While its big sister Tokyo steals all its focus, Kyoto, Japan’s cultural center, perfectly blends local tradition with the innovation of the land of the rising sun. These are the places you must visit when you come here.
The Golden Temple is considered to be the most popular site in ancient Kyoto, and one of the most famous temples in Japan.
The Gion district—also known as the “Kyoto Geisha District”—is known for its colorfulness, the hundreds of geishas that roam it with colorful kimonos, the flowering cherry trees, the wooden pavilions and bridges, and the abundance of Japanese restaurants and tea houses in the best Japanese tradition.
A district similar in character and beauty to Gion is the Ponto-Cho district, which is also completely preserved and offers a variety of traditional tea houses. It is recommended to visit the district at night, when it is bright and beautiful.
Those looking to escape a bit from tradition and history can visit Shijo Street, where you will find a wide boulevard full of shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and more modern architecture. This is a western area, somewhat reminiscent of New York, which is considered the city’s commercial center and Kyoto’s entertainment and shopping district.