Kyoto Vacation

Kyoto in Japan is one of the most scenic vacation spots in the world. Kyoto is famous not only for its ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines but also for its Geisha hostesses and its Tofu dishes, Buddhist vegetarian food and traditional style Japanese food called "Kyoto Ryori". Kyoto delicacies are beautifully presented and served in small quantities of unique dishes featuring vegetables, pickles and fish in a variety of sauces.

The most famous sights to see in Kyoto:
The most famous sights are the temples and shrines around the city center. They are fairly close together and easy to get around to by bicycle or even on foot. Driving is quite difficult as parking is difficult to find and quite expensive. The most popular times to visit are in Spring (April) when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, Autumn when the golden fall colors fill the trees (November), and winter when snow blankets the famous sights (January).

• Golden Kinkakuji temple (Rokuon-ji) http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/13/
• Silver Ginkakuji temple http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-ginkakuji
• Heian Jungu Shinto Shrine with the largest Torii gate in all of Japan http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/index_e.html
• Gion is the drinking and entertainment district famous for the Geisha and Maiko (in training to be Geisha) hostesses http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html
• Kiyomizu-dera the fountains of fortune are here: will you choose: beauty, health or wealth? http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-kiyomizudera

Other Mahalo pages are available for Kyoto Restaurants, Kyoto Hotels, Kyoto Tours and Kyoto.

Although the shrines, temples, food, busy old style streets are attractive to Kyoto visitors and important cultural aspects of the city, it is the area of Gion that has attracted a lot of attention in recent years.

Japanese and non-Japanese visitors alike are captivated by the stunning "Maiko", hostesses in training and "Geisha" hostesses dressed in their flowing "Kimono" with their stark white make-up and bright red lips, teetering on high heeled wooden sandals. These hostesses are not only entertainers, they are considered artists and professional hostesses for private drinking parties. These women are not, as many incorrectly assume, prostitutes. The intricacies of the professions are still mostly shrouded in mystery, although the book "Geisha of Gion: The Memoir of Mineko Iwasaki" gives a fascinating insight to the secret life of a Geisha.http://www.amazon.com/Geisha-Gion-Memoir-Mineko-Iwasaki/dp/074343059X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270534376&sr=1-1 The book by Arthur Golden and movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha" was a huge success, showing that there is quite a bit of interest in the subject worldwide. http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Geisha-Arthur-Golden/dp/1400096898/ref=pd_sim_b_4

It is always a good idea to take travel advice and tips from local long-term foreign residents who have been living, working and enjoying Kyoto for a long time.

According to "Deep Kyoto" http://www.deepkyoto.com/?cat=176, the Cherry Blossoms at "Heian Jingu" are most beautiful during the Hanami season (April). The writer also points out that although the enticement of Kyoto is the rich, cultural history of its shrines, traditions and townships, they are all quite complex and difficult to understand or truly appreciate for non-Japanese visitors by wandering around it. By reading, "Kyoto: A Cultural History" http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/0195301382?ie=UTF8&tag=deepkyoto-22&link_code=as3&camp=767&creative=3999&creativeASIN=0195301382 before visiting to choose the areas that particularly interest you and then re-reading while you are visiting it, your experience will be much richer.

• Cycling
• Hiking
• History Tours
• Geisha and Maiko in Gion
• Kyoto Buddhist Vegetarian cuisine in a temple garden restaurant
• Eating Kyoto's traditional "Kyoto-Ryori"