Kyoto where. Clubs and nightlife. Traveling from Kyoto
Geographical names of the world: Toponymic Dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .
Kyoto
(Kyōto in translation - " metropolitan city"), city in Japan, to the center. h. o. Honshu. Together with the cities Osaka and Kobe forms the core of the prom. Keihanshin zone. 1 million 390 thousand inhabitants (1998). Founded in 794. Designed on the model of the then capital of China, Chang'an (modern city of Xi'an). In the past it was called Heian-kyo (794–1192), Miyako , Saikyo . Capital of Japan in 794–1868, then renamed. in Kyoto. Saved historical appearance thanks to the ban on the construction of high-rise buildings. Rectangular layout; center. Karasuma-dori Street, which stretches from south to north, divides the city in half. The streets perpendicular to it are named by serial numbers, incl. the busiest Shijodori (4th Street). OK. 2 thousand monuments, many have been given the status of nat. treasure or valuable cultural asset. Over 400 Shinto and approx. 1660 Buddhist temples, as well as ca. 90 Christian churches (the center of one of the three dioceses of the Japanese Orthodox Church); monasteries, incl. Ryoanji with the famous Rock Garden; pavilions Kinkakuji ("golden pavilion") with a landscape garden (14th-16th centuries) and Ginkakuji ("silver pavilion", late 15th century); the imperial palace (restored in 1789 according to the model of the 9th century); Nijo Castle Palace (1603); palace ensembles Katsura (1620s) and Shugakuin; Gion quarter with a school and a geisha theater. The Japanese strive to visit K. at least once in their lives; almost a third of the country's population visits it every year. Large bargaining, finance. and prom. center; dominated by the environment. and small businesses. Traditional crafts: kimono fabrics, ceramics, embroidery, lacquerware and porcelain, fans, dolls, jewelry. A high-speed railway line passes through K. d. Shinkansen and freeway. The first tram in Japan was launched here (1895). Metropolitan (1981). More than 40 colleges and universities. K. is the birthplace of traditional Japanese drama. Lots of theaters; approx. 40 holidays and festivals. In Uji, ca. 10 km to SE. from K., - the Hodo pavilion ("Phoenix", 1052) in the Byodoin temple (Heian era).
Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .
Kyoto
Kyoto - the city of temples and monasteries, the heart ancient land Yamato. Kyoto is considered the epitome of Japanese culture. Modernity here not only did not eclipse antiquity, but merged with it into a single whole. Sudden leaps from bustling civilization to the carefully guarded silence of palaces, gardens and temples in Kyoto at every turn. Timeless beauty - it is this common expression that suggests itself when meeting Kyoto.
The city either fell victim to internecine wars and fires, or experienced its heyday as the center of Japanese politics, economy and culture. Waves of history have washed away many unique buildings, but what remains is amazing. For 1.96 million inhabitants of today's Kyoto, there are about 2,000 temples (17 of which are under the protection of UNESCO), hundreds of parks, dozens of ancient palaces. One fifth of the architectural monuments classified as national treasures and about the same proportion of especially valuable works of art in Japan (cm. Japan) concentrated in Kyoto. The city is called a museum of antiquity and a national treasury.
A special charm of Kyoto is given by the unique harmony of all its numerous buildings with the surrounding landscape. Temples and palaces, as it were, grow out of the waters of lakes and hillsides, only emphasizing the natural beauty of the landscape. These places are considered the highest phase of the development of the Japanese mastery of "merging with nature." Kyoto was founded in 792-794. and until 1868 (for 1074 years) it was officially considered the capital of the country and the residence of the emperor.
For cult (and not only) reasons, the imperial residence was moved to another place with each new ruler. In 784, Emperor Kammu (781-806) and the powerful Fujiwara family, who had come to power, planned to move the country's capital to the area of modern Kyoto from neighboring city Nara. The village of Uda in Kadono County was chosen for the construction of the new capital. Initially, this place was called Heian-ke - "Capital of Peace and Tranquility." In 793, a new city began to be built here according to Chinese patterns of urban planning. The city had the shape of a rectangle strictly oriented to the cardinal points. In the center was the imperial palace, from which an 80 m wide avenue stretched, dividing the capital into eastern and western halves. Arrow-straight avenues crossed broad streets at right angles. The streets were not given any name, they were simply numbered, starting from the north, where the vast palace quarter was located. Fully implement grandiose project failed. The city gradually expanded and was built up with palaces, temples, monasteries, and handicraft people flocked there. Merchants opened their shops and money changers there. The monasteries around Heian turned it into a major religious center. The city remained the center of the spiritual and political life from 794 to 1185 (Heian period).
In the history of the city of Kyoto, the 11th century stands out, which is called the golden one: it was at that time that world-famous works of Japanese classical literature were written - “The Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu and “Notes at the Headboard” by Sei Senagon. In 1177, Heian burned to the ground and was rebuilt and renamed Kyoto (Capital City). But the residence of the shoguns from the Minamoto clan moved to Kamakura. In 1333, the feudal lords of the southwestern regions of Honshu from the Ashikaga clan conquered power, and the capital was again transferred to Heian (to the north of the old center, in the Muromachi region). The Muromachi period (1333-1573) began.
The city has experienced a difficult, sometimes difficult fate. For some time it was owned by militant hordes of monks, then it became a victim of the shogun's troops and endless internecine strife of various princely clans. When Oda Nobunaga conquered this city in 1569, he found it in a deplorable state. Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi spared no expense in rebuilding the city. And although, remaining only the residence of the emperor, with the increased influence of the shogunal capital of Edo (Tokyo) during the reign of Tokugawa, Kyoto could never again reach its former significance, it still remains the undeniable cultural capital of Japan.
The symbols of Kyoto are also considered to be the Rokuonji temple lying on the shore of the picturesque “mirror” lake. palace ensemble Katsura (17th century), and Tenryuji temple (14th century). The Imperial Villa Katsura Rikyu (1624) is still used by members of the imperial family living in Tokyo. To visit the villa, you need permission from the department of the imperial court, which must be waited for several weeks. A visit to the villa is calculated by the minute and consists of a short walk along the intricately winding paths of the park, from each bend of which new views open up. Stone lanterns, bridges, pavilions, gazebos harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape. The park was designed for walking and admiring the scenery. In some places, on the ribbon of paths, flat stones are dug into the ground - this is how places are marked from which especially beautiful garden landscapes open up: miniature "mountain passes", "waterfalls", "sea shores", picturesque "villages". In the center of the villa there are three pavilions-cabinets "sein" installed on rather high piles. They not only remind of the origin of the distant ancestors of the Japanese from rainforest Southeast Asia, but also protect against the frequent floods of the Katsura River. There is also a lake in the garden, without which it is impossible to imagine a traditional Japanese garden.
The famous master of the tea ceremony, poet and garden architect Kobori Enshu, who agreed to set up a park, set three conditions for the shogun from the Tokugawa dynasty: do not limit funds; do not rush with deadlines; do not let anyone in until the work is completed. Only in 1624, four years after the start of work, did the first visitors enter the paths of Villa Katsura, since then the voices of admiration have not ceased. At present, the complete restoration of the villa has been completed, which required six years of hard work of many dozens of specialists.
One of the great monasteries of Kyoto is Tofukuji (“Temple of the Treasures of the East”), built in 1236 and rebuilt after a fire in the 15th century. Tofukuji, in addition to gentle hills, a river, an elegant bridge and wonderful architecture, is also famous for its well-chosen collection of traditional paintings.
On a high cliff of Mount Otova, a Kiyomizu-dara temple was built dedicated to the goddess Kannon (“Temple clean water”) with a ritual waterfall. The temple was founded in 798 and last rebuilt in 1633. Not far from it stands the oldest Shinto shrine in Kyoto - Yasaka-jinja, with which the Gion holiday is associated, leading its history from 869, when he celebrated the deliverance of the city's inhabitants from the epidemic plague.
Most ancient temple Kyoto To-ji was built two years after the founding of the city, and in 823 became the residence of the founder of the Shingon sect, Kobo Daishi. The main hall is one of the largest religious buildings. The five-tiered pagoda (56 m) is the highest in Japan. The treasury contains a large collection of priceless painting scrolls and other art objects. The Tourist Information Center is located in the Kyoto Tower.
Higashi-Hongan Monastery (Higashi-Hongan-ji) is the seat of Otani, a branch of the Jodo-Shin sect. Almost all of the buildings were built in the 19th century, but are exact copies of Momoyama style buildings. special attention deserves the reconstruction of the magnificent Tokushi Gate, intended exclusively for imperial ambassadors, originally located in the legendary Hideyoshi Castle in Fushimi near Kyoto. Sosei Garden (Sosei-en) was the residence of the abbot of the Kikokutei monastery. It contains some of the original buildings of the palace in Fushimi, moved here after the death of Hideyoshi. The landscape garden is partly the creation of Kobori Enshu.
Nishi-Hongan Temple (Nishi-Hongan-ji), the residence of the second half of the Jodo-Shin sect divided by Ieyasu, was built in 1272 and moved to its present location in 1591. In the Main Hall (1760) there is a statue of Buddha-Amida. A huge hall for state ceremonies and secular receptions Hideyoshi - Shiro-Sein. Living and guest rooms are named according to the decoration (Peacock, Sparrow or Weeping Willow room). All rooms are extremely expensive finishes. On the gilded background of the sliding doors, the famous artists and wood carvers of the Kano school left images of plants, animals, landscapes in all their colorful diversity. Gorgeous, partially painted carvings decorate the top of the wooden door frame and the coffered ceiling.
In the southeastern part of the temple grounds, the Hiun-kaku pavilion is somewhat hidden from view - a tea house, a bathhouse and a resting room for Hideyoshi. Upstairs is a small room for observing the moon. Asymmetric, with paper sliding doors, the two-story building made of unpainted wood, with its soulful elegance, gives the impression of a deliberately created counterbalance to heavy, massive government buildings.
In the southwestern part of the city is the Sanju-sangendo temple. "Sanju-san" means "33" - this is the number of identical intermediate rooms between the columns, symbolizing the 33 steps of the incarnation of the goddess Kannon into a person. Inside the hall there is a long row of 1001 small statues of Kannon and 28 figurines of her followers. The statue of the thousand-handed Kannon (height 3 m), which is one of the most significant works of art of the Heian era, was created in 1254 by the famous Japanese sculptor Tankei. Not far from the temple is National Museum(Koku-ritsu hakubutsukan), with a rich display of Japanese art and history. Almost all exhibits were donated to the museum by monasteries and Shinto shrines in the Kansai region. Almost 2 km northeast of the National Museum, one of the most beautiful temples in the city, Kiyomizu-dera, is located on a mountainside. The buildings of the temple founded in 805 belong to the Momoyama period. Bold in its decision, a vertical wooden structure 50 m high supports steep slope mountains an artificial platform on which the temple stands. From here you have a wonderful view of Kyoto.
The most exquisite sights of Kyoto include the two-tiered “Silver Pavilion” (Ginkaku-ji), built in 1489 as the country residence of Shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga, and after his death turned into a monastery. The Silver Pavilion was conceived in unison with the Golden one. The tea room in the four and a half tatami pavilion is considered a classic example of such rooms. The room on the second floor, distinguished by its keyhole-shaped windows typical of Zen architecture, was intended for solitary observations of the full moon. From here you can see the Zen Garden below. expanse white sand with a geometrically accurately executed truncated cone depict Chinese western lake and Mount Fuji. The temple, the sandy and mossy garden, the spacious park, turning into a mountain forest, paths and gates - all this forms an aerial and aesthetic unity closed in itself, which is very rare to find in such a perfect form.
The historic center of the city is the exquisite old Gose Imperial Palace (founded in 794, the current building was built in 1855). Since the Meiji Restoration, the emperor himself has visited here only occasionally. Gose (literally - "highly venerated place") is located in the depths of a huge garden (84 hectares), which is surrounded by a long white roofed stone wall, divided into equal squares by brown vertical logs. There are several main gates in the palace, visitors can only pass through Kogo-gomon and Seisemon. The gate at the southern entrance (Kenrei-mon) was used only when especially important and solemn ceremonies were held in the main building of the palace. Nowadays, these gates are opened for viewing by the general public only twice a year, only the emperor can pass through them.
The Imperial Palace changed its location several times and was rebuilt. For Emperor Kammu, the Daidairi Palace (Great Imperial Palace) was built in 795 on the northern outskirts of the city. Not even ashes remained of this palace. Where Gose is now located, Sato-dairi was located - a small rural palace in which the emperor took refuge from all the troubles and misfortunes that happened in Daidairi. Gosho became the official imperial residence under Emperor Kogon in 1331. 28 generations of Japanese emperors lived in Gosho until Emperor Meiji moved to Edo on November 26, 1868. After numerous fires, the palace was restored in 1855 in its original beauty and grandeur. It consists of 18 separate buildings interconnected by covered corridors. Japanese palace architecture (as well as the architecture of monasteries) suggests the existence of various buildings designed to perform separate functions.
