KYOTO ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

JAPAN'S NO 1

KYOTO

LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021

The cultural and historical heart of the country, located in west-central Honshu | 1

HOW TO GET THERE? • From Mactan Cebu International Airport CEB to Kansai Airport, Japan KIX • From Kansai Airport, 1 hr and 15mins by JR Haruka Limited Express train to Kyoto

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ORIGINS OF GEISHA

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THE MUST-VISIT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KYOTO

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MACHIYA: KYOTO’S TRADITIONAL TOWNHOUSE

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WHERE TO STAY IN KYOTO, JAPAN

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WHEN’S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT KYOTO?

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FIVE WELL-KNOWN RESTAURANTS IN KYOTO

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ABOUT KYOTO

10 FUN FACTS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN KYOTO

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TESTIMONIALS

MEET THE PUBLISHING TEAM

GET TO KNOW KYOTO

Kyoto (Kyōto) is former capital of Japan. The original name of Kyoto was Heiankyo, or Capital of Peace, but the city came to be called Kyoto, meaning the Capital. It’s the cultural and historical heart of the country, located in west-central Honshu. It’s the best place in all Japan to experience traditional temples, shrines, gardens, geisha, shops, restaurants and festivals. Kyoto preserves much of its historical charm and beauty. Kyoto, which has developed to become one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, is working to further enhance itself in order to accommodate the recent increase in international visitors. With its dramatic history, magnificent scenery in all four seasons, and a delightfully diverse food culture, Kyoto's attractions are highly varied and wide-ranging, capable of catering more than enough for any sort of visitor. In short, Kyoto is the most rewarding destination in all of Japan and it should be at the top of any Japan travel itinerary.

HOW TO GET THERE: FROM PHILIPPINES

----------MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

4 HRS AND 20 MINUTES FLIGHT

KANSAI AIRPORT, JAPAN

SHINIMAMIYA

SHIN-OSAKA

KYOTO

FROM KANSAI AIRPORT, 1 HR AND 15MINS BY JR HARUKA LIMITED EXPRESS TRAIN TO KYOTO

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WWW.ETO.COM

The Must Visit Tourist Attractions in Kyoto BY CHERLYN A. DUHAYLUNGSOD

Kyoto is the cradle of Japanese culture, exploring this charming city is like walking back in time. The city is blissfully dappled with ancient temples and shrines, imperial palace and castles, and classical Japanese gardens, all of these vying for your attention. In Kyoto, you’ll still see elderly women sporting their kimonos and Geishas and Miko still entertaining visitors. With so much to see and do in Kyoto, you’ll probably be templed out.

Here are the must-visit tourist attractions in Kyoto:

1. Nijo Castle

2. Fushimi Inari Taisha You have probably seen at least one of those photos where people were standing between the iconic red Torii gates of this shrine well, that is Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is a must-see when in Kyoto! In the 1300 years since its establishment in 711AD, people have gathered here to pray for bountiful harvests, business prosperity, the safety of their home and family, and the fulfillment of all kinds of other wishes. In recent years, the shrine’s Japanese worshippers have been joined by overseas visitors coming to pray or tour the shrine. Fushimi Inari Taisha is now known worldwide as one of the most iconic sights in Kyoto, and in Japan as a whole. The main building dates from 1499 and features a spectacular four-kilometer-long avenue of bright orange "torii," or arches, each dedicated by a business (it takes some two hours to travel past the 1,000 arches lining the route). Also notable are its many sculptures of foxes, reputed to be messengers of the gods. Also, Traditional festivals and rituals are held at Fushimi Inari Taisha throughout the seasons. Admission: Free

It was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five-story castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. It is palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. The castle also features a plum orchard, which is typically in bloom from late February to early March, and Seiryuen, a half Japanese, half Westernstyle garden built-in 1965 for cultural events such as tea ceremonies. Many areas of the castle grounds are also populated by maple, ginkgo, and other trees that offer brilliant autumn colors usually during the second half of November.

