Kyoto is a bullet-train ride away from Tokyo. It was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, until the capital moved to Tokyo in the 1800’s. Despite their relative proximity, the two cities have very different feels. Tokyo is hyper-urban, modern, neon and frenetic. Kyoto has some very modern areas, but it’s overall a pretty old-school city. It’s quiet, almost sleepy in parts, and steeped in culture. There’s a geisha district lined with wooden storefronts, where you can catch glimpses of elaborately made-up geishas hurrying between appointments. There are beautiful old shrines and temples all over the city. The tiny shops and markets carry traditional Japanese handmade crafts and food. The popular accomodations are ryokan, where you sleep on a futon on the floor and relax in the hot springs. Here are a few photos that I thought you might enjoy:
A geisha walking between engagements in the Gion district.
Calligraphy brushes hanging in a shop.
Kinkaku-ji, or the Temple of the Golden Pavilion.
Our local guide and one of the last samurai, Samurai Joe Okada.
Display of different types of green tea at Ippido, one of the oldest tea shops in Japan.
Priest about to perform a miyamairi, or a Shinto baptismal rite.
A row of colorful jars in a candy shop.
A group of girls dressed in kimono at Kyomizu-dera temple.
A dragon fountain to purify worshipers at a Shinto shrine.
Bonito flakes in Nishiki Market, a crowded market that dates back to the 1300’s.
Kyoto is one of the last Japanese cities with an active geisha community.
