Kyoto, Japan

The cultural heartland of Japan is here in Kyoto. There are too many temples, palaces and gardens to be seen during your first visit here.

Let's start with Higashi Honganji which was built in 1602 by Shogun Ieyasu.

 
Higashi Hoganji 

gate to Higashi Honganji

 temple dragon

clean hands and mouth with water

 school girls

school girls visiting the temple

 
Meiji main temple  

main gate

 inside Higashi Honganji

inside the Higashi Honganji temple

Then we walk westwards to Nishi Honganji which was erected 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Living together in diversity

Living together in diversity ...
 Nishi gate 1

Nishi Honganji Gate


Nishi Honganji Gate 2

another gate to Nishi Honganji
 Nishi Honganji interior

Interior of temple

 
Nishi Honganji temple

some parts of the temple were closed for a ceremony
 Nijo-jo

now go north to the residence of Shogun Ieyasu
 
Nijojo Ninomaru

the castle Nijo-jo was built in 1063 for Ieyasu
 Nijojo hall

side hall of the palace
 
Nijo-jo garden

carefully pruned trees
 Nijo-jo overview

looking out to the Eastern hills

Links

Kyoto Guide
 Kyoto tourism and culture information system

 
start of Tokyo
more of Kyoto