NIJO CASTLE

Admission: 620 yen; an additional fee of 410 yen is required to enter the Ninomaru Palace. FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA

RED TORII GATES

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3. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

In the east part of Kyoto, One of Kyoto’s most famous and most scenic temples is Kiyomizudera. It lies in a picturesque location on Otowa Mountain overlooking the city. It is well known for the wooden veranda which offers expansive views of Kyoto and an important UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is well known for its wooden veranda with stunning views of Kyoto, Kiyomizudera is a highlight of the city and the perfect way to end a walk through Higashiyama. it was built close to the Otowa Waterfall and is now part of the Kita Hosse sect of Japanese Buddhism. As well as admiring the view both from and of the temple, you can pray for love at Jishu Shrine behind the main hall and choose between longevity, educational fortune, or luck in love by drinking from one of the waterfall’s three streams. It is believed that If you’re looking for love, visit the Jishu shrine behind the temple. There, you’ll find two stones and if you can navigate your way from one to the other with your eyes closed you’ll be lucky in love. You can also find the famous waterfall below the hall, pouring out into three streams – each representing long life, success in education, and success in love. Admission fee: 400 yen

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Stroll through the famous and picturesque bamboo forest and enjoy one of the top 100 soundscapes of Japan. Sagano is probably one of the most photographed spots in Japan. Voted one of the nation’s top 100 soundscapes, the sound of swaying bamboo is a meditative experience. The forest paths are over 500m long and offer plenty of photogenic spots between Nonomiya Shrine and Tenryuji Temple Admission fee: Free

5. Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Kinkaku-Ji is certainly the most widely recognized among all of them. The breathtaking sight of the golden temple floating over a mirror pond, surrounded by small islands and pines has coined its name as the “The Golden Pavilion.” The building was first built to serve the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, then later became a Zen Temple after Yoshimistu passed away. In 1950 the temple was burned down by a monk, the event later inspired the author Yukio Mishima to write a book. The stunningly adorned temple alone is worth a trip to Japan’s ancient capital, and thus Kinkaku-Ji has indeed become a very popular Kyoto tourist attraction. Note! Since Kinkaku-Ji is arguably famous among tourists, you’ll be likely to get trapped in lines of people when coming here at any time of the day, so our recommendation would be to visit the temple early in the morning, most preferably Monday mornings. Admission Fee Adults (including High School students):400 yen Children (including Junior High, Elementary School students): 300 yen

KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE

RELAX AT SAGANO BAMBOO FOREST

4. Relax at Sagano Bamboo Forest

KINKAKUJI (GOLDEN PAVILION)

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6. Ryoanji

The temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. It is labeled as the most beautiful rock garden in Kyoto, with the rocks positioned in small groups which at least one of them cannot be seen from any vantage point. There’s also a beautiful garden in its entirety that is said to represent the immensity of the ocean with islands dispersed throughout The thing that intrigues visitors to come to Ryoanji Temple is the mystery of it. Till now there’s no exact information on the meaning behind the construction of this building. Some say the mystery is left unveiled, to invite curious viewers to come and find out themselves. Ryoanji is surprisingly spacious with a park area that includes a stunning pond. No wonder why it is one of the most visited sites in Kyoto. Admission Fee: 500 yen (adults), 300 yen (15 and under)

7. Spot a geisha in Gion Kyoto’s Geisha District, Gion is a popular spot for all who visit the city thanks to its traditional feel and cherry blossom in Spring. Located between Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo river, around Shijo-dori. The narrow-fronted houses were once (and some still are) machiya and ochaya although many are now cafes and shops. The canalside area of Shirakawa is especially pretty in the early evening and during Spring and is generally quiter than Hanami-koji street which is the most popular spot (between Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple). While you’ll no doubt see plenty of kimono-clad women in the area, not many will be Geisha (or Geiko, as they are known in Kyoto) as this is the go-to location for people having maiko-vers (sorry/not sorry). If you have the cash to splash, you can head to some of the teahouses (ochaya) to be entertained by Maiko and Geiko over dinner, otherwise, check out where else you can see them in Kyoto.