Gose is an example of a combination of Chinese pomp and Japanese sophistication. The compositional center of the palace is Shishinden (built at the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th centuries and reconstructed in the 19th century) - “ Big hall ceremonies" or "Throne Hall", here in a solemn atmosphere emperors were enthroned. Like Buddhist temples of that time, this building has a high roof with smooth outlines, concave, as in China, but with calmer and more restrained lines. Under the eaves of the roof of the building is a gallery surrounded by a small veranda. The facade faces south, a large gentle staircase leads to the entrance, on both sides of which, as in the Heian palace, sakura is planted on the left, and a tangerine tree on the right. Enclosed in a bamboo fence, they look like flowers in a basket. The garden is covered with white pebbles and raked strictly along geometric lines directed towards the facade of the building.
The interior of Shishinden is simple and majestic. Massive round pillars are reflected in the smooth polished floorboards - unpainted, but carefully leveled and polished tree trunks. On a dais under a huge tent is the imperial throne (takamikura) made of lacquered red sandalwood with mother-of-pearl inlay, it is crowned with a Phoenix bird. Behind him is a smaller throne reserved for the empress.
To the northwest of Shishinden is the Seireden complex (former living quarters of the emperor), which has been used for palace ceremonies since the middle of the Heian period. The façade of this building faces east towards another sand garden. The whole building is built above the ground on low supports, as in ancient Shinto shrines, and is surrounded by a veranda with two small stairs descending into the garden. And in this building there is an imperial throne.
The sacred mirror was kept in the Shunkoden Palace during the coronation of Emperor Taisho (Yoshihito). Emperor Showa (Hirohito) also began his throne journey in Kyoto. Two other imperial regalia - a sword and jasper pendants - were kept in Kenji no ma. The solemn ceremony of enthronement of Akihito, in compliance with all ancient rituals, was already held in the imperial palace in Tokyo. The complex included a picturesque landscape garden with ponds, islands, rocks, bridges and pavilions. In the inner garden of the palace there is a tea house located on an artificially created hill. To the east is the Osuzumise pavilion, where the emperor escaped from the summer heat. To the north of it is Tesetsu, a tea ceremony house, you can go there from Osuzumise through the gallery. There is also a pond with a wooden bridge on the territory of the palace. And in the Sannai-den palace, the emperor and members of the imperial family exchanged New Year's greetings, from here they watched the New Year's performance. The palace is a national treasure of Japan and the property of the imperial family. The palace was opened to the general public in 1946. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, during the week you can get here with a guided tour.
To the southwest of the Imperial Palace stands the luxurious castle of the Tokugawa house - Nijo (1603, area - 275 thousand square meters) with a classical Japanese gardens- Ninomaru and Seiryu-en. Numerous buildings of the castle are connected by covered corridors and surrounded by massive walls and moats, similar to defensive fortifications. Buildings with moderately prominent black roofs and gilded gables fit naturally into the spacious, light-filled landscaped garden. inner palace Ninomaru is famous unique system“naruita” or “uguisu-bari” (“singing” floorboards - boards, when they are stepped on, emit a warning signal). 2 km north of the palace Nijo is the ancient silk district of Nishijin. In the narrow lanes one can see the silk mills under open sky, which Kyoto has long been famous for, and where the traditional nishijin-ori is woven - textiles with bright colored threads.
To the southeast of the Imperial Palace is the Heian Temple (Heian Jingu), built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the founding of the city. The temple is an exact miniature copy of the Imperial Palace of 794 (on a scale of 5:8), built in the Chinese style, that is, according to a strictly symmetrical plan. A gate, to the left of the main building, leads to a very large and beautifully landscaped garden. From the south, Okazaki Park (Okazaki-koen) adjoins the temple. The Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art are located here. On the opposite side of the street is the Noh Theater (Kanjo-kaikan). Most famous temples cities open to the public are located in the northwest of Kyoto.
One of the main temples of the Zen Buddhist Rinzai sect is Daitoku-ji. The temple, consisting of 23 buildings, occupies a vast territory, isolated from the city. The Tokushi-mon Gate has a curved thatched roof and was originally part of the old Imperial Palace. The Ka-ra-mon gate - in the rich baroque style of the Muromachi period, was brought from Hideyoshi's palace in Fusumi. The two-storied Sam-mon gate - the creation of the greatest master of the tea ceremony Sen-no-Rikyu (1521-1591) - stands out for its rigor and clarity of style.
