Put Kyoto On Your Travel Bucket List

Above, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether or not you've been to Japan before but never visited Kyoto, you should add a visit to your "bucket list".

The Evening Standard (U.K.) has an article on why Kyoto should be on people's bucket lists. I have been there twice, first with G-TOUR in 2004 and again three years ago. I enjoyed it both times.

They begin with:

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years until 1868, yet it has a completely different feeling to its modern day counterpart. 

The dizzying array of neon lights are instead exchanged for more traditional, low-rise architecture set to the backdrop of the verdant mountains that surround the city. 

Kyoto was created in a grid according to the principles of Feng Sui and whether it is psychological or not, you immediately feel a sense of positivity and warmth on arriving in the city. 

Juxtaposing modern, urban life with traditional Japan, follow the city’s cobbled paths where an unsuspecting side road leads to impressive pagodas and shrines and unexpected pockets of calm. Boasting over 2,500, each temple and shrine is as impressive as the next – and it would certainly take a lifetime to see them all. But it is not just the extensive selection of religious landmarks that have tourists – Japanese and foreign alike – heading to Kyoto. The city is the ideal place to get a taste, both literally, with the extensive selection of five-star dining, and metaphorically of Japanese culture. 

We’ve selected our top reasons to visit Kyoto.

Above, a gate of Nijo Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.