Kyoto Part 1: An Introduction to Japan's "City of Ten Thousand Shrines"
- The Anonymous Hungry Hippopotamus
- Mar 6
- 3 min read
Higashiyama District
Kyoto is both a city and one of Japan's two urban prefectures. It is nestled in the heart of Honshu, surrounded by majestic mountains and replete with streets that embody the essence of Old Japan.
Takase River
In Kyoto, time seemed to move in a different way. It didn't pass, so much as it gathered. It moved with intention, making the pauses between events, events in and of themselves.
I could try to describe it by painting a picture with metaphors, but instead, the video above illustrates what I would struggle to fully articulate. The city seemed to move with the patience of this fountain, each drop meaningful and measured, not hurried by the last.
The cumulative effect of the individual moments would fill a space with quiet consequence and welcome the next moment. All would seem to both begin anew and stay grounded in centuries of tradition and culture.
This is appropriate given that Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for over 1,000 years. In fact the word "kyoto" means "capital.
The city was originally called Heiankyo, which means "City of Peace," and the substance of that sentiment remains.
Kinkaku-ji
While modern Japan hums with speed and neon, there is a pervasive calm in Kyoto, as though the city was designed to quiet your mind.
Though no longer the capital or the most populated city in Japan, most would say that Kyoto is the nation's cultural heart.
Minamiza Theatre
As the former capital, Kyoto was originally placed at the top of the list as a target for the U.S. atomic bomb. Following U.S. Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson's strong objections anchored in the city's cultural significance, Kyoto was fortunately spared.
Minamiza Theater at Night
As a result, you will find thousands of years of history and culture intact in Kyoto. For example, the Minamiza Theatre photographed above was founded in 1603. It is the birthplace of kabuki theater and has been the primary venue for kabuki performances in Japan for more than 400 years.
Kyoto is also known for its dense concentration of traditional tea houses, Geiko culture and religious sites.
In fact, Kyoto has over 1,650 temples and 400 shrines earning it the nickname, "City of Ten Thousand Shrines."
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Whether you visit Kyoto's most recognizable shrines, or the more obscure, you'll find yourself in a place where devotion, architecture and landscape converge in breathtaking form.
Kaiseki Course of Appetizers
In addition to its iconic landmarks, Kyoto is also famous for its meticulous, culinary tradition, birthed in the city and known as kaiseki ryori, or Japanese haute cuisine.
Barracuda Wrapped in Toasted Cedar
As I shared in my last post, sit down to a kaiseki meal in Kyoto and you will see the season's culinary bounty unfold on your plate, through both artistry and restraint.
Kyoto is a must visit if you find yourself in Japan at any time of year. I was fortunate to sojourn during Fall and watch the leaves change from amber ...
... to the color of lacquered crimson and collect on paths worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.
Hand Painted Greeting Card of Cherry Blossom Season
by Renowned Artist Tatsushi Yoshida
I hope to return again in Spring to see the gentle eruption of the cherry blossoms signaling that it is time to begin anew.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
From the towering stalks in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, swaying softly overhead, ...
Kimono Forest
... to the modern, theatrical, illuminated pillars, wrapped in colorful textiles in the Kimono Forest, Kyoto will arrest your senses and reveal beauty that will cause you to pause to take it in.
Kamo River
I'll conclude this introduction to Kyoto with a picture of the Kamo River, which has been flowing through the heart of the city for centuries. I spent quite a bit of time on its banks where daily life and history converged. Walking beneath the open sky and listening to the rhythm of the water on my first day in Kyoto, I immediately fell in love with this city that has long understood the value of stillness.
I'm excited to share more about my time in Kyoto in the upcoming posts.
My next trip to Japan will absolutely include Kyoto now
It looks so tranquil, and the colors of the landscape really pop!