The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto comprise seventeen component sites. They offer a view of two aspects of Japanese design: the development of wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture, and the art of Japanese gardens. This combination invites visitors to appreciate architecture and garden design as distinct forms of expression.
Cultural Heritage Between Architecture and Remembrance
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Genbaku Dome, is the only building that remained standing near the hypocenter of the first atomic bomb, which exploded on August 6, 1945. It expresses the hope for world peace and the eventual abolition of all nuclear weapons. It can be viewed from outside the fences at the edge of the site—a visit with a clear boundary between viewing from outside and the grounds beyond.
At Itsukushima Shrine, human-made and natural elements are in relationship: the buildings stand by the sea against an impressive mountain backdrop. Himeji-jo, in turn, is a preserved example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture and comprises 82 buildings. Together, these places show different approaches to cultural heritage: the relationship between a structure and its landscape, remembrance of a historical event, and the form of a castle complex.
Historic Routes and Religious Tradition
From the early 17th to the late 19th century, the Nakasendo Highway was an important trade route between Kyoto and Edo-era Tokyo. The ancient Kumano Kodo tells a different story of routes: it is a pilgrimage trail across the mountainous Kii Peninsula in Wakayama. Comparing them reveals two distinct historical meanings of routes—trade on the one hand and pilgrimage on the other.
Mount Fuji is also associated with a religious history of travel. The volcano has been inactive since 1707; historically, climbing it was regarded as a religious pilgrimage. To see the sunrise, visitors can climb at night or stay overnight in a mountain hut. As access conditions at the mountain may vary seasonally, check the conditions for your planned visit.
Experience Nature: On Foot, by Bike or on the Water
Japan’s national and quasi-national parks offer hiking trails, campsites and picnic areas so the public can enjoy nature. In national parks, visitors can also use numerous well-maintained, signposted cycling routes. Kayaking is another recreational activity available in Japan’s natural areas. Whether you prefer to travel on foot, by bike or by kayak, each offers a different way to experience nature. The activities described do not necessarily take place in the same park or on the same route.
Tea Ceremony and Sake
Visitors can experience a tea ceremony in teahouses at temples, in traditional Japanese gardens, at cultural institutions and in hotels, especially in Kyoto. The different venues provide different settings for the experience, without requiring any particular type of establishment.
Sake is Japan’s national beverage and is made primarily from rice and water. Some sake breweries are open to visitors; if you plan a visit, check access at the individual brewery before your trip. Two cultural discoveries thus complement each other: taking part in a tea ceremony and learning about a beverage whose production is based on rice and water.
Discover more destinations: Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Okayama Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, Hokkaido, Kagawa Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, Saga Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, Tokushima Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Iwojima
