Until 1868 Kyoto was the residence of the emperor, the capital and the spiritual center of Japan. On the territory of the city are located 17 ancient temples, large number of historical monuments, many of which are under the patronage of UNESCO.
Buddhism has made a crucial impact on the formation of the architectural style of the country. Even nowadays Buddhist temples amaze visitors by their unusual shape. Wood acted as the main material in the building. No other decorations were used in the building. Chinese and Korean masters managed to create true masterpieces from bricks of wood. Wood carving rich in details was the main decoration of such temples. In order to make it, masters had to work for many hours. In some temples all metal details are covered with gilding, making the atmosphere even more elegant and grandiose.
Read further: Kyoto cityguide
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