Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社, Yasaka-jinja?) holds the biggest matsuri in Japan every year called the Gion Matsuri. Yasaka Shrine, once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), it was built originally in 656. The shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage.

In 869 the mikoshi (portable shrines) of Gion Shrine were paraded through the streets of Kyoto to ward off an epidemic that had hit the city. This was the beginning of the Gion Matsuri, an annual festival which has become world famous.

Today, in addition to hosting the Gion Matsuri, Yasaka Shrine welcomes thousands of people every New Year, for traditional Japanese New Year rituals and celebrations. In April, the crowds pass through the temple on their way to Maruyama Park, a popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) site. Lanterns decorate the stage with the names of festival sponsors.

How do you get to Yasaka Shrine?

Yasaka Shrine can be reached by bus from Kyoto Station in about 20 minutes. Take number 100 and 206 and get off at Gion bus stop. The closest train stations are Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.

Alternatively, the 20+ minute walk from Kiyomizudera through the narrow lanes of the Higashiyama (”Eastern Mountain”) district to Yasaka Shrine is highly recommended.

Japan Guide

At a glance, Pontochō looks like a place you often see in television of how old Japan is portrayed with its narrow streets and paper lanterns hanging outside of every entrance of houses, shops and ryokans.

Pontochō (先斗町) is a district in Kyoto, Japan known for geisha and home to many geisha houses and traditional tea houses. Like Gion, Pontochō is famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.

The name Pontochō is said to be a portmanteau of the English word “point” or the Portuguese word “ponto” (also meaning point) and the Japanese word meaning town, street, or road. The district crest is a stylized water plover or chidori.

Pontochō centres around one long, narrow, cobbled alley running from Shijo-dōri to Sanjo-dōri, one block west of the Kamo River (Kamogawa). This is also the traditional location of the start of kabuki, and a statue of Okuni still stands on the opposite side of the river.

Geisha have existed in Pontochō since at least the 1500s, as have prostitution and other forms of entertainment. Today the area, lit by traditional lanterns at night, contains a mix of very expensive restaurants—often featuring outdoor riverside dining on wooden patios—geisha houses and tea houses, brothels, bars, and cheap eateries.

The area is also home to the Pontochō Kaburenjō Theatre at the Sanjo-dōri end of the street. This theatre functions as a practice hall for geisha and twice a year since the 1870s Kyoto geisha perform the Kamogawa Odori—Kamogawa river dancing, a combination of traditional dance, kabuki-like theatre, singing and the playing of traditional instruments—there, offering a rare chance for ordinary people to see performances by real geisha.

How to get to Pontocho?
The closest bus stop to Pontocho is Shijo Kawaramachi, which is served by ten bus lines, including lines 17 and 205 from Kyoto Station. The closest train stations are Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line and Shijo Station on the Keihan Line.

Kyōto Gosho (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho), or Kyoto Palace, was the Imperial Palace of Japan during the Edo Period. Today the grounds are open to the public, and the Imperial Household Agency hosts public tours of the buildings several times a day. English tours are held twice a week.

Kyōto Gosho is the latest of the Imperial palaces built at or near its site in the north-eastern part of the old capital on Heiankyo after the abandonment of the larger original Heian Palace (大内裏, daidairi) that was located to the west of the current palace during the Heian Period. The Palace lost much of its function at the time of the Meiji Restoration, when the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869. However, the Taisho and Showa Emperors still had their coronation ceremonies at Kyōto Gosho.

This is one of Japan’s historical sites that marries structure, nature and history together. It will definitely make a picture perfect postcard. Don’t forget to visit the Kyoto Imperial Garden on the palace grounds where varieties of cherry blossom trees and other floras grow. A beautiful pond completes the imperial garden as well.

How to get there?
You can reach the Kyoto Imperial Palace via Kyoto Station by the Karasuma Subway Line.

While the world advances into a modernize civilization and women’s rights, time seems to slow down when you are in Gion’s geisha district.

Tō-ji (東寺, Tō-ji?) is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto, Japan. Its name means East Temple, and it once had a partner, Saiji (West Temple). They stood alongside the Rashomon, the gate to the Heian capital. It is formally known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji (教王護国寺, Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji?) which indicates that it previously functioned as a temple providing protection for the nation. Tō-ji is located in Minami-ku near the intersection of Ōmiya Street and Kujō Street, southwest of Kyoto Station.

