The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the former residence of the Emperors of Japan until the Capital of the country was shifted to Tokyo. It was also the venue where the enthronement of the Emperors of Japan took place until recently.
The present Kyoto Imperial Palace was built in 1855. It was constructed after a devastating fire destroyed a previous structure completely. Its design resembles the palaces of the Heian period in Kyoto. The buildings in the palace complex include the Dairi or Imperial Residence, the Sento or palace of the retired Emperor, a library, several ceremonial halls, the Kaninnomiya Mansion which was the residence of the Fujiwara nobility and houses for the Empress and other officials with high ranks.
The Kyoto Imperial palace is surrounded by a long earthen wall called the Tsuji with 6 ancient gates. It is also surrounded by a clean green space called the Kyoto Imperial Park or the Kyōto Gyoen. The park has gravel paths, lawns and many shady trees. The Konoe Pond in the Northwestern corner of the park has a group of cherry trees that bloom between March and April. The palace is managed by the Imperial Household Agency. Visitors can reserve a place on conducted tours around the palace and grounds. The one hour guided tours are available in English and Japanese.

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 magnificent Nijo Castle was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It is one of the few palaces of Kyoto where visitors are allowed to view the interiors.
The Nijo Castle was built in 1603 by Tokugawa Leyasu. It was later enlarged by his descendant Tokugawa Lemitsu. He added a five floored tower called the Honmaru that was later destroyed by a fire. It was also the site where the last Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshinobu restored power to the Emperor in 1867. The Castle was opened to the public by the city of Kyoto in 1940.
The Nijo Castle is surrounded by gardens and a moat. It is not fortified unlike other palaces. There are two structures, the outer building called the Honmaru and the main building and residence of the Shogun, the Ninomaru. The unique feature of the Ninomaru is its squeaking floors called nightingale floors (uguisubari). The noise made while one walked on the floor warned residents that someone had entered the building. The interiors of the castle have many beautiful paintings and sliding doors. There are also wax mannequins dressed in ancient costumes so that visitors can relive the life of a historical royal residence. In 1994, Nijo Castle became a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Manga is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. The International Manga Museum is dedicated to the preservation of comics, cartoons and animation.
The Museum was established by the Kyoto Seika University in collaboration with the City of Kyoto. It is housed in the former Tatsuike Elementary School; the buildings and land were donated by the City and it is managed by the University. A joint committee consisting of University officials and members of the City Government oversee its management. The Museum has over 200,000 items donated by individuals and corporations.
The International Manga Museum houses a large collection of Japanese Manga and international comics. The exhibition explains the development of Manga as an art, its origin, different drawing techniques and tells about well known characters and artists. The museum is divided into a gallery zone, a research space, a collection zone, the permanent exhibition area, a space for special exhibits, a museum shop and a Kissaten or Japanese style coffee shop. There is a Manga wall that holds 40,000 books and magazines. Some interesting exhibits are Meiji era magazines, an early Japanese edition of the Punch Magazine, the first Japanese Manga magazine called Eshinbun Nihonchi and the first children’s Manga magazine in Japanese, called the Tokyo Pakku.

The Gion District in Kyoto is the location where the traditional Japanese entertainers called the Geisha and their apprentices called Maikos reside and entertain businessmen. The Kyoto word for Geisha is Geiko which means Women of Art.
The Gion District is located around Shijo Avenue in Kyoto between the Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River. All the buildings that flank the streets are built in traditional Japanese style and are called Machiyas or Town Houses. Inside these are shops, restaurants and Ochayas - traditional Tea Houses where Geiko entertain customers. Gion has been a Geisha district since the 1500s. Part of the street has been declared a Historic Preservation District and the City of Kyoto has made efforts to preserve the traditional architecture by moving all overhead utilities underground.
Tourists flock to the Gion district today to catch site of a Geiko or Maiko en route to her engagement in full regalia. The district comes alive at night when patrons of the Ochayas come for their evening entertainment. A cultural show is held every day at the art center, called the Gion Corner, where tourists can view Geikos performing several traditional Japanese arts like tea ceremonies, dances and short comic plays. In April, the Miyako Odori festival, where Meiko perform traditional dances, is held here.

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 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.

The Kyoto Tower is a modern architectural attraction in a city known for its historical and cultural sites. On a clear day one can get spectacular views of the city from the observation deck and can see as far as Osaka.
The Kyoto Tower was designed by Makato Tanahashi, a doctor of engineering from Kyoto University. It is one of the finest examples of Monocoque (structural skin) architecture in the world. The thin outer shell supports the weight of the tower. The main structure consists of specially made lightweight steel plates joined to a cylinder. The inner walls are made of several steel rings piled on top of each other. The tower was designed to withstand strong earthquakes and typhoons. Construction was completed in 1964. It is 131 meters high and the observation deck is 100 meters above the ground.
The Kyoto Tower is supported by a building with nine floors. The basement of the building has an Onsen public bath. The first four floors have shops including a souvenir shop, a bookstore, a 100 yen shop and a dental clinic. The Kyoto Tower Hotel a 3 star hotel with 160 rooms occupies the rest of the building. Like most high towers around the world, there is a restaurant at the top called the Sky Lounge.

The To Ji Temple is a temple managed by the Shingon sect of Buddhism since the time its founder Kobo Diashi was put in charge by Emperor Saga in 823. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1994.
The To Ji Temple was built in 796 AD and its purpose was to guard the city of Kyoto. Under the management of Kobo Diashi, the temple became one of its most important places of worship. Most of the original temple buildings were destroyed by fires and by wars. Recently in the year 2007, a Live Earth concert with performances by many famous international stars for increasing the awareness of the earth’s climate was staged here.
The To Ji Temple is famous for its five storied Pagoda. It is the tallest wooden structure in Japan and a well known landmark of Kyoto. It is over 54 meters high. The Kodo or lecture hall has 15 statues of Buddhist deities and the main deity is Yakushi Nyorai or the Buddha with medicinal powers. Visitors flock to the flea market that is held in the temple grounds on the 21st of each month. Stalls sell food, plants, shoes and sculpture and many unique items that one can take back as souvenirs. A dedicated antiques market is also held here on the first Sunday of every month.