the mystic tranquility of Kyoto.

TURN ON THE KIMONO STYLE  e kimono has long been recognised as one of the most beautiful of the world’s traditional garbs, and even today, it is the preferred clothing for Japanese celebrations and special occasions. In kimono fabric, you can detect Japanese aesthetics and sensitivity to nature.  is elegant and graceful garment features an incredible variety of styles and re ned techniques.

Some kimono display dramatic compositions of geometric or coloured patterns, others have intriguing textures and display elaborate motifs from nature, such as  owers or birds. Wearing a kimono is a thread connecting old and modern Kyoto.

In Gion, the centre of Kyoto, elegant maiko and geisha still wear oshiroi, a special white makeup, and richly patterned kimono. In Arashiyama, which appears in Murasaki Shikibu’s  e Tale of Genji, lush backdrops of cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and bamboo forest make this another popular place to wear kimono. Strolling here evokes the mood and feel of the nobility who once lived in this area.

A wide range of kimono rentals are available in Kyoto, for both men and women, and some shops also o er hijabs designed in Japanese style fabrics.  ese days, it’s not unusual to  nd Muslim women touring the city in kimono with Japanese-patterned hijabs. As you wear Japanese fabrics, whether strolling the modern or the historical areas of Kyoto, you’ll  nd yourself becoming part of the landscape of beauty.

SPECTACULAR COLOURS OF BAMBOO GROVE Kyoto’s most famous bamboo grove is situated in Arashiyama: approximately 40 minutes by train – and another world away – from Kyoto Station.

About 1,000 years ago, aristocrats built their holiday villas, and as you wander among narrow paths below the towering trees, you’ll feel the sway of time and beauty that makes this a Kyoto must-see. In each season the bamboo forest is di erent. On sunny days, gentle sunlight  lters through the leaves; on cloudy days, the subdued quiet evokes a Kyoto frame of mind, calm and subtly beautiful.  e most picturesque and  tting way for you to tour this area is from the quiet, eco-friendly comfort of a rickshaw.  ese human-powered, two-wheeled vehicles  rst rolled onto the scene in Japan in the late 19th

century, and were a popular mode of transportation until the appearance of trains and cars in the early 20th century. Rickshaw drivers don’t just power the cart, but also entertain you, serving as your tour guide, and will snap pictures of you riding in the plush red comfort of the elevated rickshaw seat.  is area features a fantastic holiday villa and a circuit-style garden for you to explore. Created for Japanese period  lm actor OKOCHI Denjiro (1898-1962), the Okochi Sanso Villa took over 30 years to complete.  e gracefully undulating grounds feature multiple Japanese style buildings, including one recognised as a cultural heritage. From the garden decks, you can gaze down on poetic views of famous spots such as the Hozu River, Mt.Hiei, and even Kyoto city in the distance.

FABULOUS SWEET FLAVOURS  e famous cuisine of Kyoto evolved through the in uence of powerful aristocrats and clergy from the city’s numerous temples and shrines.

When you dine in Japan’s former capital city, you are consuming more than just “food,” and sampling a long and re ned culture.

Wagashi, or Japanese confectionary, is the sweet side of Kyoto’s culinary o erings. As pretty as they are delicious, wagashi are o en presented as gi s, and re ect the current season, either in colour, shape,  avour or ingredients. For example, in spring, you might  nd wagashi shaped into the intricate petals of a sakura cherry blossom.  e sweetness of wagashi perfectly o sets the bitter taste of matcha, or powdered green tea, and this is why you usually  nd wagashi o ered at tea ceremonies. Originating in the 15th century, the aesthetic art of tea ceremony can be experienced today at many of Kyoto’s temples and tea houses.

Kyoto cuisine ranges widely from sophisticated dishes for nobles to simple meals for monks, but one thing you’ll  nd in common is a deep respect for the natural taste and colour of local ingredients.

FROM TOP: Historic Nijo Castle; wagashi sweets pairs perfectly with matcha

 anks to Kyoto’s mountains,  elds, and freshwater sources, chefs can gather a bounty of fantastic ingredients packed with  avour. While it allows natural  avors to shine, Kyoto cuisine also requires intricate and time-consuming preparation to create something that looks as amazing as it tastes. Feast your eyes and satisfy your appetite with the artistic, cultural heritage of Kyoto cuisine.

STUNNING ARCHITECTURE AND NATIONAL TREASURES If you are a fan of Japanese history, the Nijo Castle in Kyoto is a must-see. A short 15-minute bus ride from Kyoto Station, the entire castle’s premise has been designated as a World Heritage Site, and the elegant Ninomaru Palace is a National Treasure.  e castle was built by the Tokugawa shogunate,

military leaders who governed Japan from 1603-1868.  ough the Tokugawas established a new capital of Japan in Edo (current day Tokyo), the emperor remained in Kyoto. Nijo Castle therefore was designed to serve as lodgings for the shoguns when they visited Kyoto, but also a place suitable for hosting the imperial family.

As you enter, you pass under the powerful Karamon gate of the castle, decorated lavishly with vivid sculptures of cranes (symbols of longevity) and Chinese lions (guardians).  e interior palace is full of work by the most prominent school of painters at the time, the Kano school. Tigers, pine trees, and other seasonal subjects are gloriously striking against their brilliant goldleaf backgrounds.  e magni cence of the Tokugawa shogunate will impress you in every room.

Aside from its artistic aspects, the castle’s structure also has concealed rooms where guards waited at the ready to leap to their leader’s defense, corridors that “sing” like birds when you tread on them to warn of intruders, and impressive gardens.

When the Tokugawa shogunate was compelled to return administrative authority to the emperor in 1867, the o cial transfer of power happened at Nijo Castle. Here you will  nd a compelling combination of artistic beauty and historical signi cance.