8. Tenryuji Temple and garden Tenryuji is a big deal in Arashiyama, and Kyoto as a whole—it is the top Zen temple (out of 5), a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the head of its school of Buddhism in the Rinzai sect. It was built to appease the spirit of an emperor in 1339, various disasters have to led to rebuilding, but the garden has survived and remains a beautiful example of Zen design. With a central pond and the Arashiyama mountains forming an exquisite backdrop, the view is perfect for a stint of contemplation, and exploring the grounds is a relaxing journey into nature. The garden was designed by the renowned landscaper Muso Soseki and uses the forested mountains as a backdrop for the design. Admission fee: 500yen for the temple grounds and garden, there’s an extra 300yen fee for entering the main building.

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9. Philosopher’s Path The Philosopher’s Path is a streamside stone path sided with cherry blossoms and green shrubs through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The best time to visit the Philosopher’s Path is certainly in early spring when the cherry trees are blooming. This path is called the Philosopher’s Path because of the famous Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who used to practice meditation while walking through this path on his daily commute to Kyoto University. Take a stroll along the path of Philosophy, where the peaceful water flow of the canal will invite deep thoughts, and you can have a moment or two to embrace the present surroundings. You can also visit the Honen-in temple while wandering along the Philosopher’s Path, this temple looks spectacular during the autumn leaves season. A peaceful place to reflect, the Philosopher’s Path runs along the canal in the Higashiyama District and is covered with cherry blossom in spring. It is beautiful throughout the year however it is lined with the occasional cafe or shop with detours to shrines and temples along the way. The path stretches between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji and is around 2 km long. One of Japan’s most respected philosophers, Nishida Kitaro, would walk this path to university each day and practice meditation, giving the path its name. You can have free access to the temple, while the entrance to some buildings has an admission fee, in particular to the entrance gate (Sanmon, 500 YEN) and the main building (Hojo, 500 YEN).

10. Kifune Shrine The Philosopher’s Path is a streamside stone path sided with cherry blossoms and green shrubs through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The best time to visit the Philosopher’s Path is certainly in early spring when the cherry trees are blooming. This path is called the Philosopher’s Path because of the famous Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who used to practice meditation while walking through this path on his daily commute to Kyoto University. Take a stroll along the path of Philosophy, where the peaceful water flow of the canal will invite deep thoughts, and you can have a moment or two to embrace the present surroundings. You can also visit the Honen-in temple while wandering along the Philosopher’s Path, this temple looks spectacular during the autumn leaves season. A peaceful place to reflect, the Philosopher’s Path runs along the canal in the Higashiyama District and is covered with cherry blossom in spring. It is beautiful throughout the year however it is lined with the occasional cafe or shop with detours to shrines and temples along the way. The path stretches between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji and is around 2 km long. One of Japan’s most respected philosophers, Nishida Kitaro, would walk this path to university each day and practice meditation, giving the path its name. You can have free access to the temple, while the entrance to some buildings has an admission fee, in particular to the entrance gate (Sanmon, 500 YEN) and the main building (Hojo, 500 YEN).

