I loved Kyōto! For the wealth of its history, the beauty of its temples and the strong cultural and religious character of the city, Kyōto is, in my opinion, an essential place to visit during your trip to Japan.
I was among those travellers who felt this attraction toward Japan and who had a set of clichés in mind regarding the country. You could say that Kyōto offers a vast panorama of everything that Japan conjures to mind: the narrow alleys, the magnificent temples, the delicacy of the women's costumes, the quintessence of Japanese cuisine, the shades of colour that change with the seasons...
The spiritual atmosphere of Kyōto contrasts sharply with the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and I was particularly delighted to witness these two faces of Japan. If you were only to visit a few temples, do not miss the magnificent temples of Kiyomizu, Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion) and especially Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion).