Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Founded in 778, Kiyomizu-temple is one of Kyoto's oldest monasteries and was added to the World Heritage List in 1994. The Shimizu stage hanging in front of this hall is a precious cultural relic of Japan, surrounded by green trees. In spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, which is one of the famous places for appreciating cherry blossoms in Kyoto. In autumn, it becomes a holy place for appreciating maple trees.
With its gleaming gold tiers reflected in the lake below and a backdrop of forests and twisted pines, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) is an enchanting sight. Dating back to the 14th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions and among Japan’s most visited temples.
Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.