Top 10 things to see in Kyoto

When people first consider a holiday in Japan, their thoughts usually turn to Tokyo. There's nothing wrong with Tokyo, of course, but there is a lot more to Japan than the bright lights of its world-famous capital.

Kyoto, for example, is the historical and cultural capital of Japan and boasts a fine mix of urban sprawl and cultural gems. Indeed, Kyoto was home to the Japanese imperial family from 794 to 1868, when the emperor decided to relocate to Tokyo. Kyoto is also one of the few major Japanese cities to avoid the destruction of air raids during World War II.

Here are the top 10 tourist attractions Kyoto has to offer:

Heian Jingu

This Shinto shrine is famous for having the largest torii, or gate, in Japan. The shrine was built in 1895 to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto, and is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.

Gion

Gion is the district of Kyoto renowned for its geisha houses and is the best place to see geisha and maiko going about their everyday business. Gion was built in the middle ages, but due in part to some areas being declared a national historical preservation district, some of the architecture and entertainment remains similar to how it was when first established.

To clarify a popular misconception: geisha are not prostitutes, and Gion has never been a red-light district.

Kinkakuji 

The most striking feature of Kinkakuji —and where it gets its name— is from the gold leaf that entirely covers the top two tiers of the pavilion. It is a stunning site and one Japanese holiday makers cannot help but associate with Kyoto.

The temple sits next to a pond, allowing a shimmering mirror image of the structure to be viewed by all who visit. Although the gold leaf covering makes the temple extremely valuable, its value is not entirely monetary, but also spiritual: within its walls, it houses relics of the Buddha.

Ginkakuji 

Listing this directly below Kinkakuji is slightly misleading, because while the aforementioned temple's golden covering makes it a somewhat ostentatious monument, this temple is comparatively minimalist. This is because while the original plan was to make this temple a silver accompaniment to its golden cousin. The plan was never carried out and Ginkakuji remains a delightful example of minimalism and restraint.

The temple itself is a simple two-story building, but its beautiful appeal is found in the serenity of its two gardens. The first is a pond garden composed of rocks and plants with the aim being to grant a different perspective from every angle.

The second garden includes two carefully sculpted sand mounts that offer a sense of perfect serenity.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto's imperial palace, Kyoto Gosho, was once the home of Japan's imperial family, but when the capital moved to Tokyo in 1868, the rulers followed. The structure has burned down on many occasions and the present reconstruction was only built in 1855.

The complex itself is encased in a long wall and is made up of several halls, gardens and gates. Although the enthronement ceremonies of Emperor Taisho and Emperor Showa were held within this palace's main hall, the current emperor was inaugurated in the Tokyo imperial palace.

Kiyomizudera

Kiyomizudera, or "pure water temple," is one of the most famous temples in Japan. Founded in 780 by one of the oldest sects in Japanese Buddhism, the temple is a Unesco world heritage site.

Located in the wooded hills in eastern Kyoto, the temple offers a fabulous view of the city from its wooden terrace. The spring below the terrace is said to have water with healing properties and is the reason the temple has its name.

Fushimi Inari

Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes are supposed to be his messengers. For that reason, the Fuhimi Inari shrine features many fox statues. The many orange tori gates make for an unforgettable experience, but if you can manage it, visiting the shrine in the evening is a must — the dim lights and sounds of the wildlife make for a delightfully atmospheric walk through the shrine's tori gates.

Tenryuji Temple

Tenryuji Temple is considered the most important Zen Temple in Kyoto, and the literal translation of its name is "heavenly dragon temple." The building started out as a private villa of Emperor Go Daigo, and was later converted after his death to a temple in his memory.

Legend has it a Buddhist priest had an uneasy dream where a dragon rose from a nearby river, making him believe Go Daigo's spirit was uneasy and a temple should be built to appease him.

The temple has been damaged by fires eight times, though the last instance was over 150 years ago. As a result, the current incarnation of the building is only 100 years old, but the garden is one of the oldest in Japan, dating from the 14th century.

Ryoanji Temple

The Ryoanji temple has been designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The name means "temple of the peaceful dragon" and it belongs to the Myoshinki school of the Rinzai branch of the Zen sect. The garden itself is regarded as one of the most pure examples of Japanese culture. Perfect in its simplicity, the garden consists of clay walls, raked sand and 15 rocks.