Japan 1987: Kyoto - The Imperial Capital...

"Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it..." - Ted Williams

Kyoto

(18 - 19 October 1987)

The participants for the Long Term Credit Bank Seminar had a chance to visit Kyoto for the weekend. We visited shrines, temples and other interesting places and attended a Traditional Japanese Cultural Show.

From Tokyo we took the train to Kyoto. Kyoto, known as Heiankyo and Miyako in the medieval period, was founded in 793. Like previous Japanese capitals, it was originally laid out in a grid pattern derived from China. Civil wars, especially that between the Taira and Minamoto clans in the 12th century and the Nin war, caused great destruction in the capital, and it has been periodically ravaged by fire, most recently in 1864. Although the shogunate was at times based elsewhere, Kyoto remained the seat of the imperial court until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and is still a major cultural centre.

(Attending a Tea Ceremony)

The Imperial Capital of Japan for a thousand years until it moved to Tokyo in the 19th century, Kyoto is a beautiful city if you can ignore the modern centre. Walking the quiet back streets is fascinating, there's an ancient temple and walled garden around every corner and we could even watched a few Maiko, ornately dressed young Geisha, taking a leisure walk around the Gion and Pontocho districts in the evenings.

(Kiyomizu Temple)

All You who Sleep Tonight

All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right
And emptiness above -

Know that you aren't alone
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years.

-(Vikram Seth)-

👈 1987: Hong Kong

1987: Tokyo, Japan 👉