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THE beauty of the cherry blossom (known as sakura in Japanese) season from end of March to the beginning of April makes Japan one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Though these flowers make a brief appearance, roads lined with sakura trees are a dazzling sight. Not surprisingly, this time is peak tourist season. Kyoto is a city blessed with a historical and cultural legacy as well as natural beauty. The city is dotted with thousands of Buddhist temples and shrines, many of which are Unesco world heritage sites like the gold and silver pavilions, Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji, Kiyomizu dera, Fushimi Inari-Taisha and Kitano Tenmangu. Most of these shrines are spartan, elegant and tranquil and set in beautifully landscaped grounds and verdant hills. Made of wood and bamboo, the design philosophy is highly sophisticated, tending towards simple, straight lines integrated with the grounds around them. Kiyomizu dera (pure water temple) is one of the most popular temples set in the hills. It houses the Kannon Bodhisattva, goddess of mercy. A walk through the spectacular surrounding area affords panoramic views of the city. Kifune-Jinja shrine, half an hour north of Kyoto by train, is another memorable sight. Set on the slope of a steep hill, the approach is dotted with red lanterns. It is a rewarding hike that ends in a cozy restaurant at the bottom of the hill with top quality Japanese food. There are so many temples and shrines that are worth visiting. But temple fatigue may set in after a while. The philosopher's path, a tree lined path along a canal, is a great break. A variety of vibrant spring colours along the path make this walk quite enchanting and relaxing. If the peace and tranquillity gets too much for urban animals, you can always head to Shijo Dori, Kyoto's Oxford Street. Starting with Daimaru, an upmarket department store with a fabulous food court, the shopping street has all global luxury brands with a few Japanese temples redolent with incense tucked in between. Nishiki market, an open market where you can sample a variety of Japanese street food, is another place worth a visit though not recommended for vegetarians who may not appreciate the strong odours. You are most likely to see Geishas in the entertainment quarter called Gion, a collection of streets with carefully preserved old, wooden buildings, tea houses and traditional restaurants. Geishas with their elaborate kimonos, head gear and painted faces are usually spotted in the evenings on their way to entertain guests at tea houses. Despite westernisation, many women still wear kimonos in everyday life. It is well-worth spending a day in the Western outskirts of Kyoto called Arashimaya on rented bicycles. Surrounded by mountains, it is a good change from the temples and shrines. You can go boating on the lake, walk through the dense bamboo groves, or just laze by the river in this picturesque setting. This is also a good place to pick up small Japanese mementoes and gifts to take back home. What makes Japan such a pleasure to travel to is the politeness and eagerness to help that one encounters everywhere. Every sentence seemed to start and end with "arigato" — Japanese for thank you. If you ask for directions, locals not just indicate it but walk with you to show the way. Though most Japanese don't understand or speak English, their politeness more than makes up for it. But tourism is a well-organised industry and the staff in bus/train stations and hotels does understand and speak English. At no point do you feel like throwing up your hands up at not being able to communicate as you may feel in China. Food is expensive in Japan but it is possible to find cheaper options with a bit of research before going. Japan has exported sushi and sashimi to the entire world and you can gorge on reasonably priced delicious sushi while there. It is difficult to find vegetarian food but not impossible. One can found delicious noodle dishes in vegetable broth with yams and salads. Western fast food places are never too far away so there is a fall-back option. Best of all, Kyoto has an Indian restaurant called Kerala that had some of the best Indian food.
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