Many temples in Kyoto are blessed with a beautiful garden to appreciate. Take your time, relax to the sound of shishiodoshi (traditional bamboo noise-maker that fills with running water and see-saws up and down), and find Japanese aesthetic view of wabi-sabi (the beauty found in simplicity and frugality) in a karesansui (dry-style) garden. One of the great gardens worth visiting is found at Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji Temple, the last home of Ikkyu, a Buddhist monk best known in picture books and cartoons for his childhood adventures as a witty apprentice. Registered as a scenic beauty, the temple's Hojo Garden can be appreciated from Hojo (a Zen temple reception hall) in three different directions.

At Kodai-ji Temple, visitors may enjoy the beauty of the garden over a cup of o-usu, green tea freshly prepared in the traditional manner. At Nanzen-ji Temple, tourists are invited to join a zazen (seated Zen meditation) session. For zazen, you do not need to have any previous knowledge; just be there, sit quietly, and feel an extraordinary air different than that of daily life as you aim to reach the state of "no-self."
Toji Temple is known for its Goju-no-to (the Five-story Pagoda; World Heritage), which is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan and has been a major landmark of central Kyoto. On the 21st day of each month, the temple holds a popular monthly fair called Kobo-ichi. The fair features a variety of vendors selling antiques, pottery, crafts, and plants, and is popular with both tourists and locals.

Spring:In Kyoto, the season of cherry blossoms starts in mid-March. There are a number of great spots throughout the city where you can appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms, including Heian Jingu Shrine, Tetsugaku-no-Michi (the Path of Philosophy), Nijo Castle, Maruyama Park, and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. A famous weeping cherry at Marumaya Park usually reaches its blooming peak around early April. This symbolic tree is illuminated in the evening to enhance its elegant beauty.

Summer:Summer in Kyoto is best illustrated by the scene of kawadoko, open-air decks built over a flowing river to enjoy dining in a cool breeze from the water. Kawadoko dining is available from June to late September along the Kamo River in central Kyoto, or in the Kibune and Takao areas outside the city.

For many travelers, experiencing the local food often becomes the highlight of their trip. The sophisticated style of local cuisine in Kyoto is generally referred to as kyo-ryori, and it emphasizes the delicacy of seasonal ingredients and an elaborate presentation. Obanzai, on the other hand, is a variety of common dishes eaten daily by locals, many of which are stews and marinated dishes that use locally grown vegetables called kyo-yasai. Although obanzai dishes are simple and plain compared to colorful kyo-ryori, they still inherit the traditional flavors that the people of Kyoto have long cherished. You can try the taste of obanzai at local Japanese restaurants.