The Heian Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei who were the first and last emperors respectively to rule Japan from Kyoto. It was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of the city.
As a result of the Meiji restoration, the capital of Japan was shifted to Tokyo and Kyoto ceased to be the seat of the Emperor. Throughout its history, the shrine was damaged by fires several times, the most recent being that of 1976 and has undergone several restorations.
The Torii or traditional temple gate, erected in 1929, welcomes visitors to the shrine. It is the largest in Japan. The shrine’s main gateway or Ote- Mon is covered with vermillion and blue tiles. The complex consists of an open space in front of a Main Hall and an Offering Hall. The open space is used during festivals and the Offering Hall is where devotees offer prayers to Shinto Gods. It is surrounded by a garden that has cherry trees and ponds with koi fish. The shrine provides a setting for traditional Japanese weddings. It is also the venue for two major festivals. One, that takes place in January, is in honor of Emperor Kammu and the other, in April, is dedicated to Emperor Komei.

The National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto popularly known by the acronym, MOMAK is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of 20th century Japanese art. The unique architecture of the building housing the museum has made it a popular tourist attraction in Kyoto.
The National Museum of Modern art in Kyoto was first established as an annex of the Modern Art Museum in Tokyo. The present site was once the Kyoto Municipal Exhibition Hall for Industrial Affairs. MOMAK occupied the building from 1963. The entire building was given to the museum in 1967. In 1984, the old building was torn down and the present structure designed by Fumihko Maki was constructed. The Museum was opened for public viewing once again in 1986.
The National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto has four floors and a basement. Contemporary works of Japanese and international artists are on display. One can view both Japanese style Nihonga paintings and western style Yoga paintings at the museum. There are also collections of sculpture and objects made of ceramics, bamboo, metalwork, lacquer and jewelry. Notable works are paintings by the French master, Matisse, the Japanese artist, Ryuzaburo Umehara and ceramic sculpture by Kawai Kanjiro. The Museum also holds temporary themed exhibitions of contemporary art. Most of the signs in the museum are in Japanese but there are pamphlets in English that visitors can follow to take a self guided tour.

The Kyoto Municipal Museum of art was established to commemorate the coronation of the Showa Emperor in 1928. It is the second largest public art museum in Japan.
The Kyoto Municipal Museum was opened to the public in 1933. It was first called the Showa Imperial Coronation Art Museum of Japan or the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art. It was housed in a European style brick building with Palace like proportions. After the Second World War, the occupation forces took over the building temporarily. A new annex was added in the year 2000 to provide additional exhibition space. From the date of its inauguration the museum has steadily increased its collection through donations and purchases.
The Kyoto Municipal Museum has a vast collection of paintings, sculpture, graphic art, photographs and prints. All works on display relate to Japan and the city of Kyoto. Most of the works were created after the Meiji era. The museum hosts art lectures, seminars, workshops and art related programs. Temporary exhibitions are also held and some display the works of international artists. The Museum also holds special exhibitions like the Kyoten Exhibition and the Nitten Exhibition annually. It stays open from Tuesdays to Sundays and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

The Nanzen –ji Temple is the most important temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. The original structures were destroyed by fires and wars and the present complex dates back to the 17th century.
The Nanzen-ji temple was constructed initially as the retirement palace of Emperor Kameyama in 1264 AD. When he died, it became a temple in 1291. The grounds of the temple are open to the public for free but a fee is charged for entering the main temple and the many sub temples within the complex.
Visitors are welcomed by a two storied entrance gate called the San Mon or Mountain Gate. It was built in 1296 and is one of the biggest gates in Japan. It is dedicated to the soldiers who died fighting the Battle of Osaka castle in 1616. There is also a large brick aqueduct that once carried water from Lake Biwa to the city of Kyoto. The Seryo-Den or Palace Hall has several beautiful Fusuma paintings on the sliding doors. Among the sub temples, the Nazenin and the Konchin are open for visitors. There is a rock garden and a pond garden where visitors come to see the changing colors of autumn in late November.

