And here I present the planning for our third day on Japanese soil. We in the former capital, Heian-kyo, Kyoto and we will present a nice walk through the center of your map. This is the outline of the route, a route that combines temples and shopping:

Here a detail of the road between the hotel and Higashi

01 - Higashi Hongan-ji本愿寺

Founded in 1602 as a branch "rival" of Nishi Hongan-ji, the Higashi Hongan-ji is not only a temple but also the Mausoleum of Shinran Shonin (1173-1262), founder of Jodo Shin Buddhism.> Larger than its Western counterpart, the Higashi Hongan-ji is also more austere in its decoration. Perhaps it is due to the fact that caught fire several times in history and its present buildings only date back to 1895.
However, the Board of the Founders or "Goei-do" (护卫 堂) is one of the largest wooden structures in the world.

Walking among the Hall of the Founder and Amida Hall, take note of the glass box containing a "kezuna" (毛 纲), a rope made of human hair. When construction of the Goei-do, difficulties arose as to how to lift heavy timbers. The shortage of ropes made the devout comventional cut their hair to weave the strings.

During the Meiji Restoration in 1860, the government set new guidelines for the management of religious organizations. An organization called Shinshu Otani was put in control of the Higashi Hongan-ji. In 1987, this temple was renamed the "Shinshu Honbyō" or Shinshu Mausoleum. Although the temple is therefore, officially, no longer "Higashi Hongan-ji", most still regard it as such. The buildings have not been changed or moved, and of course, the cultural and historical religious site can not be changed.

- Planning: stay 30 minutes, from 7:45 to 8:30.
- Location: 10 minutes north of Kyoto Station.
- Price: Free.
- Hours: 5:50 to 17:30 and closing days.

The journey from the temple to the Kyoto Tower is not lost, we as a reference point. The photo below is taken from the door to the temple grounds, and the tower watching us from the bottom:

Almost every city has a tall tower that is its symbol and from the locals and tourists can contemplate. The most famous tower in Japan is undoubtedly the famous Tower of Kyoto.

This beautiful tower is 131 meters high and is located just across from Kyoto station. It is the tallest building in the city and one of his most famous icons despite sharing the fame with a lot of temples and shrines.

The Kyoto Tower was completed in 1964. It has an observation platform located about 100 meters above the ground and from there you have a 360 degree view of the whole city and even the Bay of Osaka if when getting on a clear day and there is good visibility.

Below the tower are many shopping venues as with the tower of the capital city, souvenirs, gifts, some restaurants and even a hotel that advertises in the evening with a notice of neon lights. And even in the basement runs a public restroom.

- Planning: Stay 1:15 from 8:45 to 10:00.
- Location: Located north of Kyoto Station and 10 minutes from Higashi Hongan-ji Temple.
- Price: 770 yen.
- Hours: 9:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:40), not close any day.

This image is level the way from the tower to the Shrine Toji:

Extension Part 1, to the west from the tower:

Up to this crossing, where we turn south:

Now head west to get to this intersection:

Final extension, straight to the west:

Toji temple means of this, the Kyoto religious foundations were formed here, and Buddha saved the city where Kukai founded the temple en796. Toji Kukai turned into the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism. In Kodo, there are 21 statues that make up a three-dimensional mandala in the center of which is Daiichinorai, the cosmic Buddha who first articulated the esoteric teachings. Each of these and other images of about 1,200 years old are carved from a single block of wood.

The great pagoda of Toji, the highest wooden structure in Japan - 55m - is a symbol of Kyoto, was rebuilt in 1644. Inside lie the four Buddha images.

Above all pass through here to see the flea market Garakuta-ichi, which is every Sunday and is dedicated exclusively to antiques.

- Planning: Stay 1:30 from 10:00 to 11:30.
- Location: Located north of Kyoto Station and 10 minutes from Higashi Hongan-ji Temple.
- Prices: It's a market ...
- Hours: 9:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:40), not close any day.

