Kyoto Hotels & Tourism

Kyoto will satisfy a Fuji-sized appetite for the classic Japanese aesthetic.

Kyoto, with its hundreds of temples and gardens, was the imperial capital between 794 and 1868, and remains the cultural centre of Japan. Its raked pebble gardens, sensuously contoured temple roofs and mysterious ShintŠshrines fulfill the Japanese fantasy of every Western cliché hunter.

With an astonishing 1600 Buddhist temples, 400 ShintÅ shrines, a trio of palaces, and dozens of gardens and museums, Kyoto is Japan's cultural treasure house. Seventeen of Kyoto's ancient structures and gardens have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The city is commonly divided into five sections - the raku-chū (central), raku-tŠ(eastern), raku-hoku (northern), raku-sai (western) and raku-nan (southern) areas of town, plus raku-gai, which refers to the outskirts of the city. It's laid out on a rectangular grid system based on the classical Chinese concept, and is easy to navigate. The main business district is in the south and centre of town; the less populated northern parts have a far greener feel, and you can still find people tending the rice fields sandwiched between apartment buildings. Although many of the major sights are in the centre, the best of Kyoto's sightseeing is on the fringes of the city in the north, east and west.

Set aside several years if you want to learn to read Japanese. Japan has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, using three different scripts (four if you include the increasingly used Roman script romaji). Fortunately, for visitors to Japan, it's not all bad news. Unlike other Asian languages, Japanese is not tonal and the pronunciation system is fairly easy to master. In fact, with a little effort, getting together a repertoire of travellers' phrases should be no trouble - the only problem will be understanding what people say back to you.

Travellers to Kyoto, Japan can expect to find accommodation of all types, from upmarket Kyoto hotels and resorts to more budget-focussed and unique options. For your next holiday accommodation in Kyoto, make sure you check the regular and special offers on hotels.com.au first. Japan is host to a wide range of travel experience, suitable for all budgets. And Kyoto is a great place to visit, blending experiences such as exploring the Imperial Palace and meditating with famous attractions such as the cherry blossoms. And don’t forget shopping shopping for manga and anime on Teramachi St, and sample the famous matcha for an unforgettable Kyoto experience. Wherever you’re staying, hotels.com.au offers a huge range of Kyoto hotels and Kyoto accommodation options.