The Shoren-in Temple is managed by the Tendai sect of Buddhism. It is a beautiful and tranquil temple amidst green surroundings at the foot of the Higashiyama Mountains near Kyoto. It is one of the Monzeki temples in the city where the head priest was a member of the Imperial Family.
The Shoren-in Temple was built by the retired Emperor Toba for Gyogen, the head priest of the Enryaku-ji Temple and his seventh son who was Gyogen’s student. Until the Meiji era only members of the imperial family could become head priests of the temple. When the Imperial palace burned down in the Shogun era, the Shoren-in temple served as the temporary residence of the Empress Gosakuramachi.
Visitors to the Shoren-in temple pass through the entrance to a drawing room with beautiful paintings covering the walls and sliding doors. The largest building in the complex is the Shinden and the important hall is the Shijokodo Hall. The hall has two rare paintings, one is a Mandala or traditional Buddhist geometric painting and the other is a drawing of the Deity Fudo Myoo. The gardens surrounding the temple have old and large camphor trees. The gardens are illuminated at night in spring and in autumn.

The Chion-in temple is one of the most important sacred sites in Japan. It is the main temple of the Jodo-Shu or Pure Land sect of Buddhism.
The Chion-in Temple was built in 1234 by a Buddhist monk named Genchi. He was a disciple of the founder of the Pure Land sect, Honen. It was built on the location where Honen preached his philosophy to the common people and where he fasted unto death in 1212. The Jodo-Shu teachings became the most widely accepted Buddhist teachings in Japan. The Hollywood movie, The Last Samurai was filmed at the Chion-in Temple. Most of the buildings were destroyed by fires and the present complex was built in the 17th century.
Visitors enter the Chion-in Temple through the largest gate in Japan, the 79 foot high San Mon. The large main hall can hold 3000 people. The corridor behind the main hall that leads to an Assembly Hall has a nightingale floor that makes a squeaking noise when a person walks on it. The 74 ton temple bell of the Chion Temple is the heaviest in Japan. A small shrine within the complex called the Mei- Do houses a statue of Honen. The statue is designated as one of the National Treasures of Japan.

The Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Gion District of Kyoto. It is the venue of the Gion Matsuri Summer festival celebrated in July.
The Yasaka Shrine was built in 656 AD and was dedicated to the God of prosperity, Susanoo-no-mikoto, his wife and 8 children. In 869, portable shrines called the Omikoshi were paraded through the streets of Kyoto as an appeal to the deity for relief from a deadly epidemic that ravaged the city. It has become an annual event in Kyoto. The present shrine was the result of a reconstruction of the original buildings in 1654.
The entrance to the Yasaka Shrine is through a red two storey gate called the Ro-Mon. The entrance is flanked by statues of Shinto guardian Gods and the steps to the shrine are guarded by figures of Korean Dogs. The Honden is the main hall where the Deity is worshipped. Worshippers ring the bell at the entrance to wake the Deity up before praying. To the left of the Honden, is the hall for offerings and to the right is the hall where religious ceremonies are performed. Kyoto residents flock to the shrine on New Year Day to pray for prosperity in the coming year. The Maruyama Park near the shrine is Kyoto’s most famous venue for cherry blossom viewing in spring.

The Kodai-ji Temple was built in 1606 in memory of the spirit of the Samurai warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi by his grieving widow Nene. It is famous for the Maki-e paintings that cover the walls of the Spirit Hall.
The Kodai-ji temple was built using funds donated by Tokugawa Leyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun who was a vassal of the Samurai warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Nene the wife of Hideyoshi became a Buddhist nun after the death of her husband. The temple complex suffered damage by fire in 1798 and only two of the original structures remain. It is managed by monks from the Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism.
Many of the structures and objects in the Kodai-ji temple have been declared as Important Cultural Assets. These include the main gate that dates back to 1606 and the Spirit Hall. The Maki-e paintings in the Spirit Hall are worked with gold and lacquer. A notable painting is a well preserved portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Another notable feature is a bronze bell that dates back to 1606. The temple is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens with gravel paths and a bamboo grove. The garden has tea houses designed by contemporary Japanese artists. The gardens are illuminated every autumn between late October and early December and visitors flock to enjoy the tranquil, esthetically lighted garden and the spectacular night views of Kyoto from the temple.

