Things to see and do Kyoto

It is certainly the most famous monument in Japan. It takes its name from the large golden-roofed pavilion in the middle of the park, which is brilliantly reflected in the surrounding lake. The park surrounding the garden is just as sublime as the pavilion itself.

The pavilion. Built on the site of the country house of Kintsune Saionji, a nobleman of the Kamakura period, at the beginning of the 13th century. The shōgun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, after handing over power to his son Yoshimichi, decided to retire and had the Golden Pavilion, which he designed, and the gardens built in 1397. Upon his death, his son converted it into the Rokuon Temple. It is also called Rokuon-ji. The suicide of a young mad monk caused the pavilion to burn down in 1950. This tragic accident was immortalized by Yukio Mishima in his novel The Golden Pavilion. The pavilion was rebuilt identically in 1955, although gold leaf originally covered only the second floor. The building is entirely covered with pure gold, except for the ground floor. It serves as a shariden, containing relics of Buddha. From an architectural point of view, it is a harmonious and elegant building that combines three different types of architecture: the ground floor (Hō-sui-in) is in the Shinden-zukuri style, the style of palaces of the Heian period; the first floor (Chō-on-dō) follows the Buke-zukuri style of samurai houses and the second floor (Kukkyō-chō) is in the Karayō style, that of Zen temples. At the top of the shingled roof is the carving of a golden fenghuang, or "Chinese phoenix".

The garden. It was part of a gigantic property belonging to the family of Kintsune Saionji. It was designed by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in such a way that the arrangement of rocks and plants gives it a Zen style. It is believed that his design was directly influenced by Kokushi Mus, the great master of moss gardens. The garden was devastated during the Civil War and only the Golden Pavilion survived. We can notice the Sekka-tei Tea Pavilion, built in the 17th century and the Kyōhoku-rō, a construction dating from the Meiji era. The whole (garden and pavilion) is since 1994 classified in the world heritage of the Humanity of UNESCO. Try to go there a little before or after the lunch break to avoid the crowd of organized trips that crowds around the pavilion trying to find the perfect photograph to immortalize the beauty of the place.

The Silver Pavilion is one of the must-see places in Kyoto. It is located at the beginning of the Path of Philosophy and nestled in a very pleasant wooded park, mixing moss garden and dry white sand garden. The shōgun Yoshimasa Ashikaga had the Silver Pavilion built between 1479 and 1482 to serve as his place of retreat. Upon his death, the residence became a Buddhist temple. During the shogun's stay in the pavilion, it became the heart of Higashiyama culture, based on Zen ideas in the main. Tea ceremony, ikebana and other arts were developed there while the shogun invited artists and poets to his court. The residence was to be covered with silver shingles, following the model of the golden pavilion, but the crisis caused by the Onin civil war ruined the project. What was supposed to be a pompous building finally became a model of the sober Japanese style. It was in this same residence that the first tea room, or chashitsu, was built. This room had only four and a half tatamis. Later, at the urging of Rikyū Sen, known in Japan for codifying the tea ceremony, the pavilion would be built outside the residence in an appropriate garden. The whole thing is a World Heritage Site.

Ginkaku-ji. The pavilion consists of a first floor and a first floor. The first floor is built in what would later be called the residential shoin style while the upper floor is decidedly Zen with its bell-shaped windows. This aesthetic feature is found in the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, dating from 1359.

Other buildings: In addition to the pavilion, the temple has a moss-covered woodland and a Japanese garden attributed to the painter, poet and garden architect Soami. This sand garden is very famous. For the little anecdote, a pile of sand, which is said to have been left by the workers when the work was interrupted, is now part of it. It would symbolize Mount Fuji.

Togu Do. You will need special permission to visit the shōgun's residence and chapel. One can see the famous tea room (Dōjin-sai) made up of the 4.5 tatami square. The architectural style remains that of shoin. The building houses a wooden statue of the shōgun as well as two other statues: one of the Buddha executed by Jōchō in the 11th century and the other of Kannon, carved by Unkei in the 12th century.

The castle dates from 1603. Ieyasu Tokugawa, then the new shōgun, had it built both to establish his authority, to emphasize the weakness of the emperor, and to have a place of residence during his stays in Kyoto. To accomplish this task, he did not skimp on architectural means and placed the construction under the direction of Enshū Kobori (1579-1647). The famous tea master and garden architect retrieved structural and ornamental elements from Fushimi Castle, located in the southeast of the city.
It is entered through the eastern gate which gives access to some gardens and the two enclosures, Honmaru and Ninomaru. The buildings of Ninomaru have been preserved in their original state. The visit leads us through the audience rooms with richly decorated doors and ceilings, and connected between them by corridors with nightingale floors.
A^second castle was built in the Honmaru, as well as a keep, but both buildings were destroyed by fire in the 18th century and never rebuilt. The current palace was moved after the fall of the shogunate in 1867. It is not regularly open to the public although one can walk in its gardens.
South of the castle, the Shinsen-en garden, with its shrine and pond, remains the only remnant of the original imperial palace burnt down in 1227.
Many varieties of cherry trees can be admired in the gardens, and it is a popular spot during the cherry blossom season in April. A visit at an early or late hour is a good way to avoid being overwhelmed by the crowds.