The small Dai-sen (Daisen-in) temple in the Daitoku-ji ensemble and with its world-famous four-part rock garden, and in all buildings demonstrates Zen architecture in pure form. Here all rooms are united under one roof - according to the principles of simplicity, clarity and practical functionality. The trend towards compactness in the possessions of the samurai (Buke-zu-kuri) was dictated by security considerations, in the houses of urban merchants - elementary economy. But in Dai-sen-in, the architecture strictly follows religious principles.
The four Rock Gardens around the temple have completely different "characters". The garden, named "Great Ocean", consists entirely of sand and small pebbles. The second, smallest garden is also completely dry - without a single plant; a certain arrangement of stones has many interpretations. The third garden is a wild rocky landscape with rare trees and shrubs. The last garden, "Middle Ocean", is very strictly and sparingly decorated with a single tree and bush. Despite numerous interpretations, all four gardens do not impose anything on the visitor, but serve only quiet place for meditation.
To the west is one of the best examples of Japanese national architecture and one of the most common symbols of Kyoto, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), erected in 1397. All three floors of the pavilion are surrounded by open verandas. The roof is covered with the thinnest golden plates, and on the ridge there is an image of a bronze phoenix. This marvelous structure, with its landscaped garden adjacent to it, was acquired by Shogun Yoshimitsu for his residence and converted into a monastery after his death. In 1950, the building was burnt down by a mad Zen novice and rebuilt in 1955. The pavilion and the surrounding landscaped garden with the tea house form an aesthetic unity of unique beauty.
At 20 min. Walking distance from here is the most important Zen garden in Japan, the rock garden of Ryoanji Temple, created in 1473 by Zen master Soami. This dry garden, surrounded by a modest earthen wall covered with tiles, is an unsurpassed example of Kare-sansui - a garden of sand and stones. On light gravel, evenly laid in long straight grooves, there are only 15 large, overgrown mosses, and small stones, grouped in 5, 2, 3, 2 and 3. The composition is conceived in such a way that the fifteenth stone always slips out of sight, “hiding” behind other stones. The white gravel undulates around them in circles, giving the impression of islands in the ocean or mountains rising out of the mist. The park surrounding the temple is laid out according to the principle of a closed landscape - the mountains located outside the walls of the park are deliberately included in the layout of the park. This becomes especially clear when viewed from south coast artificial pond created in the 12th century.
More famous among the Japanese is the rock garden of Sambo-in Temple, in which the three most beautiful stones convey “three different moods in the Kamo River. The magnificent moss garden of Saihoji Temple is protected from hordes of tourists not only by high walls and expensive entrance fees, but also by the obligatory ceremony for rewriting the Buddhist sutra (sacred text).
Kyoto is also home to the oldest kabuki theater in Japan - Minamiza (the city is considered the birthplace of this art). It is worth visiting the National Museum and the National Museum of Modern Art. Ancient traditional crafts also flourish - the production of lacquer and bronze products, porcelain, lace, embroidery, religious items, the products of which can serve as a great souvenir. The city regularly hosts festive events and numerous religious ceremonies associated with any of the deities or local temples.
Three main festivals are regularly held in Kyoto, which are famous not only in Japan, but throughout the world. This is the Aoi Matsuri festival which takes place early summer, the Guyon Matsuri in summer, and the Jidai Matsuri in autumn. Kyoto also hosts the Okuribi festival on the five hills of Daimonji - held with lit torches on the night of August 15 in honor of the Buddhist ritual called O-bon or Urabon-e.
Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .
Traditional Japan - Kyoto City
Travel + Leisure recently published the results of its "World's Best" poll, in which thousands of readers rank hotels, islands, airlines and cities from around the world. This year, for the second time in a row, travelers have chosen japanese city Kyoto is the best in the world.
Kyoto has been the imperial capital of Japan for over 1,000 years. The city has many temples, parks and markets that attract tourists from all over the world. These photos show why Kyoto was named the best city peace. And twice!
Kyoto is one of the largest cities in Japan. From 794 to 1869 it was the capital of Japan, the main residence of the emperor. The old name is Heian.
There are many incredible temples in Kyoto, such as Byodo-in - Buddhist temple, included in the List of objects world heritage UNESCO.
