Travelling in Kyoto
June 3, 2010
There is so much to do in Kyoto that you will struggle to choose. It has seventeen UNESCO world heritage sites, making it rich with culture and steeped in historical wonders. So you need to prioritise, and choose what you really want to see, otherwise you will leave disappointed.
Visit Heian Jingu, the shrine built to mark the cities 1100 birthday. It is designed to be a scaled down replica of the Imperial Palace, and the gardens are scaped fantastically to make them stunningly eye-catching. The best time to visit the shrine is at New Year, when the grounds fill with ladies clad in kimonos, and the culture flourishes.
Stay in a traditional eastern hotel, where the bed is at floor level, and the breakfast is a mix of fish. sushi, rice and miso style soup. It makes a great change from what we have decided is normal in the western world, and is really yummy!
Visit the Monkey Park Iwatayama for something completely different; the monkeys are free from cages or pens, and there are almost 200 wandering around happily. If you want to trek up to the enclosure you can feed the monkeys, but it’s a great place to go for the afternoon.
Kennin-ji is the city’s oldest Zen temple, and well worth a visit when you are in the country. The highlights are the gardens, and the dragon ceiling that is so beautiful to gaze up at. It does attract a lot of tourists, and there is a kindergarten nearby, so it may not be the tranquil place of worship that it once was.
Try the Ii museum to see the samurai helmets, swords and armour, crammed into this tiny little townhouse. See some really unusual exhibits, and immerse yourself in the Japanese history.
What are you waiting for? If you’re tired of holidaying in the west, take a trip to the east! Grab your Travel Insurance, passport and get on the flight.
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