Strolling Through Kyoto: Literary Charm Woven with The Tale of Genji and Kinkaku-ji

Even though Kyoto has long been hailed as the ancient capital of a thousand years, blessed with ever-changing seasonal beauty as well as the ultimate charm of ancient temples, traditional townhouses, geisha, and kaiseki cuisine, it has captivated countless poets and writers throughout history. Masterpieces such as The Tale of Genji, The Old Capital, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and Maquillage have all set poetic and literary scenes in Kyoto, making it hard to miss any of their settings.

Those who love Japanese historical literature are surely fans of The Tale of Genji. Written by Murasaki Shikibu, a noblewoman from Japan’s Heian period, this work is acclaimed as the world’s first full-length novel. Spanning over a million characters, the novel mainly revolves around its protagonist, Hikaru Genji, and the women surrounding him. This novel is somewhat like Dream of the Red Chamber—not only are its character relationships as intricate as those in the Grand View Garden, but it has also attracted many scholars to study it. Following The Tale of Genji, you can touch the refined elegance of Kyoto through renowned temples such as Mount Lu Temple, Narikura Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine, and Heian Shrine.

Yasunari Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. In his 1968 acceptance speech, he delivered a talk titled “Japan, the Beautiful, and Myself.” The Old Capital is one of Kawabata’s representative works, and this novel is entirely set in Kyoto. The story centers on a pair of twin sisters who were separated in childhood and unfolds the scenic spots, customs, and festivals of Kyoto. Examples include Nishijin textiles, Nanzen-ji Temple, Arashiyama, as well as Kyoto’s most iconic ancient temples and celebrations like the Gion Festival and Daimonji Gozan Okuribi. Whether you revisit this book before your trip or after returning, it will add a special texture to your experience of Kyoto.

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, sharing its name with the book, is based on a true story written by Yukio Mishima. It depicts a fire in 1950 that completely destroyed Kinkaku-ji. The monk who set the fire later said upon arrest, “I burned down Kinkaku-ji because I was jealous of its beauty.” This motive for crime perfectly aligns with Mishima’s philosophy that “a young, heroic death is the utmost form of beauty.” Thus, the novel became one of Mishima’s masterpieces and also an eternal symbol of Kyoto.

Junichi Watanabe, who gained fame for his novel A Lost Paradise, is probably the contemporary Japanese author who most enjoys incorporating Kyoto into his fiction. Although his portrayal of Kyoto differs greatly from other writers who focus on its classical beauty, the theme of extramarital affairs makes it easy to feel tempted by the idea of falling in love amid Kyoto’s richly atmospheric charm.

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