Travel Guide to Kyoto, Japan

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.

You can find out much new and get acquainted with works of famous artists during your excursion to Ginkakuji or Silver Pavillion. The building, in which is located the main art museum, was built in 1489. The pavilion stands on the shore of the beautiful lake. The inner decoration of the temple is divided from the magnificent nature by a moving wall. When the walls are slid apart the border between the rich inner décor of the pavilion and grandiose nature landscapes disappears.

One more traditional sight of this region that is usual for ancient Japanese towns is stone garden. The most famous stone garden is located in Ryoanji monastery. On a square area covered with gravel are located big stones. Every viewer has own impression after observing this panorama. Some people say the stones resemble mountain hills covered with mist, while others see the archipelago of islands surrounded by endless ocean.