Kansai
The region consists of the prefectures of Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo.
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Himeji Castle | A Masterpiece of Castle Building Technology
Himeji Castle was the first registered World Cultural Heritage site (in 1993) in Japan. It is said to be a masterpiece of Japan’s unique castle architecture technology that reached its peak in 1600.
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Kinkakuji | The Most Beautiful Buddhist Temple
Kinkakuji was founded in 1397 as a resting villa for the third shogun of the Muromachi era, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. This shogun asked his son to turn the villa into a Zen temple when he died, and so it happened.
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Kiyomizu Dera Temple, Kyoto | Beautiful natural scenery and various power spots
The Kiyomizu Dera temple in Kyoto is one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples and with good reason, as it is one of the most beautiful constructions in the old capital city.
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Arashiyama, Kyoto | Mysterious and beautiful bamboo forest
Arashiyama in Kyoto is famous for its mystical bamboo grove, but the area is actually a lot larger than just the bamboo forest. It is a very pleasant environment to have a walk past traditional shops, temples, and nature.
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Kimono Forest, Kyoto | Beautiful Traditional Japanese Costumes
Find out more about Kimono Forest, a must-see promenade for people heading to the bamboo forest, located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto.
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Kobe: Where International Elegance Meets Natural Majesty
Experience Kobe, Japan’s sophisticated port city blending international heritage with natural beauty. Discover world-famous Kobe beef, spectacular night views from Mount Rokko, historic Kitano district, and coastal charm in this complete travel guide.
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Byodoin Temple with its shining golden phoenix
The Byodoin temple is the most famous landmark in a part of Kyoto that is especially known for its green tea production, Uji. The image of the temple is very well-known throughout Japan.
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Kodaiji Temple, Kyoto | Beautiful landscape gardens and decorations
Kodaiji Temple is located in Higashiyama. It was founded in 1605 by Kita-no-Mandokoro as a memorial to her husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was one of the most important men of his time.
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Heian Jingu, Kyoto | Travel back in time to the Heian Period
The Heian Jingu shrine was instituted in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100-year anniversary of the return of the capital to Heian, which is today’s Kyoto. Its architecture is impressive.
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Sanjusangendo, Kyoto | Thousand golden-colored statues of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
The Sanjusangendo temple in Kyoto was established by the powerful warrior-politician Taira-no-Kiyomori in 1164, and it is especially famous for its 1001 statues.
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Gion | Travel back in time to the Edo period
Gion is the place where the famous geisha, the cultural symbol of Japan, are still doing their work every night. Geisha literally means ‘artist’, although in Kyoto they are called ‘geiko’ which means ‘woman of art’.
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Beautiful Nishiki Market supports Kyoto’s food culture
The best way to learn about everyday Japanese life and what people like to cook at home is to visit one of its many food markets. Nishiki Market is in the center of Kyoto, and a popular market to visit for tourists.
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Ryoanji Temple,Kyoto | Beautiful stone garden and a temple where a dragon sleeps
Ryoan-ji is a Zen temple located in Kyoto which was built by a minister of the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1450. The temple is especially famous for its stone landscape garden.
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Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto | The most beautiful thousand torii gates in the world
Known worldwide for its more than 10,000 torii gates in a row, the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine attracts around 3 million visitors the first three days of the year alone and is one of the most famous attractions of Kyoto.
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Ginkakuji Temple, Kyoto | Beautiful gardens and rustic beauty
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) was constructed by a shogun from the 15th century. You can still see his quest for beauty in the Ginkakuji, even after 500 years.
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Kyoto City, Kyoto | A city full of beautiful nature and Japanese history
Kyoto is often called “the heart of Japan” and it is said that it would be impossible to get to know the country without visiting this wonderful city.