After the market back to Kyoto Station, which is basically doing the above path in reverse.

4 - and 5 Kyoto Station - Station Imadegawa
Leaving the market back to Kyoto station, there we take the Karasuma line to Imadegawa Station (5 stops later - 250Y). From here we descend to the door-Mon Seisho access to the Imperial Palace of Kyoto.

6 - Imperial Palace

We will visit the palace on Sunday, so there is no guided tours, so just do some pictures around, if you want a guided tour included (in English), all precincts imperial Japan are visited by booking a visit with some in advance. This reservation you can make it here , but in Japanese time (from 00:00 to Spanish and only up to 3 months in advance).

- Planning: Stay 1:00 from 12:00 to 13:00.
- Location: Located north of Kyoto Station, in the heart of the city, accessible from the Karasuma line.
- Price: Free.
- Schedule: The booking office is open from 8:45 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00
- Link: http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/kyoto.html

After the visit to the former Imperial Palace Imadegawa back to the station (Point 7), here, as we catch the 13:17 Karasuma subway line in the direction of KARASUMAOIKE station (2 stops later in the opposite direction to the previous trip - 250Y) . At this station we have to switch to the Tozai Line (Point with direction-MAE Nijo Castle where we will arrive at the most at 13:30 on 210Y. Well, we are nowhere near Nijo Castle Gate, but before we get to eat. For example, in this Kentucky Fried Chicken ...

9 - Nijo Castle二条城

In 1601 Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered all the feudal lords to contribute to the construction of Nijo Castle. Construction was completed during the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. During the Tokugawa shogunate was the capital Edo, but Kyoto was where the imperial court was located.

The central castle or donjon was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1750. In 1788, the palace interior was destroyed by a fire that swept through the city. The site was virtually abandoned until 1893.

In 1867, the Palace was the place Ninomaru which Tokugawa Yoshinobu declared that he was returning authority to the Imperial Court in Kyoto. The following year, members of the cabinet were installed Jan castle. In 1939 the palace was donated to the city of Kyoto and opened to the public the following year.

This complex dates from the early seventeenth century and was once home to the first Tokugawa shogun. It's beautiful, both in its structure, and its spectacular gardens. The first thing that catches your attention was the Kara-mon gate which I introduced yesterday. Made of wood and covered with gold leaf.

Once inside, the complex has two palaces with many rooms. During the visit is forbidden to take pictures. Inside we were presenting different rooms of the Tokugawa court. Mannequins dressed in samurai representing various scenes from the history, politics and court life of feudal Japan. The roof and wall paintings are fabulous.

In a visit to Nijo-jo, which more often draw attention is the nightingale floor. With a structure below ground cloves, the shogun installed this mechanism to warn of the arrival of intruders. It's so funny to walk and see that with each step sounds the "song of a nightingale." Unless you be a little ninjas, the floor creaks.

The second major attraction of Nijo Castle, Kyoto gardens are:

The garden is a sample Ninomaru shoin zukuri style on a large scale. The original design of the garden is said to be the work of Kobori Enshu, a master landscape designer and master of tea ceremony. The garden was renovated in 1626 when the new palace was built in the southern part of the garden by Emperor Gomizuno-o. The garden is located between the two main rings of defense, near the palace of the same name. The garden has a large pond with three small islands in the center is the so-called Island of Eternal Happiness (Horai-jima), which is flanked by two smaller islands, Isle of Stork (Tsuru-jima) and La Turtle Island (Kam-jima).

The Seiryu-en garden is the newest building of the castle. It was built in 1965 in the northern part of the complex in order to receive In official visitors of the city of Kyoto and to be the scene of cultural events. Blends elements of Japanese style, as the lagoon and over a thousand stones carefully placed, with Western elements, such as grass. The Seiryu-en garden has two teahouses-the Koun-tei and Waraku-an - that are used in public ceremonies and official receptions. The garden covers an area of ​​16,500 square meters.