Discovering Kyoto: “the heart of Japan”
Welcome back for another Japan adventure through the eyes of our Director of Program Operations, Sarah Reid. Following trips to Nara and Himeji, this time Sarah boarded a train to meet with her guide, Hiroyuki, for an 8-hour tour of Kyoto (京都)!
Lonely Planet describes Kyoto as “old Japan writ large: atmospheric temples, sublime gardens, traditional teahouses, and geisha scurrying to secret liaisons.”
In 794, Kyoto became Japan’s capital city, after Nara, and continued as the capital for more than 1,000 years. It’s often referred to as “the heart of Japan.”
Temples & Shrines
Kyoto is also nicknamed “The City of Ten Thousand Shrines.”
One of the most famous images of Kyoto (perhaps because it was a film location in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha) is the view through the orange-pillared walkway of the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. The 10,000+ orange structures are torii gates, which people or companies have donated. Sarah’s guide took her to see this magical place with its 2.5-mile woodland hike into Mount Inari where you can spot hundreds of shrines, fox statues (foxes were thought to be messengers of Inari), and thousands of perfectly folded colorful origami cranes.
Another iconic site to visit in Kyoto is the 14th-century Rokuon-ji (or the “Temple of the Golden Pavilion”), the top two stories of which are covered in pure gold leaf. Each floor was designed in a different architectural style and it’s set within a “Japanese strolling garden” with a pond, bridges, rock compositions, and little islands.
Before this time, it was forbidden to build temples in Japan so as not to give religious institutions too much political influence. Now there are some 1,600 temples in Kyoto, many of which were rebuilt time and again after destruction from wars, fires, or earthquakes.
Of course, while in Kyoto, another must-see is the temple with Japan’s tallest wooden pagoda. Tōji-in Temple which has become a symbol of the city as it can be easily seen from many places. Once a month, you’ll find a lively flea market on the temple grounds.
Gardens
Kyoto is considered the spiritual center of Zen Buddhism in Japan. There are quite a few “zen gardens” to explore as these are commonly found around the many temples. These peaceful spaces are otherwise called “karesansui” which means “dry landscape garden.” Instead of water, they are typically crafted using gravel and rocks, sometimes trees and plants.
“The zen gardens and temples were my favorite,” Sarah said. “Because it's spring and all the leaves were freshly growing, the air was so clean and fresh smelling. Many of the gardens have Japanese maple trees planted along stone walkways. I'm sure in autumn it will be quite beautiful as their leaves all turn bright red.”
Sarah sat for a while to admire one of the most famous karesansui—the serene 3,000-square-foot rock garden of Ryoan-ji (“The Temple of the Dragon at Peace”), which is more than five centuries old. There are 15 boulders in the garden, surrounded by white gravel that the monks rake daily into perfection.
If time allows, for a different sort of nature experience, take the 30-minute ride out of Kyoto’s city center to experience the Sagano Bamboo Forest (at a time not so popular for tourists) to hear the swaying, rustling, and creaking of the stalks—an officially-recognized sound that has made it into the Japan Ministry of the Environment’s “100 Soundscapes of Japan” collection.
Markets & Food
A meander through Nishiki Market—nicknamed “Kyoto’s Kitchen”—is a real treat for foodies, especially those with an adventurous palate. In this 700-year-old street food market, which Sarah had the pleasure of visiting, your senses will lead the way through the narrow alleyway past more than 150 tiny stalls. Your nose will find tofu, Japanese pickles, soy donuts, grilled squid, kumquats, sushi, and perhaps the most fascinating of all - baby octopus on sticks with a boiled quail egg in the brain cavity. Go hungry and enjoy the free samples!
“The Nishiki market area was very interesting,” Sarah noted, “because sections of it were businesses that were targeting tourists and other sections that were for locals. There was a marked difference in how these shops presented the goods being sold. This included the language of the labeling, the packaging, and the overall impact of their displays.”
Other foods to try when you visit Kyoto? Ramen, tempura, soba, okonomiyaki (omelette), tsukemono (pickled vegetables), and unagi (eel). Yodofu (“hot water tofu” or tofu in a broth of water and kombu) is a local specialty and an important dish in Buddhist cuisine. For something sweet and colorful, try kyo-gashi. These are traditional candies said to be "appreciated through the eyes, ears, and palate." To drink, sip on a green tea.
You’ll find some of Japan’s healthiest foods in Kyoto, and vegetarians have plenty of choice here.
Museums & Culture
Faculty leading custom programs will be pleased to know there are more than two dozen museums in Kyoto, including:
Kyoto National Museum (focusing on Japanese art)
Ryozen Museum of History (focusing on Japan’s Bakumatsu period)
Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and more with hands-on experiences)
Nishijin Textile Center (weaving used in kimono making with live demonstrations)
National Museum of Modern Art (contemporary art and design)
Raku Museum (tea ceremony ceramics)
Kyoto International Manga Museum (Japanese comics)
Kyoto Railway Museum (including train simulators)
The Costume Museum (Japanese clothing history)
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum (sake brewing history and process)
Kyoto University Museum (natural history and archaeology)
Kyoto is also well known for its geisha (maiko and geiko) who live and work in the Gion district. They are often seen rushing to appointments in the evenings. Visitors should be respectful of their space and to ask before taking photos, especially since harassment from tourists is unfortunately something they struggle with daily. A great way to learn about geisha culture is to attend one of their dance performances, the biggest of which are held in April and May.
Planning a Trip
Visit in the spring to see the cherry blossoms, summer for the month-long Gion Festival, autumn for the cooler temperatures and the striking foliage, or winter for the plum blossoms.
It’s easy to get around this compact city with extensive public transport options at your fingertips. There are trains, subway lines, buses, and taxis. You can cycle, and it’s also a great place to explore on foot, especially downtown, and areas like Arashiyama and Higashiyama.
“Kyoto has a lot more to offer than people think,” Sarah said. “The more famous areas were quite crowded even though I went during less crowded times. Several locations, like the zen gardens, which are not as famous had very few people, but were absolutely gorgeous and worth visiting. I'm so glad I had a guide because there was an amazing amount of history and lore in every small detail of the shrines and temples. Hiroyuk provided a huge amount of cultural context and history.”
To avoid tourist congestion in popular spots, you can even use the Travel Congestion Forecast live stream: https://global.kyoto.travel/en/comfort/
Educational Travel Experiences: Faculty-Led Custom Programs
If you’d love to experience Kyoto in person, and/or Japanese culture in general, reach out to create a custom program for your students.
Kyoto is just one of the places you could stop; our custom programs can include popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Himeji, and Nara, but can also be tailored to your leader’s area of expertise or interest and take you to places like Okinawa, Fukuoka, all the way up to Akita and Sapporo.
We also offer First Year Experiences through our academic partner Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka and semester and full year programs through Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka.
