Kyoto
Kyoto
Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) served as Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is one of the country's ten largest cities with a population of 1.5 million people and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its exceptional historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and escaped destruction during World War II.
For textile history and displays of kimono fashion, Kyoto’s Nishijin Textile Center is available to the public for their daily fashion shows.
The center also displays the type of silk worms that produce the threads needed for colorful kimonos, ties, handkerchiefs, and other accessories that can be made in a textile factory. The many kimono shown can vary depending on the season, particularly for the cherry blossom season when they add extra accessories on some of the models who wear the seasonal kimonos during the shows.
Late April to June is the time to view the cherry blossoms and the fresh green maple leaves in shrine and temple gardens.
Highlights of the hottest season include riverside dining, cormorant fishing performances, beach excursions, the month-long Gion Festival, and fire displays to honor the spirits of ancestors.
Kyoto’s autumn foliage attracts visitors from the world over. Harvest moon festivals are another autumn highlight. The cool temperatures are perfect for hiking at Mt. Ponpon and Mt. Atago.
Kabuki’s biggest stars come to perform, plum blossoms emerge after the snows, and countryside onsen offer plenty of warmth.
