Kyoto, worth knowing.

Fun facts about Kyoto

1. 1The top two floors of Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, are covered in gold leaf. Today's pavilion was rebuilt in 1955 and glows over its mirror pond.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Kyoto City Tourism Association
2. 2Ryoan-ji's rock garden has 15 stones on raked white gravel, but wherever you stand, at least one stays hidden. You can never see all 15 at once.Source: Kyoto City Tourism Association; Japan National Tourism Organization
3. 3About 10,000 bright orange torii gates line the paths up Mount Inari at Fushimi Inari Taisha. The shrine dates back to 711, before Kyoto became the capital.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Fushimi Inari Taisha
4. 4Kiyomizu-dera's famous wooden stage stands about 13 metres above the ground, and it was built without a single nail.Source: Kiyomizu-dera; Japan National Tourism Organization
5. 5Kyoto was Japan's capital for over 1,000 years from 794. Today 17 historic sites in and around the city, including Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, share one UNESCO World Heritage listing.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Wikipedia
6. 6Kyoto's Fushimi district was once written with characters meaning hidden water. Its soft groundwater is why the area grew into a sake-brewing town.Source: Kyoto City Tourism Association; SAKETIMES
7. 7Arashiyama's Togetsukyo means Moon Crossing Bridge. Legend says an emperor on a moonlit boat trip thought the moon looked like it was crossing it.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; GLTJP, supervised by Saga Arashiyama Hospitality Promotion Forum

Things to do in Kyoto

• ◦Wander Higashiyama's old lanes to Yasaka Pagoda, a five-storey pagoda that is the last remaining building of Hokan-ji temple, between Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine.Source: Kyoto City Tourism Association; japan-guide.com
• ◦Stroll the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a short but immersive path through towering bamboo on Kyoto's west side, close to Tenryu-ji temple and Togetsukyo Bridge.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Kyoto City Tourism Association
• ◦In autumn, Tofuku-ji's Tsutenkyo bridge looks out over a valley of maples turning fiery red. It's one of Kyoto's classic autumn leaf views. (Seasonal: autumn)Source: Tofuku-ji; Japan National Tourism Organization
• ◦Walk the torii gate tunnels up Mount Inari at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Allow a few hours to loop the mountain past stone altars and endless orange gates.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Fushimi Inari Taisha
• ◦Rent a little rowboat on the river just upstream of Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge and row toward the wooded hills, which are red with maples in autumn.Source: Kyoto City Tourism Association; Arashiyama Tsusen
• ◦Stroll the Philosopher's Path, a canal-side walk under the eastern hills ending at Ginkaku-ji. It's named for philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who walked it daily. Cafes line the way.Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; Kyoto City Tourism Association

Questions to bring to Kyoto

From Sojourn's journeys. Ask one over a long dinner or on a slow walk, and let the place do some of the work.

Going together

• When do you feel most like yourself?
• What does rest actually look like for you?
• What is one thing you wish we did more of?

Going solo

• What is the first thing this place is showing you that you didn't expect?
• What does this version of you know that the home version tends to forget?

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