Phoenix Travel Agency:: Transform into a kimono-clad Kyoto maiden and enjoy a more delightful stroll through ancient Kyoto

The ancient city of Kyoto—thousands of years old—always gives off a surreal sense of time overlapping. Even though it’s already 2010 and not a special festival or holiday, just visiting Kyoto means you’ll often see kimono-clad Kyoto maidens at shrines or in the streets and alleys.

The legacy of millennia has bestowed upon Kyoto a serene, timeless charm. Dozens of temples and shrines listed as World Heritage Sites are scattered throughout the city. Every brick, tile, stone, and piece of wood seems to radiate a mysterious stillness, having witnessed centuries of history. Wandering through countless shrines and vast historic structures, and watching these Kyoto maidens dressed in elegant kimonos stroll slowly through the streets of Kyoto, for a moment, time seems to stand still—and then flow backward, back a thousand years...

Strolling among famous temples and traditional townhouses, immerse yourself in classic Japanese aesthetics. When you’re tired, take a rest by the roadside; when you’re hungry, enjoy a bowl of yudofu (tofu hot pot), savoring Kyoto’s proud tofu made with pristine water. Then, on a warm, sunlit afternoon, slip into an elegant, graceful kimono and take a leisurely walk around Kyoto. This time, follow us as we transform into graceful Kyoto maidens and explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as Ninen-zaka, Sannen-zaka, and the Stone-Paved Path—whether you’re exploring on foot or by rickshaw, it’s all uniquely charming.

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Nara Park
Nara Park covers a vast area, and must-see spots include Kōfuku-ji Temple, home to its striking five-story pagoda, Tōdai-ji Temple, which houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Great Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, lined with stone lanterns. If you get off at Kintetsu Nara Station, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Nara Park. The first landmark you’ll see is the five-story pagoda of Kōfuku-ji. During the Nara and Heian periods, thanks to the backing of the powerful Fujiwara clan, Kōfuku-ji held significant religious and political influence. However, during the Meiji Restoration, when the government established Shinto as the state religion and initiated a nationwide movement to abolish Buddhism, the temple’s fortunes took a major hit. The vast temple grounds were abandoned for quite some time until later efforts by monks led to its restoration. It is now also listed as a World Heritage Site.Click to see full attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Byōdō-in
Built in 998, Byōdō-in was the villa of Fujiwara no Michinaga, one of the most powerful figures of the Heian period, and at its peak occupied more than half the area of present-day Uji City. Also known as the “Phoenix Hall,” Byōdō-in reflects the Heian aristocracy’s vision of the Pure Land paradise. The Amida Hall, enshrining the Amitabha Buddha, features a double canopy overhead and houses 51 cloud-style bodhisattva statues inside, which are now exhibited at the Hōō-dō Museum. Two gilded bronze phoenix statues spread their wings atop the central ridge of the Amida Hall, further enhancing the building’s divine aura.Click to see full attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Nijō Castle
Constructed in the 8th year of the Keichō era (1603), Nijō Castle, officially known as “Nijō-jō (元離宮二条城),” is a renowned World Heritage Site and has deep ties to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who established the Edo shogunate. After winning the Battle of Sekigahara and securing political power, Tokugawa Ieyasu chose not to reside in Kyoto, the historical seat of emperors since the Heian period, but instead moved to Edo Castle in eastern Japan—modern-day Tokyo. Nijō Castle served as Tokugawa’s residence in Kyoto. This imposing fortress, with its walls lined with white stones, proclaimed the samurai authority of Tokugawa Ieyasu and remains a majestic architectural masterpiece.Click to see full attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Tōdai-ji
Tōdai-ji is a quintessential representation of the flourishing of Buddhism during the Nara period and was once the highest-ranking temple in all of Japan (the kokubunji system’s head temple). Today, it remains Nara’s most famous tourist destination. Construction of Tōdai-ji began in the 13th year of the Tenpyō era (741 AD). Because it is located east of Heijō-kyō (Nara’s ancient capital), it was named “Tōdai-ji,” meaning “Great Eastern Temple” (there was also a “Saidai-ji,” or Great Western Temple).Click to see full attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji was built during a transitional period in Japanese culture, when the dominance shifted from the aristocracy and officials to the military samurai class. Zen Buddhism, beloved by both groups, reached its zenith at this time. Architecturally, Kinkaku-ji blends the aristocratic shinden-zukuri style with the Zen-inspired design favored by the samurai. Originally known as the “Kitayama Villa” of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji is located at the foot of Kyoto’s northern mountains. As this era was heavily influenced by Song Dynasty Zen culture from China, it is also referred to in Japanese cultural history as the “Kitayama Culture.” This culture merged the samurai-appreciated Chinese Zen aesthetics, the traditional court culture passed down from the Heian period, and popular folk culture. The remarkable result of that cultural fusion was the refined and profound art form of Noh theatre, as well as the construction of Kinkaku-ji during the Kitayama era.Click to see full attraction introductions