Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is an ancient mysterious city, once been Japan’s old capital and the emperor’s residence from 794 until 1868. Over the centuries wars and fires destroyed the city, but today Kyoto rises with its beautiful gardens, temples and shrines. Left, a purification ceremony with period costumes at the Jonengu shrine.
Kyoto is located in a valley, part of the Yamashiro (or Kyoto) Basin. The Yamashiro Basin is surrounded on three sides by mountains known as Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama, with a height just above 1000 meters above sea level. The picture displays Shosei-en Garden at Higashi Hongan-ji Temple.
A tea ceremony performed by local high school students at Shosei-en Garden was organized by the Tale of Genji Association
Kyoto sits atop a large natural water table that provides the city with freshwater wells. Due to large scale urbanization, the amount of rain draining into the table is dwindling and wells across the area are drying at an increasing rate.
The park surrounding the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where emperors and nobles once lived.