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BY ERICA ROSE RANCELI

COZY&SPACIOUS, MODERN&TRADITIONAL, KYOTO HOUSE QUIET AND RELAXING SPACE. ALL OF THE ROOMS CAN BE SEPARATED BY SLIDING DOORS. THE MAIN ROOM CONTAINS ONE DOUBLE FUTON. WE CAN PREPARE 2 SINGLE FUTON SETS FOR ADDITIONAL GUESTS, ONE SET UP IN THE MAIN ROOM SITTING AREA AND THE OTHER IN THE SMALLER ROOM. THIS HOUSE HAS A 3 GUEST MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY. THIS IS A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HOUSE, IN A QUIET OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, SIMPLE AND CHARMING. IT IS COMFORTABLE FOR THOSE NOT SEEKING LUXURY OR A MODERN ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR THOSE WHO PREFER SOMETHING QUIRKY TO SOMETHING SMOOTH AND POLISHED. BECAUSE IT IS AN OLDER HOUSE, WITH ATTACHED GARDEN, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ALL OF NATURE OUTSIDE–WE HAVE REPELLENTS ON HAND, BUT YOU MAY SEE SOME INSECTS. PLEASE BE WARNED: OLDER JAPANESE HOUSES CAN BE A BIT COLD AND DIFFICULT TO HEAT THOROUGHLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, AS WELL AS THE OPPOSITE DURING THE SUMMER. (ROOM RATES RANGES TO ₱15,398- ₱ 30,795

WHERE TO STAY IN KYOTO, JAPAN HOTEL VISCHIO KYOTO WHEN VISITING KYOTO, YOU'LL FEEL RIGHT AT HOME AT HOTEL VISHIO KYOTO BY GRANVIA AS IT OFFERS QUALITY ACCOMMODATION AND GREAT SERVICE. ONLY AWAY, THIS 4-STAR PROPERTY CAN BE EASILY ACCESSED FROM THE AIRPORT. WITH ITS CONVENIENT LOCATION, THE PROPERTY OFFERS EASY ACCESS TO THE CITY'S MUST-SEE DESTINATIONS. HOTEL VISHIO KYOTO BY GRANVIA OFFERS IMPECCABLE SERVICE AND ALL THE ESSENTIAL AMENITIES TO INVIGORATE THE WEARY TRAVELER. THIS PROPERTY OFFERS NUMEROUS ON-SITE FACILITIES TO SATISFY EVEN THE MOST DISCERNING GUEST. ALL GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS FEATURE THOUGHTFUL AMENITIES TO ENSURE AN UNPARALLELED SENSE OF COMFORT. THE PROPERTY'S HOST OF RECREATIONAL OFFERINGS ENSURES YOU HAVE PLENTY TO DO DURING YOUR STAY. WHATEVER YOUR PURPOSE OF VISIT, HOTEL VISHIO KYOTO BY GRANVIA (ROOM RATES RANGES TO ₱ 10,803-₱ 37,746) WHERE TO STAY IN KYOTO, JAPAN • PAGE

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RINN HORIKAWA GOJO

NAGI KYOTO SANJO

BOASTING A FITNESS CENTER AND A BAR, KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY IS LOCATED IN KYOTO, 400 M FROM SAMURAI KEMBU KYOTO AND 0.8 MI FROM SHOREN-IN TEMPLE. AMONG THE FACILITIES OF THIS PROPERTY ARE A RESTAURANT, A 24-HOUR FRONT DESK AND ROOM SERVICE, ALONG WITH FREE WIFI THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS ALLERGY-FREE AND IS LOCATED 1.1 MI FROM HEIAN SHRINE. THE HOTEL WILL PROVIDE GUESTS WITH AIR-CONDITIONED ROOMS OFFERING A WARDROBE, A KETTLE, A FRIDGE, A MINI-BAR, A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX, A FLATSCREEN TV AND A PRIVATE BATHROOM WITH A BIDET. AT KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY THE ROOMS ARE FITTED WITH BED LINEN AND TOWELS. GUESTS AT THE ACCOMMODATIONS CAN ENJOY A BUFFET OR A À LA CARTE BREAKFAST. KYOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA MUSEUM IS 1.1 MI FROM KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY, WHILE KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE IS 1.6 MI FROM THE PROPERTY. THE NEAREST AIRPORT IS ITAMI AIRPORT, 24 MI FROM THE HOTEL.