Byodo-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji near Kyoto. If you have a Japanese ¥10 coin, you may notice the temple depicted on it. It is this side that is obverse on the coin. beautiful temple, standing in the middle of the pond, is specifically named Phoenix Hall (two phoenixes on the roof), which is the symbol of Byodo-in.
One of the most delightful temples is the 14th-century Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) with its gleaming golden façade reflected in the lake on which the temple stands.
Takao is a sparsely populated Mountain landscape near Kyoto, famous for its temples and unforgettable autumn colors.
The most famous objects in Takao are the temples of Kozan-ji, Jingo-ji, Saimyo-ji
Hikers love the thousands of bright red torii (temple gates) that stretch nearly 4km up the mountain to the main Fushimi Inari Shrine. Inari is considered the patron of business, so all these gates were built with the funds of some Japanese enterprise.
main object Fushimi Inari - Temple Gate - Torii
In front of the temples, visitors usually take a bath
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the most famous of the several thousand shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to the passage of Inari through the country. Inari is the Shinto god of rice. The Japanese believe that foxes are his messengers. Therefore, many statues of foxes are installed in the shrines of Inari.
Fushimi Inari Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. And from 1871 to 1946, the government actively supported him.
The earliest buildings on Inariyama Hill appeared in 711. But the sanctuary was moved here in 816 at the request of the monk Kukai. In 1499 the main building was built. At the bottom of the hill are the main gate and the main building. Behind them, in the middle of the mountain, is an inner shrine to which a thousand paths lead. Tens of thousands of mounds for worship lead to the top of the mountain.
Foxes are regarded as messengers and frequent the Inari Shrines. One feature - in their teeth is the key to the granary. Unlike most other Shinto shrines, at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the object of worship is open to the public. Japanese New Year millions of visitors come here (more than 2.5 million people visit here in 3 days).
main attraction Fushimi Inari
monk
The whole complex is located on the mountain and it will take at least half a day to visit it.
It's crowded here on the weekend
exhibition of lamp industry achievements
Those who watched the film "Memoirs of a Geisha" are familiar with this place from one of the episodes of the film.
Nishiki Market, also known as Kyoto's Kitchen, is a 400-year-old market that spans five blocks. Here you will find over a hundred shops and restaurants. This is a real storehouse of rare delicacies and unusual products.
For example, here you can find octopuses stuffed with quail eggs. Many stores offer free tastings, so come hungry.
Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms and Kyoto is full of these wonderful trees.
The Hanami spring festivals in Maruyama Park are especially delightful.
Maruyama Koen Park
Among the top ten famous cherry blossom gardens in Japan, the most beautiful is Maruyama-Koen Park in Kyoto. Next to it are the famous temples of the Higashiyama area: Kodai-ji, Shoren-ji, Yasaka-jinja, Chion-in, as well as the Gion geisha quarter, which is very attractive for photographers.
There are especially many visitors here in April, when the cherry begins to bloom. This is the time of the national holiday of hanami - admiring the sakura. And Maruyama-Koen Park is the place for the Hatsumoze ceremony, which is held in honor of the New Year.
This garden appeared in ancient Japanese capital in 1886. It is the first of the parks on the island, which was planned partly according to European models. But still there is more Japan than Europe.
Among the cherries and other trees, tea houses come across every minute. In the center of the park is Chisen Kaiyu Garden. Mandatory details of this traditional style: paths, ponds, waterfalls, streams, small rocky hills.
The old district of Gion is the heart of the city. At the eastern end of Gion, beyond the grounds of the Yasaka Jinja Temple, on the slopes of one of the Higashiyama hills, Maruyama Park begins. Opened in 1886, it is the oldest western-looking public park in Kyoto. Western Maruyama Park is purely formal, there are many tea houses, in the center there is a Japanese landscaped garden with paths, ponds, streams and waterfalls.
Few things compare to the spectacle of cherry blossoms and falling. The weeping of the cherry tree attracts thousands of Japanese. Admiring sakura flowers is associated among the Japanese with thoughts about the frailty and transience of all things. The dripping sakura is the weeping of the cherry tree, it makes an indelible impression
Yasaka Shrine, or Gion-san, is located in eastern Kyoto, next to Maruyama Park. The shrine is dedicated to Susanoo (brother of the great goddess Amaterasu) to his wife Inadahime-no-Mikoto and their offspring.
