Kyoto
Former Imperial Capital; UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Monuments Of Ancient Kyoto (1994) · Kyoto, Kyoto
The imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, from 794 to 1868, and the country's cultural heart, with some two thousand temples and shrines, of which seventeen are together listed as a World Heritage Site. It was spared bombing in the Second World War and keeps much of its old fabric. The sights are world famous: the thousands of red torii gates of Fushimi Inari climbing a mountain, the gold-leafed Kinkaku-ji pavilion, the wooden stage of Kiyomizu-dera, the Zen rock garden of Ryoan-ji, the bamboo grove of Arashiyama, and the wooden streets of Gion, where geiko and maiko still work in the teahouses. It is also the home of kaiseki cuisine, the tea ceremony and traditional crafts. The honest problem is crowding: the famous sites are packed from mid-morning, buses are overloaded, and the city has restricted access to Gion's private lanes after harassment of geiko. Go very early, walk or cycle, use trains rather than buses, and seek out the quieter temples. Cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons are spectacular and extremely busy.
Hanamikoji-dori, Gion, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0074, Japan
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The structure: most temples open around 8 to 9 am and close around 4:30 to 5 pm, with last entry about 30 minutes before and earlier closing in winter; Fushimi Inari's grounds and the Arashiyama bamboo grove are open at all hours; some temples hold special night openings in spring and autumn with separate tickets. Some sub-temples close for ceremonies without notice, and Nishiki market shops close in the early evening and some on Wednesdays. Buses stop being useful by late evening. Confirm specific temples before planning a day.