BOASTING A FITNESS CENTER AND A BAR, KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY IS LOCATED IN KYOTO, 400 M FROM SAMURAI KEMBU KYOTO AND 0.8 MI FROM SHOREN-IN TEMPLE. AMONG THE FACILITIES OF THIS PROPERTY ARE A RESTAURANT, A 24-HOUR FRONT DESK AND ROOM SERVICE, ALONG WITH FREE WIFI THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS ALLERGY-FREE AND IS LOCATED 1.1 MI FROM HEIAN SHRINE. THE HOTEL WILL PROVIDE GUESTS WITH AIR-CONDITIONED ROOMS OFFERING A WARDROBE, A KETTLE, A FRIDGE, A MINI-BAR, A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX, A FLATSCREEN TV AND A PRIVATE BATHROOM WITH A BIDET. AT KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY THE ROOMS ARE FITTED WITH BED LINEN AND TOWELS. GUESTS AT THE ACCOMMODATIONS CAN ENJOY A BUFFET OR A À LA CARTE BREAKFAST. KYOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA MUSEUM IS 1.1 MI FROM KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY, WHILE KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE IS 1.6 MI FROM THE PROPERTY. THE NEAREST AIRPORT IS ITAMI AIRPORT, 24 MI FROM THE HOTEL.

(ROOM RATES RANGES TO ₱ 5,059-₱ 10,624)

(ROOM RATES RANGES TO ₱ 5,059-₱ 10,624)

KYOTO YURA HOTEL MGALLERY SET IN THE LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING DISTRICT OF SANJO, THIS UPSCALE HOTEL IS A MINUTE'S WALK FROM SANJO TRAIN STATION, A KILOMETER FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, KYOTO, AND 2 KM FROM NISHIKI MARKET. FEATURING HARDWOOD FLOORS, THE ELEGANT, WARM ROOMS OFFER FLAT-SCREEN TVS, BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS AND FREE WI-FI, PLUS ESPRESSO MACHINES AND TEAMAKING FACILITIES. ALL PROVIDE MINIBARS, RAINFALL SHOWERS AND SITTING AREAS. SUITES ADD LIVING ROOMS. AMENITIES INCLUDE A CHIC RESTAURANT, A POSH BAR AND A 24-HOUR FITNESS CENTER. BREAKFAST IS AVAILABLE FOR A FEE. (ROOM RATES RANGES TO ₱ 7,853-₱ 18,785)

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I-TA-DA-KI-MASU

FIVE WELL-KNOWN RESTAURANTS IN KYOTO BY GELIAN BINOYA

1. KIRAKUTE An izakaya with an interior inspired by a public bathhouse (ofuro). A minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Subway Line, Kirakutei is a restaurant where you can enjoy Japanese-style creative cuisine using seasonal ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. Kirakutei uses Kyoto vegetables and other high-quality ingredients. Kyoto's rich water resources have made the vegetables renowned for their unique flavor, aroma, and abundant nutrition, making Kyoto vegetables highly valued across Japan, especially among chefs. Izakaya -Average Price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY

2. ARANCINO KYOTO HOTEL OKURA Italian Arancino Kyoto Hotel Okura is the second restaurant in Japan of Arancino, which has received numerous awards and is renowned as one of Hawaii's leading Italian restaurants. The decor of the restaurant is in modern Japanese style, retaining the elegance of a Kyoto townhouse with the fusion of western decor. Italia -Average Price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY

KIRAKUTE

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3. PREMIUM WAGYU STEAK HANASATO

ARANCINO KYOTO HOTEL OKURA

Teppanyaki Premium Wagyu Steak Hanago is a located in a refurbished Kyoto Machiya. It is a unique Kyoto-style structure with a courtyard on the back of the counter seat on the first floor, giving it a sense of openness. Hanago offers course meals featuring the best ingredients that reflect the season, with a focus on the teppanyaki menu. Teppanyaki Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY

4.KYOSHOKU FUJI-YA

PREMIUM WAGYU STEAK HANASATO

The old and new of Kyoto are mixed in this restaurant specializing in creative Japanese cuisine. While sticking to the traditional kaiseki style, Kyoshoku Fuji-ya strives to invent new ways of doing things, perhaps by adding something extra or by taking something away. In this way, even if the same dish has been on the menu for five years, the flavor may be different. It also has an attractive interior with plenty of space where people can enjoy a relaxing meal. Kaiseki Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY

5. DROIT KYOSHOKU FUJI-YA

DROIT

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French The restaurant only offers course meals using the recommended ingredients of the day. They proudly use exquisite ingredients, such as fresh vegetables mainly from Kyoto, seafood directly supplied by the fishermen in Naruto, and meat carefullyselected by a rich-experienced professional. Make your night even more special with wine pairing, as you have the privilege to choose from over selected 200 wines, mostly from France. French -Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY

GOOD FOOD IS GOOD MOOD

FIVE WELL-KNOWN RESTAURANTS • PAGE

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1. Kyoto's many temples and shrines, parks and gardens, and old wooden houses with gray tile roofs maintain much of the city's historical charm and beauty. 2. Kyoto offers the full range of Japanese cuisine, from kaiseki (impossibly elegant meal) to sushi. Many of Kyoto's restaurants are built in traditional wooden structures, allowing you to enjoy your meal in the midst of nature. 3. Kyoto's festivals are well-known not just in Japan, but also around the world. The Aoi- matsuri Festival in early summer, the Gion-matsuri Festival in mid-summer, and the Jidai-matsuri Festival in the fall are Kyoto's three major festivals. 4. Kyoto is located to 17 Heritage world historic sites. Many people visit these heritage sites since each one represents a different era in which it was built. 5. The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art and the Kyoto National Museum are excellent places to see beautiful art and learn about the city's history.

10 Fun Facts you need to know in Kyoto, Japan BY JULIE MAE TOREFIEL

6. Kyoto is known as the "City of Ten Thousand Shrines," the most venerable of which is the Shimogamo Shrine. It is devoted to the God of Thunder's Mother. 7. The Shimogamo Shrine is located within the Kamo religious complex. Visitors are welcome to explore freely in an area that has been landscaped in accordance with ancient Japanese culture. 8. Kyoto is well-known for its deliciously authentic cuisine. Because of the distance from the sea and the large number of Buddhist vegetarians, 13 different vegetable kinds have developed. 9. In the year 1889, Nintendo was born in Kyoto. Nintendo got its start in the card game industry by making playing cards for Japanese card games. 10. Kyoto was historically Japan's largest city, but it was eventually surpassed by Osaka and Edo (Tokyo) by the end of the 16th century.

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1. Kyoto's many temples and shrines, parks and gardens, and old wooden houses with gray tile roofs maintain much of the city's historical charm and beauty.

2. Kyoto offers the full range of Japanese cuisine, from kaiseki (impossibly elegant meal) to sushi. Many of Kyoto's restaurants are built in traditional wooden structures, allowing you to enjoy your meal in the midst of nature. PAGE • THE FUN FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW IN KYOTO

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3. Kyoto's festivals are well-known not just in Japan, but also around the world. The Aoi- matsuri Festival in early summer, the Gion-matsuri Festival in mid-summer, and the Jidai-matsuri Festival in the fall are Kyoto's three major festivals.

4. Kyoto is located to 17 Heritage world historic sites. Many people visit these heritage sites since each one represents a different era in which it was built. 13

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5. The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art and the Kyoto National Museum are excellent places to see beautiful art and learn about the city's history.

6. Kyoto is known as the "City of Ten Thousand Shrines," the most venerable of which is the Shimogamo Shrine. It is devoted to the God of Thunder's Mother.

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7. The Shimogamo Shrine is located within the Kamo religious complex. Visitors are welcome to explore freely in an area that has been landscaped in accordance with ancient Japanese culture.

8. Kyoto is well-known for its deliciously authentic cuisine. Because of the distance from the sea and the large number of Buddhist vegetarians, 13 different vegetable kinds have developed. 15

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9. In the year 1889, Nintendo was born in Kyoto. Nintendo got its start in the card game industry by making playing cards for Japanese card games.

