Kyoto [antikvár]

Introducing Kyoto :With over 1600 Buddhist temples, more than 400 Shinto shrines and 17 Unesco World Heritage sites, Kyoto is one of the world's most culturally rich cities. These riches are the legacy ofthe 1000-plus u ; years that Kyoto was the capital of Japan, the very stage on which Japanese history unfolded. And even though the capital has long since migrated to Tokyo, Kyoto remains the heart and soul of Japan, the place that modern Japanese visit to discover what it means to be Japanese. But Kyoto is far more than just temples, shrines and history; it's also one of the loveliest cities in Asia. It's home to the world's most sublime gardens and an array of traditional architecture unmatched by any city outside Europe. Perhaps more importantly, Kyoto is a city that is designed to make the most of the beauty of the changing seasons. From the riot of cherry blossoms in spring, to the lush green of summer, to the blazing maples of autumn and the snow-covered landscapes of winter, Kyoto is a place where the pageantry of the seasons is given full reign. Of course, having heard so much about the wonders of Kyoto, the first glimpse of the city is a profound letdown for most visitors. The eye-smartingly ugly expanse of concrete and neon that greets you as you leave Kyoto Station is enough to make you think you've been had - that all this talk of 'beautiful Kyoto' is just a bunch of tourist-literature hype. But the discerning eye will pick out some hints of Kyoto's beauty even among the concrete that surrounds the station: the soaring pagoda of To-ji and the gentle curves of Higashi Hongan-ji, two of Kyoto's lovely ancient temples. Heartened by these first glimpses, the determined visitor can venture out into the city and find endless pockets of beauty: ancient teahouses that are sandwiched between high-rise apartment buildings, sacred shrines tucked neatly into modern shopping Lowdown Population 1.4 million Time zone GMT plus 9 hours Three-star hotel room Y10,000 Coffee Y350 Bowl of ramen Y600 Bus fare Y220 No-no Shoes on the tatami 11: I I i-xt't i I i H ' ' ¦ -.' ¦ . . . 1 i