Japan's Ancient Capital
Kyoto is famous all around the world for being one of the most beautiful places in Japan to see the seasons change. During the spring, Kyoto comes alive with bright pink colors as the cherry blossoms bloom. During the fall, when the autumn leaves change, the city is bright with hues of reds, yellows and oranges. No matter when travelers decide to visit, Kyoto will be wonderful, as it also is known for its welcoming atmosphere, natural surroundings and traditional Japanese cuisine.
Within the famous historic districts, Gion and Higashiyama, visitors can get a sense of what feudal Kyoto would have looked like, and may even be able to catch a glimpse of geiko (known as geisha in Tokyo) and maiko going to and from their assignments in the evenings. These women are trained in classical arts and are known for their stunning makeup and beautiful clothing, in addition to being an important part of the area’s arts and cultural scene.
Kyoto has enough to keep you entertained for weeks, but if you’re on a whirlwind tour or just want to make sure you don’t miss anything major, look no further. Once the capital of Japan and considered today’s cultural capital, Kyoto has no shortage of temples and shrines, but there are markets and bamboo forests to explore too.
Within the famous historic districts, Gion and Higashiyama, visitors can get a sense of what feudal Kyoto would have looked like, and may even be able to catch a glimpse of geiko (known as geisha in Tokyo) and maiko going to and from their assignments in the evenings. These women are trained in classical arts and are known for their stunning makeup and beautiful clothing, in addition to being an important part of the area’s arts and cultural scene.
Kyoto has enough to keep you entertained for weeks, but if you’re on a whirlwind tour or just want to make sure you don’t miss anything major, look no further. Once the capital of Japan and considered today’s cultural capital, Kyoto has no shortage of temples and shrines, but there are markets and bamboo forests to explore too.