Online dictionary of geography and travels in Japan: kyoto

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Amanohashidate

天橋立
alternative words: Ama-no-hashidate, Ama no hashidate, Heaven Bridge
keywords: kyoto , tourist resort
related topics: Kyoto Prefecture , Itsukushima Shrine , Matsushima
related web sites: http://www.amanohashidate.jp
explanation: Sand bank located in Miyazu Bay in the north of Kyoto Prefecture. Its length is about 3 km and the width about 100 m. It is separated in the southern part and connected by a bridge. It belongs to "3 Japanese famous views" with Matsushima and Itsukushima Shrine.

Byodoin temple

平等院
alternative words: Byodoin, Byodo in, Byoudouin temple, Byoudouin, Byoudou in
keywords: kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto prefecture
related web sites: http://www.byodoin.or.jp
explanation: Located in the south of Kyoto prefecture at Uji city, Byodoin had been first served as a private villa of Fujiwara Michinaga then transformed by his son, Yorimichi, to a Buddhist temple in 1052. The main building commonly called "Phenix hall" extending its side structure and reflecting its image on a pond is really pictorial. The statue of Amida nyorai, inside the hall is a typical Buddhist sculpture of Heiand period. The picture of Byodoin appears on the backside of 10 yen coin.

Fushimi inari shrine

伏見稲荷大社伏見大社
alternative words: Fushimi inari taisha, Fushimi inari taisha shrine, Fushimi taisha, Fushimiinari, Fushimi inari
keywords: kyoto , shrine
related topics: Kyoto city
related web sites: http://inari.jp
explanation: Located on Fushimi ward in Kyoto city, it is the center of Inari cult in Japan. The origin of the shrine remains mysterious but has been traditionally administered by Hata family and considered one of the 3 most important shrines of Kyoto with Kamo and Matsuo. Initially Inari had been the god of rice but gradually transformed to the god of commerce during the middle ages and became very popular among merchants so Fushimi owns more than 30,000 child shrines all over Japan.

Ginkakuji Temple

銀閣寺慈照寺
alternative words: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku Temple, Ginkakuji, Ginkaku-ji, Jishoji Temple, Jisho Temple, Jishoji, Jisho-ji, Silver Pavilion
keywords: garden , kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto City , Kinkakuji Temple
related web sites: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/ginkakuji/ , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/kyoto.htm
explanation: Ginkakuji Temple, located in the eastern hill of Kyoto city, has been built by the 9th Shogun of Muromachi, Ashikaga Yoshimasa at the end of 15th century. He was incompetent as politician, but loving the arts of tee ceremony and gardens, he is considered as one of the best protectors of the art of that period. Contrary to Kinkakuji Temple which deserves the name of "Golden Pavilion", Ginkakuji is not covered by silver leaves because of an influence of "Zen".

Gion

祇園
alternative words: Gion district
keywords: district , kyoto
related topics: Kyoto City , Yasaka Shrine
related web sites: http://www.gion.or.jp
explanation: A district in the Higashiyama Ward in the east of Kyoto City. It had initially appeared as a market before Yasaka Shrine, then developed as a brothel quarter during Edo period. It has now become a popular entertainment area with bars and geisha establishments.

Heanjingu Shrine

平安神宮
alternative words: Hean jingu shrine, Heanjingu, Hean-jingu, Hean jingu, Heianjingu shrine, Heian jingu shrine, Heianjingu, Heian jingu
keywords: kyoto , shrine
related topics: Kyoto city
related web sites: http://www.heianjingu.or.jp
explanation: Shrine built in 1895 at Kyoto City in order to commemorate a transfer of Japanese capital to Kyoto 1100 years ago (i.e. 795). It enshrines Emperor Kanmu who decided this transfer and its architecture imitates the Imperial Palace of that period.

Kamo river

賀茂川
alternative words: Kamogawa river, Kamogawa, Kamo-gawa, Kamo gawa
keywords: kyoto , river
related topics: Kyoto city , Kyoto prefecture , Lake Biwa
explanation: Taking its source in Tanba highland, Kamo river goes through Kyoto city from north to south and flows into Katsura river which comes from Lake Biwa. Though very tiny (35 km), it has appeared frequently in Japanese history as the main river of Kyoto, ancient capital.

Kansai region

関西地方近畿地方関西近畿
alternative words: Kansai area, Kansai, Kinki region, Kinki area, Kinki
keywords: kyoto , nara , osaka , region
related topics: Kyoto prefecture , Osaka prefecture , Hyogo prefecture , Hakone , Kanto region
related web sites: http://www.senri-i.or.jp/kansai/
explanation: Kansai region is the old political center of Japan. It includes actual Hyogo, Kyoto, Shiga, Osaka, Nara, Mie and Wakayama prefectures. Though the political center of Japan has moved to Tokyo, it still owns 3 cities of more than 1 million inhabitants (Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto) and remains the second Japanese economic and industrial area. Kansai means " west of customs barrier" which was at Mt Hakone, while Kinki means "near the capital" which was Kyoto.

Kinkakuji Temple

金閣寺鹿苑寺
alternative words: Kinkaku-ji temple, Kinkaku temple, Kinkakuji, Kinkaku-ji, Rokuonji temple, Rokuon temple, Rokuonji, Rokuon-ji, Golden Pavilion
keywords: garden , kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto City , Ginkakuji Temple
related web sites: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/kinkakuji/ , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/kinkaku.htm
explanation: Kinkakuji Temple is a strange building: it serves as a residence as well as a Buddhist temple. In 1397, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of the Muromachi Shogunate founded it as a hill-side cottage. In 1419, After his death, a son transformed it to a Zen temple and renamed it Rokuon-ji from Yoshimitsu's religious name. In 1950, it has been burned completely by an arson and has been restored since then.

Kiyomizudera temple

清水寺
alternative words: Kiyomizu temple, Kiyomizudera, Kiyomizu dera, Seisuiji, Seisui ji
keywords: kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto city , Yasaka shrine
related web sites: http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp
explanation: Buddhist temple located in the east of Kyoto city near Yasaka shrine. Though its origin is quite old (according to a temple's document, it would be built by a famous Japanese general, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 798), because of repeated natural disasters and wars of sect struggles, the actual building dates only 17the century. Kiyomizudera is rather renown by its strange architecture: being built on an abrupt hill side, it owns a balustrade supported by several long columns.

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