One day Kyoto tour example:
(South)
JR Kyoto station start = Toji temple (from 9:20am / 50min）＝Fushimi Inari shrine (from 10:40am / 50min) ＝Daigoji temple（from 12:00pm / 50min）＝Lunch near Daigoji temple（from 1:00pm/ 60min）= Byodoin Hooudo temple (from 2:40pm / 50min) = Ujigami shrine (from 3:40pm / 40min) = Return to JR Kyoto station
The big difference between the tour spots in Kyoto and that of other city is that Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for around 680 years such as from 794 to 1185 as Heian era, from 1300 to 1590 as Muromchi era comparing with Nara as 84 years (710 – 794), with Kamakura as 136 years (1185 – 1321), with Osaka as 10 years (1590 – 1600) and with Edo as 264 years (1603 – 1867). Also, the period emperors had lived in Kyoto as around 1400 years (794 – 1867), comparing with Nara as 84 years and with modernized era as around 151 years (1868 – 2019). Therefore, there are so many important sites of Temples and Shrines that are related with lots of great emperors, top Samurai worriers , Temples monks and so-on.
I would like to introduce the various tour spots in Kyoto for each direction area so that you can select the best for your Kyoto tour.
Kyoto tour spots area can be roughly divided by areas that are located in East, West, North, South and Center of Kyoto down-town.
In each area above, you can find lots of historical architecture , beautiful scenery of nature and time honored atmosphere of downtown with mostly consumed local foods of Kyoto, culture such as Maiko & Kimono and various type of souvenir. Following are the representative of Kyoto South tour spots.
South area:
Toji-temple, Fushimiinaritaisha-shrine, Byodoinhouodo-shrine, Daigo-ji temple, Ujigami shrine
(South area)
1. Fushimi inari shrine:
This shrine was founded in early 8th century. Originally, the deity of Inari shrine was reverted as the deity of agriculture. With industrialization, the deity of Fushimi inari gradually came to be worshipped as the deity of business. There are up to 5,000 Torii gates in this precincts which were donated mostly by merchants and companies to pray for the prosperity of their businesses. The donors’ name are painted in black on the back of each Torii gate. They range in price from 200,000yen to 700,000yen. They are offered when we want to pray for something, or after our prayers are answered.
2. Toji temple:
Empelor Kanmu established the capital in Kyoto in 794 and built Toji temple in 796 as a temple to guard ist eastern side. After 30 years later, Emperor Saga granted this temple to Kukai who was the founder of the Shingon Sect of esoteric Buddhism. He established Toji temple as a institute for the teaching of Shingon Sect doctrines. Toji temple consists of the Main hall, Lecture hall, Founder’s hall and the five -story pagoda. The five-story pagoda is 55 meters high and this historical structure is the landmark of Kyoto.
3. Byodoin Hooudo temple:
In Heian era (from 794 to 1192), the top of regents and advisers for emperor named Fugiwara Yorimichi established this temple asking for the help to the Amida Budda so that he can live in the land of perfect Bliss while he is alive. print This temple figure is printed on both Japanese bill of 10k yen and coin of 10 yen. The figure of this temple is very much elegant as the shape resemble of the wings of Chinese Phoenix be spread.
4. Daigo-ji temple:
Daigo-ji temple was built in 874 as the Grand head temple of the Shingon sect Daigo-ha. The principle image is Yakushi Nyorai (the Buddha of Healing). The area of the precincts of this temple located in Mt.Daigo is more than 6.6million2 that is equivalent with 142 times of Tokyo baseball dome. This temple has about 150,000pcs of National treasure and important cultural properties. Hideyoshi Toyotomi who had unified Japan at the first time held a prosperous cherry blossom-viewing party called “Cheery blossom viewing of Daigo” with about 1000 people including his wife, concubines and his vassals to forget and enjoy against his difficulties in his later life. He could show his power by this party. You can enjoy about 1000 numbers of the cherry blossoms during 3 weeks which include weeping cherry, Yoshino cherry, wild cherry blossoms, double cherry blossoms and s-on.
5. Ujigami shrine:
Ujigami shrine was built in Uji-city of Kyoto and designated as one of the 17 World Cultural Heritage-listed monuments in Kyoto. The architecture of this shrine is the oldest in Japan which is said to be built before 927. This shrine is located on the opposite site of Byodoin Hooudo temple across Uji-river. You can enjoy lots of tress near Torii gate and cherry blossoms in April & autumn leaves in fall.
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