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The City
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For decades Kyoto-lovers have been lamenting the loss of old wooden neighbourhoods to concrete modernity, the diminishing number of traditional craftsmen and the demise of their ancient city's unique culture. While the onslaught has been relentless - witness the controversial new station and the more insidious redevelopment of countless private plots - Kyoto's "
world of shadows
" still exists, lurking behind the secretive screens of traditional inns or exclusive restaurants, and within the lantern-lit facades of Gion and Pontocho. The spirit of old Kyoto is not all so elusive, however, and the key to enjoying this massive city is to leave the tourist haunts behind occasionally and delve into the quiet backstreets, among age-old craftshops and distinctive
machiya
houses
, or to seek out the peaceful garden of some forgotten temple.
Much of the city centre and the eastern hills can be covered on foot, but you'll need to hop on a few trains and buses to explore the more scattered sights to the north and west Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Japan,
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