It is a pine covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to "bridge in heaven") looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan's three most scenic views.
Several other attractions can be explored on foot or by rental bicycle at either end of the sandbar. They contain a couple of temples, a shrine, a small amusement park and observation decks from which to enjoy the view.
Tourists can take sightseeing cruises around the bay or enjoy the sand beaches along the sandbar.
It stands 131 meters tall just across Kyoto Station. It is Kyoto's tallest building and a rare modern iconic landmark in the city well-known as its ancient temples and shrines.
The tower was completed in 1964, the same year as the opening of the shinkansen and the Tokyo Olympics.
A viewing platform is located 100 meters above ground and affords a 360 degree view of Kyoto and as far as Osaka on clear days.
Kyoto Tower stands on top of a typical commercial building, which contains souvenir shops, restaurants and a hotel, as well as a public bath in the basement.
Ninja were a type of warriors during Japan's feudal periods, specialized in gathering information about the enemy and conducting various acts of espionage and sabotage.
The Iga School of ninjutsu, which is based in Iga Ueno, was one of Japan's leading ninja schools, along with the Koka School in neighboring Shiga Prefecture.
The small but well
done Iga Ninja Museum delivers a comprehensive ninja experience: it
consists of a ninja residence, two exhibition halls and a stage which
hosts ninja shows.
The shows are held in Japanese only, but they are still highly entertaining for non-Japanese speakers as most of the action speaks for itself.
The castle consists of the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various supporting buildings and several gardens. It is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
It was the residencial palace of the Tokugawa shoguns in Kyoto, who had been ruling Japan for over 260 years from 1603 to 1868. The wide moat, massive stone walls, and heavy elaborate gates are still impressive.
Inside the palace are several masterpieces of Japanese art, most notably the painted screens of the main chamber. In this room the shoguns met the daimyo (high-ranking warlord-administrators) who sought an audience. The screens were painted by artists of the Kano school and use rich colors and large amounts of gilt to depict flowers, trees, birds and tigers. Another well-known feature in the palace is the famous "nightingale floors," which were designed to squeak when steped on and thus alert guards to any intruders.
Access: A short walk from City Bus Stop Nijo-jo-mae (from JR Kyoto Station/Hankyu Railway Karasuma Station), or Nijo-jo-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line
Hours: 8:45-16:00 closing at 17:00
Closed: 12/26-1/4 and Tuesdays (Jul. Aug. Dec. Jan.) (If the Tuesday is a holiday, the castle closes the following day.)
