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Discovering Kyoto’s Imperial History in Three Days

A 3 day trip, travelling to Kyoto-Shi

The United States considered targeting Kyoto with an atomic … More

The United States considered targeting Kyoto with an atomic bomb at the end of World War II but due to the insistence of Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, the city was spared and Nagasaki was hit instead.

As a result, the city retained numerous prewar buildings like traditional townhouses and temples. Traces of its history as the ancient imperial capital can be gleaned from the existence of the Heian Palace that served as the residence and the administrative center of Japan during the Heian period.

Kyoto also boasts of beautiful Zen-inspired gardens, parks and temples. It has 2000 religious places- 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. The UNESCO has declared the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" as a World Heritage Site. Kyoto receives about 30 million visitors annually.

Here is a three-day itinerary suggestion from City-Discovery.com that will introduce tourists to the best sights and activities in Kyoto. A visit to nearby cities is included in the itinerary.

Trip Tags:Dining, Gardens, ParkMore

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Trip Plan

Location:

Kyoto-Shi

Day:

Day 1 to Day 3

Category:

City, Restaurant...

Day 1

Kyoto and Nara

City

Day 1 8:45am - Day 1 6:45pm

Notes

In just one day, this tour brings you to the most beautiful sights in the Kyoto and Nara. Visit the Nijo Castle built in 1603 by the Tokugawa Shogun. You will also visit the Kinkakuji Temple considered as the most authentic and exquisite Japanese style garden, and the Golden Pavilion. The tour includes a stop at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the handicraft center where you can buy souvenir items.

See the Great Buddha at the Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building. Watch more than a thousand deer roam freely at the Nara Deer Park. The tour ends at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a Shinto temple that houses about 3,000 antique bronze and stone lanterns. You will be dropped off to your hotel back in Kyoto after the tour.

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Kyoto Special Night

Restaurant

Day 1 6:15pm - Day 1 9:15pm

Notes

At night, join the tea ceremony and dinner at a traditional Japanese inn. Then stroll along Gion area where you can see a maiko or little geisha. Watch a presentation of seven traditional arts: koto music, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, gagaku(court music dance), kyogen (ancient comic play), kyomai (Kyoto-style Japanese dance) and bunraku (puppet drama) at the Gion corner.

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Day 2

Sagano Arashiyama

City

Day 2 8:00am - Day 2 12:00pm

Notes

From Kyoto, board a local train going to Sagano Arashiyama and wander through the Sagano Bamboo Grove. Visit several temples, including the Tenryuji, considered as Kyoto’s best Zen temple.

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Maiko Night

Entertainment

Day 2 5:30pm - Day 2 8:30pm

Notes

Spend the second night in Kyoto with a traditional dinner while watching a performance of a Maiko, or little geisha, at the Hatoya Zuihoukaku. Take photos of these pretty dancers and get a chance to speak with them.

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Day 3

Miyajima and Hiroshima

City

Day 3 8:00am - Day 3 9:00pm

Notes

On your third day, take a trip to Miyajima, famous for the Itsukushima Jinja Shrine, a Shinto Shrine that appears to float on water during high tide.The shrine's signature red entrance gate, or torii, is very popular among tourists.

You next stop will be Hiroshima, known as the first city in the world hit destroyed by atomic bomb during World War II. Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park built near the “Atomic Dome,” the closest surviving building to the location of the bomb’s detonation.

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