Exploring Kyoto

New edition of the acclaimed guidebook to Japan's most popular tourist destination.

New edition of the acclaimed guidebook to Japan's most popular tourist destination.

Ebook updated for 2020! Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide. Over 100 all new must-visit restaurants + revisions throughout. (Print edition is unchanged.) Machiya, or townhouses, are traditional wooden dwellings in Kyoto that evoke the elegance and culture of Japan's old capital with their architectural details, beautiful gardens, and intimate rooms. Many have been converted into restaurants to create unforgettable dining experiences. Enjoying healthy food in a historic, traditional Kyoto environment is a rare pleasure. Here are some 130 restaurant listings (food, decor, hours, addresses, prices, maps, and index) and a photographic guide to machiya architecture, culture, and aesthetics. Judith Clancy has lived in Japan since 1970 and is the author of Exploring Kyoto. Ben Simmons is a Japan-based photographer.

Lonely Planet's Kyoto is your most up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Walk through vermillion gates towards the summit of Fushimi Inari-Taisha; glimpse 'old Japan' in the lanes of Gion; and time your trip for the best cherry blossom and crimson maple leaves -all with your trusted travel companion.

There is a charm to Kyoto. Surrounded by lush green hills, the city feels alive with nature, history, culture—and tourists. At once ancient capital, modern city, and home to numerous cultural heritage sites, Kyoto looms large in the promotion of Japanese culture at home and abroad. In the wake of years of economic recession followed by the national promotion of “cool Japan” in popular culture and tourism of the twenty-first century, anthropologist Jennifer Prough sets out to examine how the city’s history and culture have been mobilized to create heritage experiences for today’s tourists. The heart of her book, Kyoto Revisited, centers on what it means to produce these for visitors, why seeing and feeling culture and tradition appeal to both domestic and international travelers, and the challenges faced by a heritage tourism city. As Prough’s study suggests, heritage has multiple meanings. It is created as interested parties—state and local, public and private—tell different stories about the past, which are marketed in response to tourists’ desire for face-to-face engagement in an experience economy. Her work examines several prominent features of Kyoto tourism, including promotion plans, heritage neighborhood renovation, the role of the seasons and traditional aesthetics in citywide events, the appeal of sites commemorating the Meiji restoration, and the trend of walking in the heritage district in a rented kimono. Throughout Prough brings together scholarship from Japanese studies, heritage studies, and the anthropology of tourism to highlight the interplay between the romantic desire for heritage tourism and the emphasis on “personal experience” (taiken) in the visitor industry today. Experience has long been an integral part of tourism—even as what counts as experience has shifted across time and place (from taking a photo to staying with locals to trying one’s hand at a traditional craft)—yet these touristic desires take on a new tinge in the experience economy. Kyoto Revisited demonstrates not only how the past has been used to construct the city’s identity and shape understandings of Japan for travelers, but also how these speak to broader trends in our contemporary moment.

Welcome to the mesmerizing world of ”Kyoto Travel Guide,” where you will embark on an extraordinary journey through the very heart of Japan. This exquisitely curated compendium serves as your exclusive ticket to immerse yourself in the cultural enchantment that Kyoto has to offer, seamlessly blending its rich historical allure with tantalizing gastronomic delights and breathtakingly serene landscapes. Prepare to be captivated as you delve into the must-visit destinations of this captivating city, from the iconic Kinkaku-ji temple that gleams like a golden jewel to the vibrant Fushimi Inari Shrine with its endless vermillion gates. Unearth thrilling adventure activities that will leave you exhilarated, while also discovering the optimal times to experience Kyoto's magic at its peak. And fear not, for this indispensable travel companion also provides a diverse array of accommodations that cater to every taste and preference. With comprehensive guidance on navigating Kyoto's major transportation hubs, your journey through this seasonal odyssey promises an unforgettable experience—an authentic immersion into the very essence of Kyoto itself. So join us now and let us guide you through this wondrous adventure that awaits in Kyoto! Translator: Ashok Kumawat PUBLISHER: TEKTIME

Kyoto, the ancient former capital of Japan, breathes history and mystery. Its temples, gardens and palaces are testimony to many centuries of aristocratic and religious grandeur. Under the veneer of modernity, the city remains filled with countless reminders of a proud past. John Dougill explores this most venerable of Japanese cities, revealing the spirit of place and the individuals that have shaped its often dramatic history. Courtiers and courtesans, poets and priests, samurai and geisha people the pages of his account. Covering twelve centuries in all, the book not only provides a historical overview but brings to life the cultural magnificence of the city of "Purple Hills and Crystal Streams". City of Power: The seat of aristocrats and warriors; military might and spiritual authority; unification and the transition to modernity. City of Ritual: Buddhist sects and Shinto festivals; tea ceremony; the role of the geisha; the influence of Zen. City of Arts: Poetry and fiction; architecture and garden design; Heian verse and Noh theatre; art and handicrafts; the Japanese Hollywood.

The only resource you need for travel to Japan! This award-winning guide puts the whole country in the palm of your hand. With a map and tips on all the best sights, travelers can be sure they are seeing the best of Japan without wasting any time! Explore energetic, ever-changing Tokyo--or immerse yourself in the country's rich cultural past in ancient Kyoto. Take to Asia's best ski slopes in Hokkaido or sun yourself on the beach in subtropical Okinawa. Experience life as a monk on holy Mount Koya or soak in a steaming onsen hot spring in Kyushu. Do all this and more with Japan Travel Guide & Map. Easy to use, and with recommendations to suit every possible taste and budget, this book leads you straight to the very best that Japan has to offer, with no wasted effort. Experienced travel authors Rob Goss and Judith Clancy provide handy lists of "Don't Miss" sights and a series of capsule itineraries that enable you to see the sights in a limited amount of time. The new edition is fully updated with a new chapter on Kanazawa and the Japan Alps. With everything included in one neat pack, it's the only Japan travel guide you need to have a great trip.