Unquestionably one of the most spectacular temples in Kyoto. It is known for the 1001 wooden statues of the goddess Kannon lined up in the main pavilion, drowned in incense fumes.
Originally built in 1164 for Emperor Go-Shirakawa by Kiyonomori no Taira before they became enemies. The temple burned down in 1249 and was rebuilt as it was in 1266. It consists of a huge hall 119 m long and 18 m wide, divided into thirty-three bays. They represent the thirty-three forms of reincarnation of Kannon Bosatsu, which gave rise to the 33 western pilgrimages and the 33 eastern pilgrimages. In the center of the hall is the famous 3-meter-high statue of Kannon with ten heads and the statue of Amida, executed by Tankei (1254), son of Unkei. Another must-see is the incredible series of 1,001 statues of Kannon, arranged in staggered rows, which were carved using the so-called yosegi technique: hollow pieces of wood were assembled and loosely carved, then other craftsmen worked on the details, before lacquering the statues. At the back are the Nijūhachi Bushū, or 28 statues of Senju Bosatsu's acolytes, which symbolize the twenty-eight constellations in esoteric Buddhism.

Myoho-in. This is the main temple of the Sanjūsangen-dō located north of the Chishaku-in. The temple is open only on rare occasions. It was originally built on the slopes of Mount Hiei. It still houses paintings by Shoei and Eitoku Kanō.

On the slopes of Mount Otowa, the Kiyomizu-dera, is dedicated to the Kannon goddess of compassion. It is one of the most visited sites in the city, especially for the superb view of Kyōto as the sun sets. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 778. According to legend, the monk Enshin, guided by a vision, met a hermit near the waterfall and realized that he was an incarnation of Kannon. He decides to protect this sacred area. Two years later, Tamuramarō Sakanoe (758-811), general of the armies who had subdued the rebel tribes in 776 and received the distinction of Sei-i-Tai shōgun, was hunting in the vicinity. Enshin rebuked him and taught him the virtues of Kannon. Touched, the general decided to build the temple of pure water on the spot and to preserve an eleven-headed statue of Kannon, which Enshin is said to have executed. This would only be visible every thirty-three years.
Most of the buildings were destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times. The present pavilions date mostly from the 16th century. They were rebuilt in 1633 under Iemitsu Tokugawa. The platform of the Kiyomizu, about 190 square metres, is supported by an imposing 13-metre-high scaffolding made of 18 cypress wood pillars attached to each other without the use of nails, using a traditional construction method. By heading east, we can see the Shaka-dō, the Amida-dō and finally the Okuno-in, built on the site of the Enchin hermitage. It is here that the sacred triple waterfall (Otowa no Taki), which is the object of pilgrimages, rises. Priests come to pray under the waterfall.

Stroll at the exit of the temple. When you leave the Kiyomizu-dera temple, you walk for several hundred meters on the right side of the small road to Shichimiya Honpo. After climbing a staircase, we reach a street called Sannen-zaka, lined with wooden houses and whose main activity is selling pottery. There are also a few tea houses with their gardens. Going down a little bit, you first turn left and then right to reach another zigzag street called Ninen-Zaka ("two-year climbing") which leads to the temple Kōdai-ji. In this neighbourhood, there is a street considered to be one of the most charming streets in Kyoto, Ishibei Kōji. It is a paved alley lined with old Japanese inns where you can have a drink or a snack. The Maruyama-kōen park is only a few steps away.

The shrine is located between the Gion and Higashiyama districts and dominates the main avenue Shijō-dōri.It is said to have been founded in 876. It is called Gion-san, as it is considered by the inhabitants of Kyoto as the real guardian of the Gion district. It is very popular during Hatsumode, i.e. visits to the shrine for New Year's greetings. The shrine is also at the heart of the great Gion Matsuri festival which takes place in July and is undoubtedly one of the most famous festivals in all of Japan.

This very popular 2km walking path goes from Ginkaku-ji to the surroundings of Nanzen-ji. It is perfectly marked and follows a small canal through a peaceful landscape. In spring, beautiful cherry trees bloom along the path. It is named after the philosopher and professor at Kyoto University Kitarō Nishida (1870-1945), who used to take contemplative walks there on his way to the university. One of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century in Japan, Kitarō Nishida had founded the "Kyoto School" and much of his philosophy was about reconciling Western thought with Eastern thought.
Philosophers' Path has gained a reputation as the most beautiful viewpoint in Kyoto during hanami, the period of cherry blossom contemplation in March and April. At that time, the path is crowded and crowded. Even so, the walk retains a contemplative feel as it passes close to a number of temples and shrines such as the Hōnen-in, Ōtoyo-jinja and Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji.
Walking at one's own pace, it takes nearly half an hour, but one can easily stay for an entire afternoon strolling along the path and the small stalls in the area.
The canal that the path follows was built during the Meiji era to revitalize the economy of the region. It extends for 20km to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. A beautiful aqueduct can be seen not far from Nanzen-ji.

