A modernist art museum by the stream off Lake Biwa
This national museum houses about 7,500 pieces of modern art from Japan and abroad, is particularly known for its collection artworks by the great artists of Kyoto and Kansai oil painters. Nearby is the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts where you can have your fill of the world of beauty and skills that are alive in Kyoto.

●Open/ 9:30-17:00 ●Closed/Every Monday, The beginning and the end of year
●Fare/ Adult ￥420, College student ￥130, High school student ￥70, Children free. ●Tel/ 075-761-4111

◆Access/ A 5 min. walk from Subway Higashiyama Stn., or a short walk from Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan-mae municipal bus stop from JR Kyoto Stn.

Enjoy Nogaku, the intangible cultural asset
Nogaku, one of Japan's 3 greatest classical performing arts, registered by UNESCO as the first intangible cultural asset, originated in Kansai. The Kyoto Kanze Kaikan is a theatre dedicated to Noh, and performances are shown on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. In Kansai, there are many more Noh theatres such as Osaka's Ohtsuki Nogakudo and Kyoto's Kongo Nogakudo. (Check with the theatre or major travel agents for performance schedules.)

●Open/ Opening hours differ depending on the event (Office hours are 9:00-17:00)
●Closed/Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday falls on National Holiday)
●Fare/ Admission differs depending on the performance. ●Tel/ 075-771-6114

◆Access/ A 7 min. walk from Subway Higashiyama Stn., or 5 min. walk from Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan-mae municipal bus stop from JR Kyoto Stn.

The head temple of the Jodo sect where Japan's greatest three gates awaits you
This huge temple is located on the north of Maruyama Park. Priest Honen founded the temple in 1175. Interesting properties are the Main Hall, which has a capacity of 3,000, Sanmon, the largest main gate in Japan, the temple bell and a lot of other structures.

●Open/ 9:00-16:30 (Last entry at 16:00) ●Close/ Open all-year round
●Fare/ Free (with the exception of Hojo Garden which is ￥400.) ●Tel/ 075-531-2111

◆Access/ A short walk from Subway Higashiyama Stn. or Chion-in-mae bus stop by city bus from JR Kyoto Stn.

The shrine of Gion Festival, one of Japan's 3 greatest festivals
The shrine is believed to have been built on the site 794 years before the capital was moved from Nara to Kyoto. One of Japan's 3 greatest festivals the Gion Festival began to offer prayers to the God of Yasaka Shrine during the outbreak of plague in 869. The Gion Festival is held throughout July each year in Yasaka Shrine, but the highlight of the festival is the Yamahoko procession on the 17th, known as the "moving museum."

●Tel/ 075-561-6155

◆Access/ A 5 min. walk from Keihan Shijo Stn., 10 min walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Stn., and 2 min walk from Gion municipal bus stop from JR Kyoto Stn.

The red-light district that represent Kyoto
This large area is surrounded by the Yasaka Shrine (east side), the Kenninji Temple (south side), the Kamogawa River (west side) and Shinbashi-dori (north side). This is an amusement area including Minamiza, which is the oldest theater in Japan and is famous for "Kaomise" in which all-star Kabuki actors line up on the stage. Ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurants) and other restaurants line the street, and Geiko and Maiko can also be seen. The Miyako Odori, Kyoto style dance performance performed by Geiko and Maiko is held every April.

◆Access/ A short walk from Keihan Shijo Stn. or Gion bus stop by city bus from JR Kyoto Stn.Gion Area

Kyoto's Kitchen with a tradition of 400 years
Known as the Kitchen of Kyoto. Some 130 food stores line a 400 m long, 4 m wide lane running east to west between Teramachi-dori and Takakura-dori on Nishikikoji-dori. The market boasts a large selection which covers almost everyone's needs from fresh food to ingredients for traditional Kyoto cuisine. Packed throughout the day with chefs and Okami-san from Ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), as well as local shoppers and of course, out-of-town visitors.

●Close/ Open all-year round (Several stores close on Wed. or Sun.)
●Tel/ 075-211-3882 (Nishiki Market Shopping Promotion Association)

◆Access/ A 5 min. walk from Hankyu Karasuma Stn. or Subway Shijo Stn.