KYOTO, THE SECOND CAPITAL

ASHIKAGA takauji, the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate founded the temple in 1343
in order to console the spirit of ex-emperor GODAIGO, who perished with grief in 1339 in Yoshino.
It is registered as world heritage and located next to the famous bamboo truck in SAGANO.

Kyoto was the second capital of Japan from 794 to 1869 AD for more than 1,000 years
after Nara. Now Kyoto is a modern and classic city with many temples, shrines and
historical places. There you appreciate glamours culture and tradition as well as
modern technology. What's more, Kyoto is now seventh major city with population of
1.5 million. Accordingly, it charms and attracts more than 8 million tourists each year.

HISTORY:
　 623 　Temple Koryuji was built in Yamashiro region.
　 794 　The capital was transferred to Yamashiro region (now, Kyoto).
　 804 　The capital "Heian-kyo" was completed in construction.
　 960 　The Imperial Palace was destructed by fire.
　1177 　Great fire destructed the capital.
　1336 　ASHIKAGA Takauji opened Muraomachi shogunate, second regime of Samurai.
　1467 　ONIN-NO-RAN, great civil war broke out in Kyoto
　1563 　ODA Nobunaga restored peace in Japan.　
　1583 　TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi started governing Japan and Kyoto restored its glory.
　1869 　The capital was transferred to Edo, eastern Kyoto (called Tokyo).

1, Fushimi-Inari shrine

　The shrine was constructed in between 708 y 715, and worships the deity of good crop of
　five kinds of cereals with Inari(fox) as divine messenger for successful business and traffic
　safety. It has tunnels of vermilion toriis of several kilometers long on the slope up to
　the top of the mountain, which shows fantastic and mysterious view.
　As a result the shrine is the most popular place in Kyoto among many tourists.

Passage to the base de the main keep

View of Ninomaru buildings from on the base of
the main keep

Garden behind Ninomarru was constructed
by KOBORI Enshu

At the entrance of Daihojo

Main hall " Daihojo"

Sand garden and main hall "Daihojo" at left

The pond "Kyoyouchi with cherry trees

Sand garden with some tourists

Rooms with tatami mats

The entrance of the temple

The terrace is 20 meters high with
cherry blossoms.

Panoramic view of Kyoto from the terrace

Kiyomizu temple with its terrace

Slope with moss in the garden

Nomiya shrine where bamboo track starts.

Rikisha and tourists

Honden, main sanctuary

Some tourists enjoy walking along the track.

Kiyomizu Buddhist temple, one of the oldest temples in Kyoto, was founded in 778 and
registered as world heritage with UNESCO. It is always full of many tourists and
we can look over Kyoto from its famous terrace.

7, Ryoanji Buddhist temple

9, Tenryuji Buddhist temple

Sakura gate to the sanctuary

Thousand toriis in series

Other tunnels of toriis with contributor's names and dates of donations

2, Bamboo track in SAGANO

There is a fantastic bamboo track of hundreds meters long behind Tenryuji temple, world
heritage, which was constructed by ASHIKAGA Takauji, the first shogun of Muromachi
shogunate in 1345. We can encounter a very typical Japanese view in silence.

3, Old Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho)

This Old Imperial Palace was constructed in the mid of 16th century and emperors had lived
there until 1869 before the transfer of the capital to Edo (Tokyo).

Shishinden with the thrones of emperor and empress inside

The Building , private residence of emperor and empress before 16th century

　　　　Ogakumonjo where cultural events were hold and emperor made audience with noble men.

Otsunegoten, private residence of emperor
since the end of 16th century

4, Rokuonji Buddhist temple (i.e. Kinkakuji pavilion)

Rokuonji Buddhist temple is known as Kinkakuji (golden pavilion) and its structure represents
those of 14th century and Kitayama culture flourished in Muromachi era.
Third shogun, ASHIKAGA Yoshimitsu of Muromachi shogunate constructed a villa,
Shariden in1397 which converted in Rokuonji temple after his death.
The pavilion was fired in 1950, reconstructed in 1995 and registered on the world heritage
list of UNESCO as cultural asset in 1994.

Gold pavilion and pond

5, Jishoji Buddhist temple ( i.e. Ginkakuji, silver pavilion)

Jishoji Buddhist temple is known as Ginkakuji (i.e. silver pavilion) and was constructed
by ASHIKAGA Yoshimasa, 8th shogun of Muromachi shogunate in 1490 modeling
after the golden pavilion. It was registered on the list of world heritages of UNESCO in 1994.

　　　　　　　　　Sand garden

6, Kiyomizu Buddhist temple

Crystal water (Kiyomizu) falls and visitors scoop it
with ladle.

Ryoanji is one of Zen Buddhist temples constructed by a great feudal lord, HOSOKAWA
Katsutoshi, feudal lord in 1450 and registered as world heritage by UNESCO.
The temple is very famous with its sand garden of 15 rocks, which is 22 meters
wide and 10 meters long. The sand represents sea and the rock islands.

This castle was constructed by TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, the first shogun of TOKUGAWA shogunate
in 1603 as residence and office in Kyoto, and registered as world heritage on the UNESCO
list in 1994. In the castle the ceremonial party of appointment as shogun was held in 1603
and TOKUGAWA Yoshimune,15th shogun announced the return of political power to
the emperor in1867. It means that Edo era started and finished at the castle.

The gate "KARAMON" to the mansion Ninomaru

One of the castle towers and moat

Sougen pond and sand garden

Paper sliding doors with a picture of Dragon