This was the imperial palace where emperors resided as of the beginning of the Heian Period (794-1185), when Emperor Kanmu established the Heian-Kyo as the capital, up until the start of the Meiji period (1868-1912). The current structure was built in 1855 and recreates various architectural styles that date from the Heian Period and thereafter, evident on the Shishinden and Seiryoden.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, built Nijo Castle as his Kyoto lodging in 1603. The site is comprised mainly of the stunning Ninomaru Palace and Honmaru Palace, though the Honmaru Palace you see today is actually the old Katsura-no-miya Palace that was moved to the site at a later date. Nijo Castle is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto that has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Founded in 656, Yasaka Shrine is famous for its “Gion Festival.” It also enshrines Susano-o, Kushinada-hime and Yahashira-no Mikogami. Much loved by locals, this shrine is nicknamed “Gion-san.”

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the head temple of Kita Hosso sect and known for its iconic wide stage. It is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage sites.
* This image is sourced from a database of pictures for free use.

Mibu-dera Temple was founded in 991 and belongs to the Risshu school of Buddhism. In addition to the statue of “Enmei Jizo Bosatsu,” with which the temple is principally associated, there are many other jizo bosatsu statues on the premises. The temple is also known for its “Mibu Kyogen (traditional comic theater),” and as a former military post for the Shinsengumi, a special security force formed prior to the Meiji Restoration. These days the temple is frequented by the fans of Shinsengumi.

This temple was founded by Prince Regent Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi) in 587 and is known these days as “Rokkaku-do (hexagonal hall),” due to the hexagonal shape of its main hall. It is part of both the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage and the Rakuyo Kannon Pilgrimage, and is famous for being the birthplace of Ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

Chion-in is the head temple of the Jodo-shu sect and originates from 1,175, when Honen, the temple’s founder, first built a hermitage from where he disseminated his teachings and later died. The temple is comprised of various historical buildings and gardens, such as the famous Sanmon gate, Mikage-do hall, and Hojo hall. A number of these have been designated as national treasures or important cultural property.

Arashiyama is comprised of the entire area of the banks of the Katsura River as well as the mountains on the west side of Togetsu-kyo bridge. These mountains have been designated as a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. Arashiyama is known as one of the best spots for viewing cherry blossoms in the spring and autumnal leaves in the fall. Many visitors flock to Arashiyama at these times, which animates the place but also causes major traffic jams.

Kyoto International Manga Museum is located in the buildings of former Tatsuike Elementary School and is the largest facility in Japan dedicated to manga culture. It’s home to around 300,000 items, including Edo Period caricatures and Ukiyo-e, magazines dating from the latter part of the nineteenth century to the late 1980s, and contemporary manga works produced both in Japan and overseas. It hosts a variety of exhibitions and events.