Susanoo is the patron saint of medicine; in 869, thousands of people turned to the deity with requests to save them from a terrible epidemic and solemnly carried mikoshi through all the streets of the city, trying to pacify the kami. This incident was most likely the starting point for the emergence of the Gion Matsuri.
One of the wonders of the Yasaka shrine is the huge, bright red, lacquered, luxurious, two-story gate (ro-mon). During the Onin War (1467-77), the first gate burned to the ground. In 1489 they were restored, and later recognized as an important cultural asset. They say that even spiders cannot weave nets on the gates, and when it rains, not a single drop remains on them.
The first shrine was built in 656 before the capital moved from Nara to Kyoto. In 1654, the fourth shogun of Japan restored the shrine.
Autumn in Kyoto is no less stunning.
To admire autumn foliage in all its glory, head down the Oi River to the Arashiyama area.
The Sagano Bamboo Forest is a picturesque alley of thousands of soaring bamboo trees, lined up in even rows as if at attention. One of the most amazing natural attractions in Japan is located on western outskirts Kyoto city in Arashiyama park. The place gained great popularity not only due to its extraordinary beauty, but also due to the special sound resulting from the contact of the wind with slender bamboo stems. Visitors to the Sagano Forest claim that this sound, vaguely reminiscent of music, has an extremely calming effect and envelops a sense of harmony. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Japanese government has listed the sounds of the Sagano Bamboo Grove as one of the country's 100 protected attractions.
And you can take a picture of Mount Fuji while traveling on the Shinkansen train (bullet train). By the way, it accelerates to 321 km / h.
Every dish in Kyoto is a work of art. And Kyo-ryori (“Kyoto cuisine”) is generally a whole culture of eating, which includes small portions of food laid out on beautiful seasonal plates.
Also in Kyoto there are many amazing natural places, For example bamboo grove Arashiyama unearthly beauty. It is famous not only for its dense bamboo thickets, but also for the creaky sounds that are heard here.
Geisha Encounters Are Common on the Streets of Kyoto
Especially in Gion, one of the few geisha areas left in Japan. Winding streets with old wooden buildings reminiscent of old Kyoto and are literally full of traditional tea houses and exclusive restaurants. 
There are practically no streets in Kyoto where there is nothing to see.
There are many amazing original cities in the world. Some excite you with the bustling activity of business districts, others attract with ancient monuments of art, others beckon with unusual traditions. All this is woven into one harmonious and unique ensemble in Kyoto Japan. This ancient city, once former capital great country. It translates as "metropolitan city". In those distant times, Kyoto radiated peace, prosperity and tranquility. Echoes of former grandeur today coexist here with modern buildings, and the calm slowness of an ancient tradition with a fast pace of business life.
- City `s history
The residence of the Emperor of Japan, Kyoto officially became in 794. Then it was called Heian-kyo, which means "the capital of tranquility and peace." The city is located in the center. For more than a thousand years, the empire was ruled from here. Kyoto was built on the site of the village of Uda. Initially, the city was planned on the basis of traditional Chinese geomancy. By some miracle, this jewel of Japan was hardly damaged during the nuclear bombings during World War II, although Kyoto was originally included in the target plan. The heritage of the ancestors is carefully preserved and restored.
IN ancient Kyoto Talents flocked from all over the country. This city was not only the concentration of the Emperor's power, but also a cultural, political and business center. Due to the fact that the capital was located far from China, the influence of this empire weakened, and its own original tradition began to form on the archipelago. In those distant times, it appeared. The works of writers began to be recorded for posterity. Great importance in state structure that time the judicial system played. It was a clear decision-making and control mechanism.
Beautiful buildings were built in the city, parks and gardens were laid out. Some temples have survived to this day. Traveling through the city, in many ways acquired modern look, you can accidentally turn on old street and find yourself in the shadows or in front of the majestic temple building. Many tourists flock here to enjoy the atmosphere of traditional Japan.
Despite the fact that the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869, the city continued to develop as a center of culture and education. Already by 1900, the buildings were equipped with water supply and sewerage, many were electrified. The city boasted a developed industry compared to other prefectures.
- ancient streets
The architecture of the city whimsically combines modern skyscrapers and ancient houses built in traditional Japanese style. Central Avenue Kyoto looks just like other major cities in Japan, except that the advertisements and signs are written in Japanese.