Although often associated with the famous priest Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), Tō-ji was established in 796 A.D., two years after the capital moved to Heian-kyō. Kūkai was put in charge of Tō-ji in 823 A.D. by order of Emperor Saga. Its principal image is of Yakushi Nyorai, the healing Buddha.

The pagoda of Tō-ji stands 57 m high, and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. It dates from the Edo period, when it was rebuilt by order of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu. The pagoda has been, and continues to be, a symbol of Kyoto. Entrance into the pagoda itself is permitted only a few days a year.

The buildings at Tō-ji house a variety of ancient Buddhist sculpture. The grounds feature a garden and pond, in which turtles and koi swim. The grounds also house an academically rigorous private school, Rakunan, from which many students are sent to elite universities.

Recognizing the historical and spiritual significance of Tō-ji, UNESCO designated it, along with several other treasures in Kyoto Prefecture, as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” World Heritage Site.

On the 21st of each month, a lively flea market that boasts of wares from far and old is held around the Tō-ji. It’s packed with people every month and the wares you can expect are clothes, sculptures, tablewares, decoration items, food and plants.

How to get there?
Tō-ji is located on the south of Kyoto Station, which is a 10=15 minutes walk away.

Amanohashidate is one of Japan’s three scenic views otherwise, also know as Nihon Sankei. The word “Amanohashidate” technically translates to bridge in the heaven in Japanese. A thin strip of land connects two opposing sides of Miyazu Bay. This sand bar is 3.3km long and is covered with about 7000 pine trees. This strip is the bridge in heaven.

To view the “bridge in the heaven” you just need to turn your back from the bay and look in between your legs. Tourists have been doing this for a millenia.

It can be viewed from mountains on either side of the bay or it can be traversed on foot. Visitors are recommended to view the “heaven’s bridge” by turning their back to it, then bending over and looking at it upside down from between their legs.

Near the southern end is Chion-ji, a Buddhist temple. The temple has a small tahoto, a kind of pagoda which still resembles the Indian stupa more than the more common three and five storied Japanese pagoda.

Gion (祇園 or 祇をん) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the middle ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine.

Geisha in the Gion district do not refer to themselves as geisha; instead, Gion geisha use the local term “geiko.” While the term geisha means “artist,” the more direct term geiko means specifically “a woman of art.” I bet this is an info that many do not know since the publication of Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha has so misguiding termed/defined the word geisha.

This part of Kyoto has two hanamachi (geisha districts): Gion Kobu (祇園甲部) and Gion Higashi (祇園東). Despite the considerable decline in the number of geiko in Gion in the last one hundred years, it is still famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment. Part of this district has been declared a national historical preservation district.

There is a popular misconception that Gion was a red-light district. However, as it was a geiko district, and as geiko are entertainers, not prostitutes, Gion is not, and never was, a red-light district. For those of you looking for the red light district, head on to Shimabara for a little history lesson as it WAS a redlight district before prostitution was banned in Japan.

The geiko of Gion still maintain the annual dances, the most popular being the Miyako Odori, or “Dances of the Old Capital,” staged by the geiko of Gion Kobu. The dances run from April 1 through April 30 each year during the height of the cherry blossom (sakura) season. Spectators from Japan and worldwide attend the events, which range from “cheap” seats on tatami mats on the floor (approximately $15.00 U.S.), to reserved seats with a small tea ceremony beforehand (appoximately $40.00 U.S.).

I would suggest visiting Gion to rid of the misconception that geisha/geikos are prostitutes..they are merely artisans or a person of arts. Indeed, to be served by a geisha/geiko is an experience of beauty and of Japan’s oldest cultural heritage.

Source: Wikipedia

K’s House is a chain of backpacker hostels in Japan. They started out in November, 2003 in Kyoto (which has perhaps the highest concentration of backpacker hostels anywhere in Japan) and have since opened hostels in Nagano prefecture and Tokyo.

The prices are cheap (starting at 2500 yen for a dorm bed in Kyoto, 2800 in Tokyo and Nagano) and the entire hostel has a very modern and welcoming atmosphere. Features in all hostels include:

• Communal living and dining room
• A well-equipped communal kitchen
• Internet, laundry and bicycle hire
• Separate bathrooms and toilets
• No curfew, English speaking staff and air conditioning in all rooms
• No YHA membership required

After staying at the Kyoto hostel numerous times, I can tell you that the place is clean, airy, modern, comfortable and best of all – cheap! The staff are all very friendly and will always try to be helpful. They all speak English reasonably well.

