KYOTO AT A GLANCE
PHOTOGRAPHS: JNTOHE CITY OF KYOTO WAS
the ancient capital of Japan
for over a thousand years,
and as such is still revered
as the cultural centre of the country.
Kyoto was largely spared from the
ravages of World War II and as a result is
one of the best preserved cities in Japan
with buildings constructed from as far
back in history as 951.
Kyoto is home to over 2,000 locations
of religious significance including the
famous Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and
Heian Jingu which see large numbers of
tourists each year. Sites of cultural
importance include the Kyoto Imperial
Palace, which served as the epicenter of
Japanese governance for prior to the
Meiji Restoration and Niko Castle, which
served as the home to the Tokugawa
Shogunate. The city also offers natural
attractions, such as Arashiyama, with its
oft-mentioned bamboo forest as well as
the Iwatayama Monkey Park.
An important part of Kyoto’s history is
its geisha, or geiko, which came into
existence at around 1750, when they
served as entertainers and developed an
intricate system of ranking and
identification by attire. Today, young
women who decide to become geisha
start training from their teens as maiko
before graduating to full geiko,
entertaining people at private events or
public celebrations.
Kyoto is renowned for its delicious
food but in particular its kaiseki style,
which is a traditional multi-course
Japanese dinner, designed to showcase
the numerous skills of the chef in theprides itself on exhibiting the best the
city can offer and does so by sourcing its
accoutrements from the city’s artisans.
Each room in the hotel is elegantly
furnished and houses a unique artefact
that reflects the local heritage and serves
as an interesting focal point. Book in
advance as the hotel is a popular choice
for guests looking for a conveniently
located hotel from which to explore the
city (https://www.nokuroxy.com).
Guests of Noky Roxy will also have full
access to their in-house Destination
Guide which highlights attractions,
dining establishments, and arts & culture
hot spots within the vicinity.preparation of the meal and is similar to
multi-course haute cuisine in the West.
Many meals in upscale restaurants in
Kyoto serve in this fashion.
Lodging in Kyoto was previously
dominated by ryokan or traditional
Japanese inns that provide tatami-matted
rooms and communal baths but in recent
years, hotels have gradually appeared in
the city, providing tourists with more
options for accommodation.
Strategically located across from the
Imperial Palace grounds, the Noku Roxy
hotel is an upscale boutique hotel
offering an intimate and authentic
experience to its guests. Noku RoxyT
In Kyoto, there’s an inn
called Kawaraya which is
quite extraordinary. The
Japanese culture fascinates
me: the food, the dress, the
manners and traditions.
It’s the travel experience
that has moved me most.
- Roman Coppola, film producer
and writer
One of Kyoto’s many
heritage streetsArashiyama Jinrikisha
RickshawEthereal bamboo groves of
Sagano“
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