Kyoto: city of Zen: visiting the heritage sites of Japan's ancient capital 2013

This travel pictorial and Japan travel guide captures the sites and soul of Kyoto—Japan's historical and spiritual center. An elaborate kaleidoscope of craft, artistry and religion, Kyoto is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Art and design form the weft and warp of this vibrant 1,200-year-old city, home to hundreds of gardens, palaces, villas and magnificent wooden temples, including seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites. Like a Zen koan, Kyoto defies easy description. Its citizens may work at Nintendo designing video games, at a company designing precision medical instruments, or sitting cross-legged meticulously affixing micro-thin flakes of gold foil onto a painting. All of them share a living heritage grounded in centuries of traditional culture. In Kyoto: City of Zen, local Kyoto expert Judith Clancy presents the most important gardens, temples, shrines and palaces of this ancient capital city and enduring cultural center. In addition to unveiling the city's spiritual and historical riches, this travel book shares with readers the exquisite foods, artistic crafts, religious ceremonies and architectural traditions that have flourished in Kyoto for over a millennium. Tea ceremonies, calligraphy, weaving, pottery, painting, drama, and many more traditional arts and crafts are presented through more than 350 photographs by Ben Simmons, whose images capture the true essence of Kyoto. The city's natural setting also comes into focus as you walk along leafy mountain paths and through spectacular parks and gardens viewing the best foliage each season has to offer. This travel pictorial and Japan travel guide captures the sites and soul of Kyoto--Japan's historical and spiritual center.

An elaborate kaleidoscope of craft, artistry and religion, Kyoto is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Art and design form the weft and warp of this vibrant 1,200-year-old city, home to hundreds of gardens, palaces, villas and magnificent wooden temples, including seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Like a Zen koan, Kyoto defies easy description. Its citizens may work at Nintendo designing video games, at a company designing precision medical instruments, or sitting cross-legged meticulously affixing micro-thin flakes of gold foil onto a painting. All of them share a living heritage grounded in centuries of traditional culture.

In Kyoto: City of Zen, local Kyoto expert Judith Clancy presents the most important gardens, temples, shrines and palaces of this ancient capital city and enduring cultural center. In addition to unveiling the city's spiritual and historical riches, this travel book shares with readers the exquisite foods, artistic crafts, religious ceremonies and architectural traditions that have flourished in Kyoto for over a millennium. Tea ceremonies, calligraphy, weaving, pottery, painting, drama, and many more traditional arts and crafts are presented through more than 350 photographs by Ben Simmons, whose images capture the true essence of Kyoto. The city's natural setting also comes into focus as you walk along leafy mountain paths and through spectacular parks and gardens viewing the best foliage each season has to offer. Table of Contents 8 Chapter 1 INTRODUCING KYOTO 10 A Brief History of Japan's Ancient Capital 16 Zen Buddhism and the Tea Ceremony 18 Kyoto's Amazing Architectural Heritage 22 Unique Kyoto Food Traditions 26 Kyoto's Exquisite Arts and Crafts 28 Chapter 2 CENTRAL AND EASTERN KYOTO 33 Kyoto's Imperial Palace 36 Nijo Castle 40 Heian Shrine 42 Downtown Kyoto: Kawaramachi, Nishiki, Teramachi and Pontocho 46 Gion District 52 Kiyomizu Temple 56 Kennin-Ji Temple 60 Nanzen-Ji Temple 62 Chapter 3 NORTHERN KYOTO 66 Ginkaku-Ji 70 The Philosopher's Path 74 Shisendo Temple 78 Shugakuin Imperial Villa 80 Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines 82 Daitoku-Ji Temple Complex 84 Mount Hiei and Enryaku-Ji Temple 88 Kurama Village 90 Ohara Village 94 Chapter 4 WESTERN KYOTO 96 Kinkaku-Ji Temple 100 Ryoan-Ji Temple 104 Ninna-Ji Temple 108 Myoshin-Ji Temple 110 Arashiyama 112 Sagano Village 118 Takao Village 120 Chapter 5 SOUTHERN KYOTO 123 Tofuku-Ji Temple 126 Fushimi Inari Shrine 130 Saiho-Ji Temple 132 Katsura Imperial Villa 134 Daigo-Ji Temple 138 Byodo-In Temple 140 Ujigami Shrine and Genji Museum 142 Bibliography 146 Glossary 146 Dedications and Acknowledgments 148 Copyright 149 The Tutle Story 149 Table of Contents; Chapter 1 INTRODUCING KYOTO ; A Brief History of Japan's Ancient Capital ; Zen Buddhism and the Tea Ceremony ; Kyoto's Amazing Architectural Heritage ; Unique Kyoto Food Traditions ; Kyoto's Exquisite Arts and Crafts; Chapter 2 CENTRAL AND EASTERN KYOTO ; Kyoto's Imperial Palace; Nijo Castle ; Heian Shrine ; Downtown Kyoto: Kawaramachi, Nishiki, Teramachi and Pontocho ; Gion District; Kiyomizu Temple; Kennin-Ji Temple ; Nanzen-Ji Temple ; Chapter 3 NORTHERN KYOTO ; Ginkaku-Ji ; The Philosopher's Path ; Shisendo Temple ; Shugakuin Imperial Villa.;An elaborate kaleidoscope of craft, artistry and religion, Kyoto is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Art and design form the weft and warp of this vibrant 1,200-year-old city, home to hundreds of gardens, palaces, villas and magnificent wooden temples, including seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites. Like a Zen koan, Kyoto defies easy description. Its citizens may work at Nintendo designing video games, at a company designing precision medical instruments, or sitting cross-legged meticulously affixing micro-thin flakes of gold foil onto a painting. All.