10. Kyoto was historically Japan's largest city, but it was eventually surpassed by Osaka and Edo (Tokyo) by the end of the 16th century.

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Origins of Geisha The word geisha literally means 'arts person'; in Kyoto the term used is geiko – 'child of the arts'. Though dressed in the finest silks and often astonishingly beautiful, geisha are first and foremost accomplished musicians and dancers. They are also charming, skilled conversationalists. Though geisha is rarer these days, many do still work in Kyoto, in one of the historic geisha districts such as Gion and Pontochō. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one. Throughout the Edo period, courtesans called oiran entertained in urban pleasure districts. They were prostitutes, but the most highly sought after were also savvy entertainers and accomplished in the arts. Today, geisha – and especially maiko – are seen as dressing lavishly, but the oiran were far more ostentatious, outfitted in so many heavy robes and hair ornaments as to be rendered practically immobile. When geisha first appeared, sometime in the 18th century, in comparatively sombre dress, their faces ghostly white with just a slash of red, they were the new epitome of chic. They were also explicitly not prostitutes; the pleasure districts had invested heavily in the oiran and, seeing geisha as competition, forbade them from selling sex. The geisha, who in the early days also included men, were strictly there to perform. While geisha are the prototypical image of old, cloistered Japan, they actually hit their stride in the Meiji period. By then the oiran had faded and geisha districts had become the most vaunted evening destinations, drawing the leading politicians and intellectuals of the day to ochaya – literally 'teahouses', but in meaning more like 'salon' and rather different from the chashitsu of the tea ceremony 17

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 MACHIYA: KYOTO’S TRADITIONAL TOWNHOUSE

Machiya are wooden row houses that functioned as both homes and workplaces for Japan's bourgeoisie, a class that grew in prominence during the Edo period. The shop area was located in the front of the house, while the rooms lined up behind it formed the family’s private living quarters. This elongated shape, which came about because homes were once taxed according to the size of their street frontage, earned machiya the nickname ‘unagi no nedoko’ (eel bedrooms). The affluent among Kyoto's merchants adopted design elements from sukiya-zukuri (a type of residential architectural style), such as delicate latticework. Even with space at a minimum, many machiya have small courtyard gardens, called tsubo-niwa – one tsubo being the standard size of two tatami mats. Although well suited to Kyoto’s humid, mildew-prone summers, a wooden machiya has a limited lifespan of about 50 years. In the decades after WWII, many families chose not to rebuild them and instead put up multistorey concrete buildings. In many ways this made sense: modern buildings were simpler to maintain and could easily be fitted out with the latest mod-cons, like air-conditioning; they were cheaper to build, as the cost of traditional materials and workmanship was rising; and the hardship of Japan's steep inheritance tax could be offset by income generated by rental units. The pendulum swung back around in the 1990s, when it became clear that the city was losing something dear. Since then there have been numerous efforts to restore old machiya; many of them now house restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Judith Clancy's Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide has over 100 suggestions, and Diane Durston's Old Kyoto features traditional cafes, shops and restaurants, many of which are housed in machiya

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When’s The Best Time of Year to Visit Kyoto? BY: RO-ANN BACUS

You can visit Kyoto at any time of year – it’s never too hot, too rainy or too cold to visit. The summers (from late June to early September) can be hot and humid, but not impossibly so. The winters (from early December to late March) can be cold, but not freezing. Spring and fall are obviously the ideal times to visit, with warm to cool temps and generally sunny skies. The late March/early April cherry blossom season is very popular, for obvious reasons, but it’s also very crowded. The November and early December fall foliage season is also great and not quite as crowded as the cherry blossom season. Once you start wandering around the city, your mind is trapped by the harmony and peace that dominates. The city must infect its people with that way of being, or perhaps to the contrary, maybe it is the people who make the city be so. Kyoto is a city that is unique and has a special soul. It goes beyond what one feels in other cities. There are few special cities and certainly Kyoto is part of that club. Majestic and delicate, friendly and proud, deceitful and kind, haunting and serene, modern and classic, simple and ritual describe Kyoto. It has been called a lucky city as it has saved from all bombings. Kyoto with its medieval spirit through a modern city represents Japanese culture. Gion district is simply magical; with an abundance of low wooden houses, narrow streets, which today roam should be similar to how it was done centuries ago, including transiting through them geisha and maiko-san, making it even more special and unique. Kyoto has enough to keep you entertained for weeks, but if you’re on a whirlwind tour or just want to make sure you don’t miss anything major, look no further. Once the capital of Japan and considered today’s cultural capital, Kyoto has no shortage of temples and shrines, but there are markets and bamboo forests to explore too

