A Tale of Two Cities
For the spring of 2018, a group of 2 people just booked a 14 days journey with Fukuchan Ryoko in the heart of Japan's two main historic towns: Nara and Kyoto! Not only will they admire the several gorgeous sites of these cities, but will also explore with me the surrounding mountainous areas, in the land of serenity and cherry blossom. As a preparation, I will deepen this autumn my knowledge of the Nara prefecture. Stay tuned for my report! As a teaser, here a short presentation of these two beautiful towns, a must-see for a first visit to Japan!
The discovery of persistence At the beginning of the 8th century, a great change occurred in Japan. The city of Nara became the first capital of the empire which lasted more than the reign of one emperor. Before that, the capital always changed after the death of the emperor because of the Shinto belief that this place wasn't pure anymore. During the Nara period, the arts flourished and Buddhism was permanently established in Japan. Nowadays, Nara is a place of green serenity only disturbed by too many deer (and a few tourists) ;-).
1,000 years of tranquility and peace
At the end of the Nara period, the Imperial court moved to Heian-kyô (literally "tranquility and peace capital"), the city now known as Kyoto. It was the official capital of Japan for over 1,000 years.
With its almost uncountable amount of temples, shrines and other sights, Kyoto is a huge open-air museum. Like every other real famous cities, Kyoto is crowded with tourists, but besides the main attractions, it's still easy to experience the real atmosphere and enjoy an unforgettable time-trip in the old Japan.
