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| Geisha in Old Gion District - Kyoto, Japan |
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| Modern Kyoto Station |
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| Health Day Festival - Kyoto, Japan |
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| Old Gion District - Kyoto, Japan |
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| Shop Girls - Kyoto, Japan |
Kyoto, Japan - Living in Kyoto (10/10-16/09) - If you are ever privileged to visit Japan, DON'T MISS KYOTO. Kyoto has made the list of our 7 wonders of our world travel of 100 countries and island groups.
Home to over 1.5 million people with all the trappings of a modern city, Kyoto is known to be the historic, cultural, artistic, and spiritual center of Japan. Kyoto is also a city of contrasts. A city of astounding historical significance with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it has one of the most modern stylist train/subway central stations in the world. Just blocks from very modern high fashion department stores we found geisha girls (see photo) walking to and from their appointments in the historic Gion area. Right outside of your modern hotel room you find old style restaurants that feel like Japan was a hundred years ago.
No matter how you feel about Kyoto, the splendor of beautiful temples, shrines, gardens, villas, and palaces provide tranquility from what otherwise would be a large modern city. Escaping the city noise is easy especially in the old well-preserved Gion District (our favorite). When you visit Kyoto, don’t miss wandering the lovely old streets of the upper Gion area (between the Kiyomizu Temple and Maruyama Park). With its traditional houses, day or night it is a step back in time of how Japan was a hundred years ago and is a wonderful Japanese experience.
Japanese tradition still flourishes in Kyoto although we suspect it is slowly diminishing. Japanese cuisine is healthy, very varied in many quite different styles, and is wonderful. On every block, hundreds of small restaurants could be found and we could not get enough Japanese food.
Some amazing attributes of the Japanese people are their politeness going out of their way to help you. Another is the way they respect others’ space. For example, you will never hear loud music or witness behavior that may offend others - very nice! One of the most interesting attributes is the fact that the Japanese incorporate many religions in their lives - Shinto (Japan’s home grown), Buddhism, and even Christmas - switching among them for different celebrations.
The Japanese people are fit and healthy and have a national holiday to celebrate it. We came across a festival cerebrating a national holiday (health and sports).
For much more about wonderful Kyoto, please see our other 3 blog posts:
Japan Kyoto Famous Temples Shrines Palaces Castles
Japan Kyoto Gardens
Japan Kyoto Japanese Food
For much more about wonderful Kyoto, please see our other 3 blog posts:
Japan Kyoto Famous Temples Shrines Palaces Castles
Japan Kyoto Gardens
Japan Kyoto Japanese Food
Please also see our 6 other blog posts for wonderful Japan:
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AN - Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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