Click on any image to see Kyoto travel guide and photos Japan Photos: Tokyo Pictures Guide | Kamakura | Japan Pictures | Kanazawa | Takayama Festival Japan Information: Japan Travel Guide | Japan Map | Kyoto Walks | Japan Tours Short [inner city] Kyoto Trips: - The two calm, rural villages of Ohara and Kurama [see the walks page] are 100 minutes by bus from the city centre. - Takao district in north-west Kyoto [north of Arashiyama] is a one hour bus or train ride; the temples of Kozen-ji and Jingo-ji are especially vivid in the autumn. Day trips out of Kyoto: Daibutsu-den Hall, Todai-ji, housing Japan's largest Buddha [16m high, consisting of 437 tonnes of bronze and 130 kg of gold], is also the world's biggest wooden building, even though the reconstruction [completed in 1709] is only two thirds of the original size. Nara*** [50minutes] another ancient place encompassing some of Japan's most significant sites is a must-do if you have a full day to spare, even if you have to cut into Kyoto time as Nara is a lot less built-up, greener and more relaxed than Kyoto yet offers some of Japan's best ancient sites in a relatively compact area. Kasuga Taisa, a World Heritage shrine in Nara , was founded by the Fujiwara clan in the 8th century. New Year's day and lantern festivals held twice a year attract many visitors. Himeji Castle, Japan's finest surviving example of early 17th century castle architecture Himeji castle** [90 minutes] Japan's largest and most spectacular castle, nicknamed the White Heron after its elegant white winged form, has been standing for more than 400 years and displays a highly advanced and effective defensive system. Travellers might as well visit Koko-en, Edo-style gardens just across the moat while in the vicinity. - Osaka* [30 minutes] Japan's third biggest city, is no beauty but a powerful, down-to-earth, commercial centre offering great dining and nightlife, half an hour from Kyoto by train. Kanazawa Kenroku-en [garden] - Kanazawa** [2 hours by express train i.e. not the Shinkansen] is home to a so-so castle; a quaint and tranquil, mud-walled samurai residential quarter; a wood-walled geisha district with a golden lining; but best of all is a totally knockout, massive and manicured traditional Japanese garden [picture above] that used to belong to the castle. - Koya-san** [2.5 hours, Mt Koya], a monastic complex encompassing over 100 temples including Okuno-in, one of the most sacred places in Japan and Kongobu-ji, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism sect, where visitors can experience 'Shukubo' [temple lodging] at any one of 50 temples and eat Shojin-ryori [monk's vegetarian food]. Seize the opportunity to participate in the morning prayers as well [if the ipod's broken]. Japan Photos: Tokyo Pictures Guide | Kamakura | Japan Pictures | Kanazawa | Takayama Festival Japan Information: Japan Travel Guide | Japan Map | Kyoto Walks | Japan Tours Photos © bugbog.com and licensors Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife
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