Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

Kyoto was established in 794 as Heian-kyo and remained official capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years until Meiji Restoration and following transfer of the imperial court to Tokyo in 1869. Kyoto today is the third largest city in Japan and boasts the highest density of the historic monuments. In 1994, UNESCO designated 17 historic monuments located in Kyoto and nearby cities of Uji and Otsu as World Heritage Site. This includes 13 Buddhist temples, 3 Shinto shrines and a castle. Among the 198 structures mostly constructed or designed during X-XVII cc., 38 are designated as National Treasures (the highest status of tangible cultural assets in Japan) and 160 as Important Cultural Properties. The book is lavishly illustrated by photos mainly shot by the author. It should be interesting for travelers, those who love Japanese history, culture and architecture and for everybody who wants to know more about our diverse world.