one of the most popular destinations in
japan
kyoto is known around the world for
temples
gardens and historic streets but these
classic sightseeing spots are far from
the only things this vibrant and
fascinating city has to offer
my name is matt evans staff writer for
japanguide.com
and in this two-part video i'm going to
introduce some great cultural sites and
experiences
to consider on your next trip to kyoto
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here's the plan starting at kyoto
station
we'll take the train to tofukuji then
change to the kehan line to jingu
marutamachi
from where it's a 15 minute walk to the
heian shrine
after exploring the shrine and its
garden we'll check out
the national museum of modern art and
the kyoto city kyocera museum
located a short walk from the shrine
entrance
finally we'll take a walk along the
shirakawa river passing the historic
gion district on our way to the good
nature hotel
where we'll enjoy a special course meal
and stay for the night
on day 2 we'll make an early start with
a zen meditation experience at keninji
temple
before enjoying some zen-inspired
breakfast cuisine at kishin
a local restaurant from there we'll
finish the day
exploring the shimon zen and furumanzen
districts
an old part of kyoto famous for art and
antiques
so follow along as we explore some of
kyoto's most fascinating cultural
experiences
day one
this is heian shrine one of the city's
youngest but best love shrines
built in 1895 to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the city becoming the
nation's capital
the shrine complex forms a slightly
smaller scale model
of the old imperial palace and inside
we'll find
a beautiful landscape garden in four
parts showcasing the beauty of kyoto
through the seasons
let's go inside and take a look
just a few steps from heian shrine are
two of the city's best art galleries
on the left the kyoto city kyocera
museum of art and here on the right
the national museum of modern art kyoto
or momak
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dedicated to artworks from the 20th
century the national museum of modern
art kyoto or momak
focuses on japanese style paintings of
the kyoto school
but its impressive and varied collection
also includes paintings by western
artists
and crafts of all kinds
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opened in 1930 to mark the enthronement
of the showa emperor
the kyoto city kyocera museum of art
offers a large floor space with a wide
variety of exhibitions
the building has recently undergone
extensive remodeling
adding an attractive rooftop terrace
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as well as a stylish cafe
so we're here at infuse and we're about
to try some very
beautifully presented coffee and cakes
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beautiful cheesecake
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after exploring the two museums we
thread our way along the shirakawa river
towards the hotel where we will be
staying tonight
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located just a few steps from the
kamagawa river and shijodori
kyoto's busiest shopping street the good
nature hotel is an attractive space with
a sleek modern look
and relaxing atmosphere designed around
a sustainable and eco-friendly concept
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the three floors below the hotel are
home to several stylish restaurants
a wine bar and a market selling locally
sourced food
drinks and produce
tonight we're going to enjoy a course
meal here at ereton eritan
is nature backwards and as the name
would suggest the theme here is healthy
organic food with a twist
can't wait to try it
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day two
well as you can see it's a pretty rainy
day in kyoto and we're here at keningji
one of the city's oldest and most
important zen temples
to take part in a morning meditation
experience and take a look around
the practice at the very heart of zen
buddhism meditation
is all about calming the mind allowing
thoughts and sensations to drift past
without becoming attached to them a
process that can take a lifetime to
master
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after our meditation session we stroll
around the grounds of kenji temple
before heading out to breakfast
[Music]
so after our morning meditation class at
kennedy
we're here for the zen inspired
signature breakfast here at kishin
the food here is simple but healthy and
beautifully presented
all in a way that encourages the kind of
mindfulness that you find in zen
practice
let's eat
the name kishin comes from a zen
expression meaning a joyful mind
here the simple acts of coming together
preparing and eating a meal
are a kind of training for the mind
encouraging mindfulness and appreciation
after a hearty traditional breakfast at
kishin it's just a 10 minute walk north
along the camel river to the furamonzen
and shinmonzen districts
this is shin monzen an old part of the
city famous for fine art and antiques
now you might not think it from the lack
of inviting shop windows
but hidden away in these beautiful old
wooden town houses are boutiques
selling some of the most sought-after
arts and crafts in all the city
let's take a look
and that concludes our two-day trip
exploring kyoto's museums and
traditional attractions
thanks for joining me i hope this video
has inspired some ideas for your future
travels
for more information about this trip or
to watch another video
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