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Murin
Often overlooked by the hordes that descend on the Higashiyama area, this elegant villa was the home of prominent statesman Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922) and the site of a pivotal 1902 political conference as Japan was heading into the Russo- Japanese War. Built in 1896, the grounds
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Hie
Enshrining the deity of sacred Mt Hiei, northeast of Kyoto, this hilltop shrine has been the protector shrine of Edo Castle (now the Imperial Palace) since it was first built in 1478. Host of one of Tokyo’s three liveliest matsuri (festivals), Sannō-sai, its an attractive place bes
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Nogi
This shrine honours General Nogi Maresuke, a famed commander in the Russo-Japanese War. Hours after Emperor Meijis funerary procession in 1912, Nogi and his faithful wife committed ritual suicide, following their master into death. An antiques flea market is held on the shrine grou
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Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku
The Tetsugaku-no-Michi is one of the most pleasant walks in all of Kyoto. Lined with a great variety of flowering plants, bushes and trees, it is a corridor of colour throughout most of the year. Follow the traffic-free route along a canal lined with cherry trees that come into spe
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Hase
The focal point of this Jōdo sect temple, one of the most popular in the Kantō region, is a 9m-high carved wooden jūichimen (11-faced) Kannon statue. Kannon (avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) is the bodhisattva of infinite compassion and, along with Jizō , is one of Japans most popular
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Nunobiki Falls
Youd never guess that such a beautiful natural sanctuary could sit so close to the city. This revered waterfall in four sections (the longest is 43m tall) has been the subject of art, poetry and worship for centuries – some of the poems are reproduced on stone tablets at the site.
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Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Though it is common to spot wild monkeys in the nearby mountains, here you can encounter them at a close distance and enjoy watching the playful creatures frolic about. It makes for an excellent photo opportunity, not only of the monkeys but also of the panoramic view over Kyoto. R
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Udo
Reached via a coastal path, this brightly painted Shintō shrine occupies an open cavern overlooking unusual rock formations in the cove below. It’s protocol to buy five undama (luck stones, ¥100), make a wish and try to hit the shallow depression on top of the turtle-shaped rock. M
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Meguro Fudōson
The third Tokugawa shōgun designated this Tendai-sect temple as one of the five protectors of Edo, which earned it a mention in Edo-era travel guides. The temple’s official name is Taieizan Ryūsen-ji; its nickname comes from the meguro (‘black-eyed’) statue of Fudō Myō originally e
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Yoshimizu
Also on the Unesco World Heritage List, this shrine has provided refuge for important historical figures and now displays scrolls, armour, nō (stylised dance-drama) masks and painted fusuma (sliding doors) from those times. Swordsman and general Minamoto Yoshitsune fled here after
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Sapporo Beer Garden & Museum
Part museum, part beer garden, this legendary Sapporo attraction is in the original Sapporo Beer brewery, almost due east of JR Sapporo Station. There are free one-hour tours of the museum (recorded English commentary provided) followed by tastings (¥200 per beer). The adjoining be
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Eikan
Perhaps Kyoto’s most famous (and most crowded) autumn-foliage destination, Eikan-dō is a superb temple just a short walk south of the famous Path of Philosophy. Eikan-dō is made interesting by its varied architecture, its gardens and its works of art. It was founded as Zenrin-ji in
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Ujigami
Ujigami-jinja holds the distinction of being Japan’s oldest shrine. Despite its historical significance, the shrine is the least interesting of Kyoto’s 17 Unesco World Heritage sites.According to ancient records, Uji-no-waki-Iratsuko, a 5th-century prince, tragically sacrificed his
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Shimo
The narrow streets of Shimo-Kitazawa (Shimokita to its friends) are barely passable by cars, meaning a streetscape like a dollhouse version of Tokyo. Although lacking big-name sights or landmarks, Shimokita has a lively street scene all afternoon and evening, especially on weekends
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Ponto
There are few streets in Asia that rival this narrow pedestrian-only walkway for atmosphere. Not much to look at by day, the street comes alive by night, with wonderful lanterns, traditional wooden exteriors, and elegant Kyotoites disappearing into the doorways of elite old restaur
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Kyoto International Manga Museum
This fine museum has a collection of some 300,000 manga (Japanese comic books). Located in an old elementary school building, the museum is the perfect introduction to the art of manga. While most of the manga and displays are in Japanese, the collection of translated works is grow
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Gas
Accessible from July to September, Gas-san (1984m) is the highest of these sacred mountains. From Hachigōme (八合目; eighth station), the route passes through an alpine plateau to Kyūgōme (九合目; ninth station) in 1¾ hours, then grinds uphill for another 1¼ hours. Before entering deeply
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Murō
Secluded in a thick forest, this temple (founded 9th century) is associated with the Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism. Its nicknamed Womens Kōya-san because, unusually, it welcomed female students. Top sights include a national treasure, 9th century, eleven-headed Kannon (deity of
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National Diet
Built on a site once inhabited by feudal lords, Japan’s current parliament building was completed in 1936 and houses two chambers – the Shūgi-in (House of Representatives; the Lower House) and the Sangi-in (House of Councillors; the Upper House). Free one-hour tours of parts of the
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Adachi Museum of Art
East of Matsue in Yasugi is this excellent museum, founded by local businessman and art collector Adachi Zenkō. The collection includes over 100 paintings by Yokoyama Taikan (1868–1958) and a good selection of works by other major 20th-century Japanese painters. Theres also a delig
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