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple is an independent Buddhist temple in Kyoto associated with the Hosso sect of Buddhism. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The Kiyomizu-dera Temple was built in 778 by the Buddhist monk Enchin in honor of the Bodhisattva of mercy and compassion, Kannon Bosatsu. The present building commissioned by the shogun Tokugawa Lemitsu dates back to 1633. Kiyomizu-dera means temple of the Pure Water and gets its name from its location near the Otowa Waterfall. Today many parts of the temple are being renovated and the refurbishments are likely to be completed in 2013.
The Kiyomizu-dera Temple is unique because it is constructed without using a single nail. The street leading to the temple is flanked by shops selling handicrafts and sweets. The gates have statues of Deva Kings and Korean Dogs that are believed to protect the temple from damage. The main hall has the design of temples in the Haien era. The outer sanctuary is decorated with paintings donated by local tradesmen and the inner sanctuary has gold leaf images carved on lacquer. There is also a shrine dedicated to the Shinto deity of love within the temple complex. The wooden terrace of the temple offers spectacular views across Kyoto.

The Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Gallery is a repository of Japanese folk art. The former home of renowned potter and folk art promoter Kawai Kanjiro houses this unique museum that displays his work.
The well known Japanese potter, Kawai Kanjiro (1890 to 1966) lived and worked in the building that now houses a museum in his honor. He was one of the leaders of the Mingei or Folk Art Movement that sought to preserve traditional Japanese crafts that were disappearing with the advent of the industrial revolution and being replaced by mass produced machine made objects.
The Museum is small and privately run by members of the Kawai family. Visitors can get an insight of how a Japanese family lives while touring the museum. Objects on display are asymmetrical glazed pottery created by the artist, pottery with expressionistic techniques like Tsutsugaki or slip trailed decoration, Ronuki or wax resist decorations and Hakeme or white slip decoration. The artist’s studio and Noborigama or kiln is located at the back of the museum. There is also a special section displaying the woodcarvings created by Kawai Kanjiro. The museum is located in a small street to the southwest of the Higashi-oji-dori and Gojo-dori intersection in Kyoto and stays open from Tuesdays to Sundays.

The Kyoto National Museum is dedicated to displaying pre-modern Japanese arts and crafts. It is one of the three museums in Japan that is owned and maintained by the Imperial Family.
The Kyoto National Museum is housed in a building designed by architect Katayam Tokuma. It was opened for public viewing in 1897. A new building with display halls, designed by Morita Keiichi was added to the existing facility in 1966. The Museum has over 12,000 objects of which 6000 are on display. More than 230 objects that belong to the museum have been declared National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.
The Kyoto National Museum is divided into three sections. The fine arts section consists of sculpture, paintings and Japanese calligraphy. The Handicrafts section has pottery, textile, metalwork and lacquer work. The archeology section has objects obtained from excavations in different parts of the country. Notable collections and objects are the largest collection of artifacts from the Haien Era, a collection of rare ancient Chinese and Japanese Sutras, the Senzui Byōbu or landscape screen from the 11th century and the Gakizōshi or scroll of the hungry ghosts from the 12th century. The Museum also hosts special themed exhibitions from time to time.

The Sanjusangen-do is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto dedicated to the Bodhisattva Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara or the thousand armed Kannon. The 100 meter long structure is the longest wooden building in Japan.
The Sanjusangen-do temple was built under the orders of Emperor Go-Shirakawa before he retired to lead a religious life in 1164. It is managed by the Tendai sect of Buddhism. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1249 and the present structure was built in 1266. Archery contests are held in the west verandah of the temple from the Edo period. A well known duel between the warrior Miyamoto and Yoshioka Denshichiro was fought here in 1604.
At the center of the Sanjusangen-do temple is a six foot tall statue of the Kannon. The statue dates from 1254 and has eleven faces and a thousand arms. The central statue is surrounded by a thousand life size and gold leaf covered Kannon statues created by the renowned sculptor, Tankei in the 12th and 13th centuries. Behind the thousand statues are the figures of the 28 Japanese Deities. These deities are said to protect the Buddhist universe. The Rite of the Willow is held at the temple every January. Worshippers can get their heads touched with a sacred willow branch to prevent and cure headaches.