Discover a Quiet and Peaceful side of Kyoto
Shinsen-en Garden was built over 1,230 years ago, in 794 AD, when Emperor Kanmu constructed Heian-kyo (Kyoto). This area originally had many ponds and marshes, and was created as a garden for the emperor’s leisure activities, in line with the urban planning of Heian-kyo. In 812 AD, Emperor Saga visited the garden, and the first imperial cherry blossom viewing banquet in Japan took place there.
This representative garden of Heian-kyo can still be visited in the heart of the capital.
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Myoshin-ji Temple is located in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City. Its vast grounds contain 46 sub-temples, and it boasts 3,400 branch temples throughout Japan and around the world, making it the largest Zen temple in Japan.
Each sub-temple has its own unique history and beautiful gardens (such as Taizo-in and Keishun-in).
It also features the rare Akechi Bath, a bathhouse said to have been built to commemorate Akechi Mitsuhide.
Location
Imamiya Shrine is a shrine located in Murasakino Imamiya-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City.
It is said that a shrine dedicated to the god of plague existed on the site even before the founding of Heian-kyo (Kyoto). In 994, a portable shrine was constructed and the Murasakino Goryo-e festival was held to pray for the eradication of plagues in the capital, which is considered the origin of Imamiya Shrine.
In front of the east gate, “Aburi Mochi,” a traditional gate-side confectionary that has been sold since the Heian period, is available.
“Ichiwa” is said to have been founded in the Heian period, around 1000 AD, and is considered one of the oldest Japanese confectionery shops.
Location
Kōshōji Temple is a Rinzai Zen temple located in Nishijin, Kyoto.
It is associated with Furuta Oribe, a daimyo (feudal lord) and tea master, and is also known as Oribe-dera (Oribe Temple).
Although it is located in the middle of town, its quiet garden with beautiful moss is highly recommended.
Here, you’ll find a unique feature: a “descending tsukubai,” a type of water basin where the ground is deeply dug out, and a spiral stone staircase leads down to the top where the water basin is placed.
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Giō-ji Temple is a Shingon sect Daikaku-ji branch temple (nunnery) located in Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City.
It is a thatched-roof hut that appears in “The Tale of the Heike.” It is said that Giō, who lost the favor of Taira no Kiyomori, became a nun with her sister and mother and spent the rest of her life there.
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