This castle was built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the First Tokugawa shogin, Ieyasu. The ostentatious style of construction was intended a demonstration of Ieyasu’s prestige and signal the demise of the emperor powers.

Byodo-in Temple was converted from a Fujiwara villa in 1052. The Hoo-do (Phoenix Hall) , more properly known as the Amida-do, was build in 1053 and is the only original remaining building. The phoenix was a popular mythical bird in china and was revered by the Japanese as a protector of Buddha....

Founded in 874 by the priest Shobo, who gave it the name of Daigo . This refers to the five periods of Buddha teaching , which were often compared to the five forms of milk prepared in India...

One of the patriarchs of the Buddhist Tendai School. Enryaku-Ji was the base from which Saicho taught of the Tendai school. Having become increasingly powerful over the centuries at the expenses of its rivals...

In 1482 Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa constructed a villa here as a genteel retreat from turmoil of civil war. The villa name translates as “Silver Pavilion “Walkway lead through the gardens, which include meticulously Raked cones of white sand (probably symbolic of a mountain and a lake), tall pines, and a pond in front of the temple.

The main temple of the Hongwan - ji Temple subsect of the Jodo Shinshu sect, was moved to its present site in 1591. Some of the buildings date back from the 16th to 18th centuries.

A Zen temple in northern Kyoto. Its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf, formally known as Rokunoji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and according to his will it become a Zen temple after his death in 1408.

Dating back to 778. Kiyomizu which literally means "pure water" takes its name from the waterfall within the temple complex. The temple is famous for the huge veranda that is supported by hundred of pillars and just at over hillside to offer impressive view of the city.

Kozan-ji Temple was established at the beginning of the 13th century, when the monk Myoe restored a mountain temple and gave it its present name.

Ninna Ji Temple was built in 842 and is the head temple of Omura branch of the Shingon school of Buddhism. The present temple buildings, including a five- storey pagoda, are from the 17th century.

Belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen and was founded in 1450. The main attraction is the garden arranged in the kare-sansui style. An austere collection of 15 rocks, apparently adrift in a sea of sand, is enclosed by an earthen wall.

An ancient temple said to have been established by the monk Gyokiduring the Nara Period, Saiho-ji Temple was restored and converted into a Zen templeby the monk Muso Soseki in 1339.

One of the major temples of Rinzai school of Zen. Tenryu JI was built in 1339 on the former site of Emperor Go-Daigo Villa after a priest had dreamt of a dragon rising from nearby river.

Toji Temple was established in 794 by imperial decree to protect the city. In 818 the emperor handed the temple over to Kukai, the founder of the shingon school of Buddhism.

One of Japans oldest shrines and predates the founding of Kyoto. Established in 679, it is dedicated of Raijin, the god of thunder.

The shrine is dedicated to the god of harvest. Traditionally, pure water was drawn from the nearby rivers for purification and agricultural ceremonies.

Uji is a small city to the south of Kyoto. Its main claims to fame are Byodo-in and tea cultivation. The stone bridge at Uji – the oldest of its kind in Japan- has been the scene of many bitter clasher in previous centuries. Uji is also home to Ujigami-Jinja.