Kyoto, Japan's most historically important town, is the country's sightseeing capital, packed with 1,700 Buddhist temples, 300 Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, gardens and traditional wooden homes, all well preserved and presenting a picture of traditional Japanese culture. The city lies in the mid-western Kansai district on the island of Honshu, surrounded by plains full of rice paddies.

Visitors arriving from the Kansai International Airport or on board the famous Shinkansen bullet train at Kyoto's modern central station may be disenchanted to initially discover a thriving, overcrowded industrial city with a straight grid of uniform streets presided over by the futuristic Kyoto Tower. The city may present a modern face, but explore behind the scenes in the outer districts or off the beaten track in the old merchants' quarters and you will glimpse cameos and images of traditional Japan, from cherry blossom to geishas, and bonsai trees to shoji screens.

Apart from the architectural legacy, which was fortunately spared the heavy bombings inflicted on other Japanese cities during World War II, Kyoto also boasts some of Japan's most significant art works, a culturally traditional way of life, and superior cuisine. No visit to Japan is complete without devoting time to experience Kyoto.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Address: Kyoto

Admission: Free Daily tours at 10am and 2pm, except weekends. Closed for official functions and from 28 December to 4 January.

Telephone: (0)75 211 1215

To-ji

Address: 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku Kyoto

Admission: ¥500 admission is charged for the Main Hall and pagoda Daily 9am-4:30pm (September to mid-March); 9am-5:30pm (mid-March to August).

Telephone: (0)75 671 9612

Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)

Address: 1 Kinkaku-ji-cho Kita-ku, Kyoto Kyoto

Admission: ¥400 (adults), ¥300 (children) Daily 9am-5pm.

Sanjusangen-do

Address: Shichijo Dori Kyoto

Admission: ¥600 (adults), ¥300 (children) Daily 8am-5pm (April to mid-November); 9am-4pm the rest of the year.

Telephone: (0)75 525 0033

Gion

Address: Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera

Address: Kyoto

Admission: ¥300 adults, ¥200 students Daily 6am-6pm.

Telephone: (0)75 551 1234

Katsura Imperial Villa

Address: Kyoto

Admission: Free The villa may be visited only on pre-arranged conducted tours organised by the Imperial Household Agency, with tours held each weekday, Sundays and occasional tours on Saturdays. Tours are in Japanese only, and can be arranged at the office of the Imperial Household Agency next to the Imperial Palace in central Kyoto. Closed 28 December to 4 January and for imperial functions.

Telephone: (0)75 211 1215 (Imperial Household Agency)

Nara

Address: Kyoto

Minamiza Kabuki Theatre

Address: Kyoto

Admission: ¥2,500 to ¥15,000, depending on if time of day and how many acts seen.