And very close is Ishibe-koji - an old alley. Here, a narrow, paved with stone tiles, the road is limited by the same stone walls. Above them rise the roofs of low houses surrounded by trees. They were built in the style of the Taisho era. The view is a bit gloomy, but that's the beauty of Kyoto's identity.
The most famous geisha district, Gion, is located in the ancient capital. There are restaurants built in the old style. Lots of restaurants and tea houses. Tourists come here to admire the beauties wearing traditional clothes. In Kyoto, you can see the real tea ceremony. It is shown to tourists in the relevant establishments.
The local population considers their city the most beautiful in the country. There are many Buddhist and Shinto temples, museums, cultural objects on its territory and in the district. For example, in the ancient hotel - Nijo Jin - a haven of wealthy samurai, a collection of unique ninja weapons is exhibited.
- How do the local people live?
The cultural sphere has remained important for the city since ancient times. Today, tourism is the main source of its income. Agriculture is developed in the district. But most of the money is brought to the city by travelers who want to immerse themselves in the ancient atmosphere of the extraordinary Japanese culture. Sometimes in a modern supermarket here you can meet a real geisha, like in a movie. Antiquity coexists with modernity.
For reference: in 2016, the city officially had 1,475 thousand people.
Arriving at the most modern station, tourists in an hour can find themselves among the cherry blossoms on the banks of the magnificent canal. By the way, this favorite place recreation and local residents. The climate here is subtropical. It is cold only in winter, but even during this period the temperature rarely drops below zero. It is believed that visiting Kyoto is best in spring or early autumn. In the summer it is suffocatingly hot, and during the holidays it is very crowded.
Kyoto is the center of the prefecture of the same name, the cultural center of the country, a city with a population of one and a half million people, located on the island of Honshu.
Kyoto city
History of Kyoto
In the 8th century AD, Emperor Kammu moved the capital from Nara to the new city of Heian-kyo, later called Kyoto.
Over the next few centuries, Kyoto earned the title of cultural and business center Japan. This is where traditional Japanese culture originated. Art, painting, literature were actively developing, the hiragana alphabet was created, the judicial system became one of the best in the world.
Kyoto was the imperial capital until the 19th century, when the Meiji Restoration began, during which the functions of the main city of Japan and the abode of the Emperor began to be performed by Tokyo.
By the 20th century, Kyoto had the best education system in Japan, the highest level of culture, art, and production. Electricity and running water were installed, transport appeared.
During World War II, Kyoto was included in the list of target cities on which the United States planned to drop an atomic bomb. But this did not happen due to the high cultural and historical value of the city, and for the same reasons Kyoto was not bombed, thanks to which ancient temples and other historical values were preserved.
Attractions Kyoto
Video sights of Kyoto
Gion is Kyoto's famous geisha district. It is sometimes mistakenly believed that geisha are women of easy virtue. But this is not so, a geisha is a person of art, entertaining her clients with singing, dancing, playing the musical instruments and conversations.
Geishas of Gion still organize festivals with dancing and singing during the cherry blossom season, the most popular of which are "Cherry Blossom Dances" and "Old Capital Dances".
Other attractions in the Gion area include the Yasaka Shrine and the Minamiza Kabuki Theatre.
Gion Photos
Ryoanji is a Buddhist temple famous for its rock garden. Ryoanji means "Temple of the Resting Dragon" in Japanese. One of the most famous sights in Kyoto.
Ryoanji photo
Kinkakuji was built in 1397 by Shogun Yoshimitsu of the Ashikaga clan, where he spent the rest of his life, ceasing to be interested in politics. Separated with close friends in the golden pavilion, he plunged into philosophical thoughts, found satisfaction in the tea ceremony and the study of Buddhism.
After Yoshimitsu's death, his son made Kinkakuji a Buddhist temple, following the precepts of his father.
golden pavilion photo
The temple is famous for its giant veranda, which protrudes 12 meters from the edge of the cliff, where the temple stands and rests on powerful pillars. There are always a large number of tourists on the veranda, because it is a wonderful Observation deck. It used to be a place for dancing.
The temple got its name thanks to a waterfall with a crystal clean water, which, according to legend, protects the spirit of Fudo myo from evil ghosts.
Temple of Pure Water
The Silver Pavilion is of particular importance in the art of Japan, its architecture, exterior and interior symbolize a new era in Japanese culture. The pavilion delights with its inner, secret beauty and outlines on the surface of the lake located nearby.
Silver pavilion
Kyoto on Japan map
Genre of the article - Cities of Japan