If the Golden and Silver Pavilions are among the most visited and known monuments in Japan, the Ryōan-ji (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is probably the most admired Zen garden. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery Ryōan was founded in 1450 by Katsumoto (1430-1473). The temple was burned during the Onin Civil War and rebuilt by Masamoto Hosokawa, son of Katsumoto, from 1488 to 1499. It is assumed that it was between this date and 1507, the date of Masamoto's death, that Sōami (1455-1525) designed the garden in the kare-sansui (dried mountain water) style. This garden is now considered one of the masterpieces of the Japanese Zen period.

The garden. With a surface area of 200^m2

, it is a rectangular garden enclosed by a wall on three sides, the last being open to a corridor. The entire surface area of the garden is an ocean of gravel on which fifteen rocks of different sizes are arranged and placed in such a way that, whatever your position in the corridor, you may only see fourteen of them. This ocean of gravel is carefully raked every day by the monk in charge of the temple. Behind the wall, tombs are lined up, including those of Emperor Go Shujaku (1009-1045).

The lake Oshidōri. In the center of the temple, there is a large lake in the middle of which a small island can be seen. It is a bucolic scenery that leads to contemplation. A walk around the lake in the lush nature is a real treat.

The museum, which dates back to 1933, closed between 2015 and 2021 for renovation. The architects, Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa, succeeded in preserving the historic building while enlarging and modernizing the whole. The main exhibits are by Kyoto artists, both past and present, painters, photographers and sculptors. The collection of paintings from the Meiji and Showa periods is particularly noteworthy, taking us back to the Kyoto of the late ^19th and ^20th centuries. The visit should be combined with that of the nearby Heian Jingu.

About 15 minutes walk from the station, the giant bamboo forest is one of the most famous images in Japan. Appearing in advertisements, movies, and wallpapers, the tall bamboos form an arch that protects from the sun along a path of about 500 meters. It's a nice walk to do. Unfortunately, the place is a victim of its success. Hordes of tourists who have come for the serenity of the place disturb its calm. Nevertheless, the freshness of the wind in the stems is worth the detour, without forgetting the villa Okochi Sanso.

Also known as "Awata Palace", this Buddhist temple was built at the end of the 13th century. It is recognizable among a thousand thanks to its camphor trees (the oldest of which is nearly 800 years old!). From the beginning, it was the residence of the imperial abbot of the headquarters of the Tendai sect. Although the current building dates from 1895, paintings from the Kanō and Tosa schools from the 16th and 17th centuries can still be seen there. The main interest of this temple lies in the beautiful gardens designed by Sōami and Enshū Kobori.

We find in this temple a palace built for the emperor Kōkō (830-887) and completed for his son. The cloistered rule was established by Go-Sanjō to counterbalance the influence of the Fujiwara clan who had made his duties hereditary. The retired emperor ruled in place of the reigning emperor from a monastery. The abbots who succeeded each other here were almost all descendants of the imperial family. Sculpted symbols, still visible on the walls of the temple, attest to his imperial affiliation. To be seen during the flowering of the cherry trees.

A pretty little shrine where Japanese women go in great numbers, because it is known for love and birth vows on the one hand, and for the "power spot", a place that confers spiritual energy, on the other hand. The princesses of Ise, named priestesses, came here to perform purification rites. A famous nō play is inspired by a part of the Tale of Genji where the action takes place at Nonomiya Jinja. The place is not a must-see, but does not lack charm. If you pass by, take a look at the amulets.

This residence located about ten kilometres northeast of the heart of Kyoto was built by order of Iemitsu Tokugawa for the retired Emperor Go-Mizuno in 1650 and completed by his daughter in 1680. It is built against the mountain and is divided into three terraces called the three tea pavilions on an area of 28 ha. The emperor undertook the construction of the 1st and 3rd terraces while his daughter had the intermediate terrace built, which became a monastery.

Temple of the Rinzai sect, it is one of the five great temples of the city. It was founded in 1226 by Enni. The name of Tōfuku-ji takes the name of two famous temples of Nara, the Tōdai-ji and the Kōfuku-ji. Many times destroyed by the vagaries of war and climate, it was entirely rebuilt in 1347 and it is in this form that it is presented today. The current complex of Tōfuku-ji currently has 24 buildings. We note the magnificent stone and sand garden designed by one of the most famous Buddhist monks of his time: Sesshu.

The Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, also known as MOMAK, is a modern art museum located in the city of Kyoto. The museum houses a varied collection of modern Japanese art, with regular temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary artists. The museum also features a gift store where visitors can purchase reproductions of works of art and other items related to modern art, as well as a café where they can relax and enjoy a drink or snack.