|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edited by: Declan Murphy Recommended: Suggested Itineraries Favorite Kyoto moments... Best ways to get there Kyoto Photogallery Newsgroups: fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ Bulletin Boards: Fun/Clubs/nightlife  Accommodation/Discounts |
"Evening began to fall. "The Gion music will soon begin," said the elder daughter. "I can't imagine living any place where I would be out of earshot of the Gion music in summer." That rules out the rest of the world, and even most of Kyoto, other than a few square blocks."
Alex Kerr, Lost Japan
Yasaka (Gion) Shrine | Gion Festival | Maruyama park | Pleasure quarters | Pontocho | Teramachi | Shijo Street Shopping
Teramachi
Literally - the Temple district, this part of Kyoto obtained its name during the late 1500's when Toyotomi Hideyoshi decided to rebuild Kyoto as his capital and Kyoto finally began to recover from a century of war. In 1583 he began to relocate many of the more popular temples into two areas along Termachi-dori in central Kyoto (mostly temples of the Jodo sect) and Teranouchi-dori (mainly the Nichiren sect) just further north. Despite the ravishes of war, fire, time and commercialization - many remain.
The most famous name would be Honno-ji temple. It was here that Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by one of his generals (Akechi Mitsuhide) and trapped - forcing him to kill himself (seppuku) and his family. The current temple though is in a different location, a few streets north of where the temple of Oda Nobunaga's time stood.
His successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built a protective wall along the eastern edge of the city, this is now the street known as Kawaramachi-dori. It was opened as a street after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and became a street of shops between Oike-dori and Shijo-dori. This is an entertainment area with many small shops, restaurants and some theaters.
Another interesting part of this area is the Nishiki-koji market. It is just north of Shijo-dori, and runs from Shinkyogoku-dori (Nishiki Tenman Shrine) to Takakura-dori (near the Daimaru Department store). There has been a public market here since the Heian period, though it was interuppted by the terrible warfare of the 1500's. The Christian missionary St Francis Xavier visited during this time and wrote "Kyoto was formerly a very large city; but now, on account of the perpetual calamities it has undergone in war, it is a great part in ruins and waste." When peace was restored by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he quickly re-established the market. Often referred to as "the kitchen of Kyoto", this market street is stone paved and there are something like 120-150 vendors here selling everything from fresh fish, vegetables, and dry goods, to boiled fish paste, pickled vegetables, and sweets. The usual holiday is Wednesday, though the fishmongers usually close on Sundays. Listening to the shouts of the traders, tasting the delicacies and taking in the aromas and atmosphere is interesting.
Yasaka (Gion) Shrine | Gion Festival | Maruyama park | Pleasure quarters | Pontocho | Teramachi | Shijo Street Shopping
1: From Kyoto Station:
Take the XXXX subway line to XXXX Station or take the #206 or #207 bus to the Gion bus stop.
2: From Okazaki:
Take the Kaisoku (Express) from JR Okazaki Station to JR Mikawa Anjo (10 minutes) or JR Nagoya Station (28 minutes). Change to a west bound Kodama shinkansen. Then take the XXXX subway line to Shijo Station. As of writing, the tickets cost XXXX yen one way and the journey takes about XXXX minutes not including the train change.
Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visits the Teramichi District
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.
Photographs and contributions
Do you have good photographs or a story to share about Kyoto? Please share it with us.
Bulletin Boards & Newsgroups
Fun/Clubs/Nightlife
Accommodation/Discounts
fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ
Disclaimer and Request:
Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.
|
www.yamasa.org content is created and maintained by
Declan Murphy and the students and
staff of the
Yamasa Institute's Multimedia Studio. This site is copyright Yamasa - All rights reserved.
C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S