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PAGE • WHEN’S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT KYOTO

TESTIMONIALS SUPERB. THAT’S THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND IN THINKING HOW TO BEST DESCRIBE OUR JAPAN JOURNEYS EXPERIENCE. TO A PERSON, EACH ONE OF YOU WITH WHOM WE INTERACTED WENT OUT OF YOUR/THEIR WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE. OUR DRIVERS COULDN’T HAVE BEEN LOVELIER OR MORE GRACIOUS!" WE REALLY ENJOYED BEING BASED IN KYOTO AND VISITING ARASHIYAMA, NARA, AND HIROSHIMA FROM THERE. NONE OF THEM DISAPPOINTED FOR SURE. THE TOWER IN HIROSHIMA IS NEW SINCE I’D BEEN THERE AND REALLY ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE. HAD SOME OUTSTANDING MEALS AND NAKAJIN WAS AMAZING – YOU MUST ADD IT TO YOUR LIST. LUNCHES WERE FANTASTIC – VERY CASUAL AND LOCAL – UDON, RAMEN, SOBA, STEAK, YAKITORI, AND OKONOMIYAKI.

-ANNE

I’M PERSONALLY NOT A BIG FAN OF TRAVEL CHECKLISTS AND “MUST-SEE” TOURISM. STILL, THERE’S NO DENYING THAT KYOTO HAS A BUNCH OF ATTRACTIONS THAT EVERY VISITOR TO THE CITY SHOULD CHECK OUT. HERE ARE SOME THINGS I CONSIDER MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN KYOTO: BUDDHIST TEMPLES, SHINTO SHRINES, JAPANESE GARDENS, A NIGHT IN A RYOKAN, JAPAN’S EXQUISITE TRADITIONAL ACCOMMODATION, A MEAL IN A JAPANESE RESTAURANT, WHETHER GOURMET OR HOLE IN THE WALL, AN EVENING STROLL THROUGH THE GION ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, A TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL, AND SOME GREAT OLD KYOTO SHOPS.

-LIAN

WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN JAPAN! OUR VACATION WAS FANTASTIC MY FAMILY AND I WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY ALL OF THE THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN EACH PLACE WE VISITED WERE ENHANCED BY YOUR ATTENTION TO DETAIL. IT IS THE BEST PLACE IN JAPAN TO VISIT TRADITIONAL TEMPLES, SHRINES, GARDENS, GEISHA, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND FESTIVALS. IN A NUTSHELL, KYOTO IS THE MOST REWARDING DESTINATION IN JAPAN AND SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF ANY JAPAN TRAVEL ITINERARY. ALL OF THE GUIDES WERE EXCEPTIONALTHOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREAS AND SITES ALONG WITH AN EXCELLENT COMMAND OF ENGLISH.

-ROSIE PAGE • TESTIMONIALS

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THE PUBLISHING TEAM E S C APE

THE

O R D I N A R Y

C h e rlyn A. Duh a y l u n g s o d E d i t or-in-Chief

Ju l i e Mae Tore f i e l D e s ign Head

E r i c a Rose Ran c i l i W r i t er 21

PAGE • THE PUBLISHING TEAM

R o - a n Bacus P h o tographer

G e l i an Binoya W r i t er