World Heritage Sites
by Rabbityama
In 1994, 17 sites were together designated UNESCO Heritage sites under the title "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto". This includes two sites in Uji (Byodoin Temple and Ujigami Shrine) and one in Otsu (Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei).
The 14 sites found in Kyoto are:
-Kiyomizu Temple
-Shimogamo Shrine
-Kamigamo Shrine
-Koke-dera
-Nishi Honganji Temple
-Toji Temple
-Kinkakuji Temple
-Ryoanji Temple
-Ninnaji Temple
-Kozanji Temple
-Nijo Castle
-Daigoji Temple
-Ginkakuji Temple
-Tenryuji Temple
Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the number of sites may want to start by looking up these sites. Most of them are very popular, although some are actually less often visited by foreign tourists, such as Kozanji Temple, Kamigamo Shrine, and Daigoji Temple, but these are each great sites! I personally felt that Nishi Honganji Temple was the least impressive, but everyone has their own opinions!
At the very least, you can be confident that the sites have historical significance and most date back hundreds of years.
You can see lots of food and...
by Sakura_Kobe
You can see lots of food and food materials in Nishiki Market. Some of them are used for only Japanese dishes. It must be fun to look around the shop which are typically Japanese. At the end of the year, many local people come to the market to get some food materials for traditional Japanese cuisine of New Year's day called 'Osechi-ryori'. I bought several materials for osechi myself.
JR Rail train travel around Kyoto
by BorderHopper
Because I don't recall all of the details from our travels around Japan I'll include a brief explanation regarding train travel around Kyoto which I've referenced from the Lonely Planet Kyoto guidebook (an excellent source if you're planning a trip to Japan).
There are several options for getting around Kyoto by train. For South Western Kyoto take the JR Tokaido Line, the JR San-In line runs into Western Kyoto, and the JR Nara Line runs into southern Kyoto and then onward into the city of Nara.
Yabusame Festival
by smartidea
originated from the archery training of horseback warriors, and during the Kamakura Period (1185-1392) it was institutionalized in festival form. The main festival has been conducted here on September 19th of every year since 1440. In the early years, the villages of Shimoyoshida and Katsuyama held the event together at the 2nd station of Mt. Fuji, but a feud developed between them. Therefore, each village began holding theri own separate festivals. Fujiyoshida's Yabusame Festival is different from those of other parts of Japan in both its symbolism and its practices.
When visiting Kyoto, one must...
by Geisha_Girl
When visiting Kyoto, one must make a visit to the Geisha district of Gion, known as the 'birthplace of the Geisha.' Here you can view blocks of beautiful old tea houses and catch glimpses of Geisha life.
Here we ran into some 'Geishas-in-training' entertaining an American traveler while the curious old fellow on the right pays them no mind......
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Pontocho by Day
Inside Kodaiji's Hondo
The riverside restaurants of Kyoto at sunset
The Museum's signs
