Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Originally built in 947, the Kitano Tenmangu
Shinto Shrine was dedicated to Sugawara no
Michizane, a bureaucrat and a scholar. Michizane’s
love for plum blossoms resulted in a large garden
of plum blossoms grown in honour of him. Now,
devotees pray for good fortune and hang placards
with their written wishes in the hopes of receiving
blessings of good academic performance from the
gods. Visit in early spring to catch the over 2,000
plum trees in bloom and enjoy some plum tea in
the nearby tea house. The main celebration, the
Plum Blossom Festival, is held at the shrine on 25
February every year and is hosted by geisha from
the nearby Kamishichiken district.
Okitanotenmangu.or.jpOikeniwa Garden
Situated next to the
Jomeimon inner gate within
the Imperial Palace
compound, the Oikeniwa
Garden features a large pond
and a strolling pathway
lining its exterior.The path of
large stones running through
the pebbled front shore
leading to the water’s edge
and other components such as
the Keyakibashi bridge and
surrounding flora give the garden
a stunning yet peaceful air.CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
One of the entrances to
the Kitano Tenmangu
Shrine; the inner
gate of the palace,
known as Jomeimon;
picturesque views
abound in the
Oikeniwa Garden;
Maiko in Matsuo
Taisha ShrinePHOTOGRAPH: JNTOImperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the former ruling
palace of the Emperor of Japan, until the Meiji
Restoration in 1869, when the country’s capital was
moved to Tokyo where it currently resides. The palace
is made up of several strikingly designed buildings
sharing a 1,300m by 700m space with the Sento
Imperial Palace Gardens. The free guided tours
conducted in English should not be missed and are
available on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors
are required to complete an application form in
advance, which is available on the official website, for
permission to visit the palace grounds.
Osankan.kunaicho.go.jpGeisha
Kyoto is the last bastion of the geisha, traditional female entertainers who
enthral guests with song, dance and games at private guesthouses lining the
streets in the Gion area. An intrinsic part of Kyoto’s history and culture, the
geisha are still in high demand amongst the city’s elite but have gradually
seen a decline in their numbers due to the difficulty and length of the
training required. With an estimated 200 remaining geisha living in
Kyoto, visitors can sometimes see a group of them dressed up in full
formal attire, hurrying from one location to the next. Viewing a private
geisha performance is expensive and can be difficult to arrange as
personal connections with influential locals are generally required, but
other options are available in the form of Kyoto’s five annual geisha
dances held in April, May and November. Tickets to these events are
available from hotels and ryokan in the area.KYOTO AT A GLANCE