One thing that I found very useful was how the hostel has a room availablity chart online for three months in advance. This is updated daily, and bookings can be made via email.

I highly recommend this place. While I haven’t been to the Tokyo hostel, if it’s anything like Kyoto’s (which was, by the way, voted best hostel in Asia by Hostelworld, an online booking service) then you won’t be disappointed. Besides, 2800 yen for a bed is probably unheard of in Tokyo.

Link:
K’s House – in English

The Golden Pavillion is one of those sites that you’ll always find on postcards from Japan. This great, big, gaudy …..well, pavillion is one of the most popular sites in Kyoto.

It’s a little bit of an anti-climax to get there. Yes, it’s very nice, you take a few photos and you leave. Kinkakuji is not a temple and there is no way inside it. There is actually a temple on the site, but it’s a very small and a more-or-less unintersting affair. The gift shop is larger than the temple. Of course, the path leads you to the Golden Pavillion first, then you wind back to the gift shop and temple.

Another disappointing thing about Kinkakuji is that it’s only 50 years old. The original Golden Pavillion was built in 1397 (but was torn down and restored a few times) until in 1950, it was burnt to a ground by a crazed monk. The story of that monk was made into a novel and a movie, which might be more interesting than your visit to the site itself.

Kinkakuji is not a complete waste of time but I think it’s best to visit it in the late afternoon before it gets dark. It’s in the north-west corner of Kyoto, out of the way of most of the attractions, so basically, after a long day around maybe Ni-jo Castle or Arashiyama, you can grab a taxi and fit in this one last attraction before going to get dinner. Also, the position of the sun near sunset is perfect for taking photos of the building.

Link:
Wikipedia’s article on Kinkakuji

Nijo-jo or Nijo Castle, is perhaps the most important attraction in Kyoto. It’s the castle where the Tokugawa Shoguns lived while they controlled Japan for nearly three hundred years. It was completed in 1627 and is now a World Heritage site, accordig to UNESCO.

It is a large fortified area, with two moats and walls, one inside the other. The Ninomaru Palace is the oldest structure, and contains lavish decorations, such as gold-layered screen doors and paintings by members of the Kano school.

In the inner section of Nijo Castle is Honmaru Castle, which is only open on special occasions in autumn. It’s less lavish than Ninomaru and was originally built at a different site then transported there.

A close-up on the detail of the main gate leading to Ninomaru Palace

Okay, you say, I’m not interested in the history of it all, and I don’t care if it’s a grand example of architecture from a period in Japan’s history that you would miss if you blinked at the wrong time. Why should I care about Ninomaru and Nijo Castle?

Two words: Nightingale Floors.

All of Ninomaru Palace is decked out in nightingale floors from nearly 400 years ago. They squeak quite loudly as the tourists shuffle along them, so you feel like you’re in samurai times, and soon the guards will come running at the sounds of your squeaks.

Ninomaru Palace, the oldest structure at Nijo Castle and home to some damn cool nightingale floors

There’s also secret compartments that the guards would hide in while the Shogun was holding court, and really quite beautiful gold-painted screen doors, or at least copies of them. On the same grounds is the storage facility for the Ninomaru artworks, which explains how they researched, restored and made copies of the screen doors. You can also see the originals in safer conditions.

Throughout the grounds are great Japanese gardens, including the obligatory carp ponds, and a Zen garden, where for ¥700 you can be served matcha green tea and a sweet, while contemplating the positioning of the rocks against the harmony of the trees, or something like that.

Honmaru Palace – it’s closed most of the year.

You’ll easily spend about 2 – 3 hours in Nijo Castle – more if you visit the art museum or Honmaru Palace. I’ve ben twice already and would definitely see it again on my next visit to Kyoto. Be warned that Nijo Castle closes at 4pm and may be closed on certain days throughout the year. Best to check beforehand. I recommend visiting first thing in the morning, then perhaps moving to the Imperial Palace nearby, so you can compare Shogun grandeur with that of the Emperors.

Links:
Wikipedia article on Nijo Castle
City of Kyoto’s page on Nijo Castle (Japanese, but has links to English PDF files at the bottom)