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Where Royalty Dwelt
Literally the jewel in the crown continues to be the Kyoto Imperial Palace, standing dignified in its simplicity. Situated in the heart of the city, the numerous buildings serving as residences to the ranking noble court families have since been torn down, but sprawling manicured lawns and 9,000 peach and plum trees fill the grounds in their place and are in full glory during spring. Nearby, stands Nijo Castle. Built in 1603 by a Tokugawa shogun, the ornate castle’s unique ‘nightingale floor’ apparently makes bird-like sounds when walked upon, to warn residents of possible intruders.
Plethora Of Temples And
Gardens
Reminiscent of the past are the shrines and temples, each reputed for its special feature. No matter where you go - be
it to the north, south, central, east or west of Kyoto – you are sure to find magnificent temples and gardens to take your breath away.
Central
The must-see ones in central Kyoto include Higashi-Honganji Temple. Kyoto’s largest wooden building, like Nijo Castle, was built by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1602, though
the present building dates from 1895. Along with the neighbouring Nishi- Honganji Temple, founded in 1272
in Higashiyama (Eastern Kyoto) and relocated to its present site in 1591, these two temples form the foundation of one of Japan’s largest Buddhist sects, Jodo Shinshu. Another significant, and one of the oldest, shrines is Shimogamo, famed for its hollyhock (Aoi Matsuri) festival and situated in the Tadasuno-Mori forest along the confluence of the Kamo and Takano Rivers. Shokokuji, one of the Gozan (Five Great Zen) temples, was once a famous painting academy and currently has a museum on its premises. Another shrine worth visiting is Kitano Tenmangu, which was built to honour a wronged 9th century scholar, Michizane Sugawara, and has among its treasures two scrolls illustrating the shrine’s history.
East
Located in the northeast is the Ginkakuji Temple, also known as the Temple of the Silver Pavilion. Its name is rather ironic considering that it had never been covered in silver because
the shogun who had it erected during the Ashikaga era (c.1489) died before
it was completed. Further east, the Higashiyama area offers ideal walking trails along its undulating slopes. This starts from the Heian Shrine founded in 1895 to commemorate Kyoto’s 1,000th anniversary. It is a scaled-down replica of the Imperial Palace and is set in a stunning garden; you will soon realize that the gardens of Shoren are among the finest. The temple was the former residence of the head abbots, many
from the imperial family. Wander into Maruyama Park which draws large crowds to its landscaped gardens and cherry blossoms in the spring. At its northern end is Chion-in, one of the country’s largest temples. Marvel at the very tall Torii gates showcased at Yasaka Shrine, also known as ‘Gion-san’. From here proceed to the popular Kiyomizu
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