100 Kyoto Sights - by John Dougill (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Kyoto's top sights brought to life through the evocative words of long-term resident John Dougill and the stunning photography of Patrick Hochner.

Kyoto is the birthplace of Japanese culture--a fact that is evident in every corner of the city. Japan's ancient capital is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the famous Golden Pavilion and the fortified Nijo Castle. And though Kyoto is brimming with historic sites, its people are what make it special--from geishas and master craftsmen to the performers of Noh and the ordinary citizens who participate in its colorful Matsuri festivals.

Dougill and Hochner are longtime residents who help you discover the "real" Kyoto. Between the festivals and markets, restaurants and gardens, it would take you many trips to see all the 100 recommended sights. This book allows you to explore them all in one sitting, and is sure to provide plenty of inspiration for your next trip.

Review Quotes

"100 Kyoto Sights covers a lot of ground in a small book and would be a great gift for someone before they head off to Kyoto, or anyone interested in Japan or architecture." --Castle View Academy

"100 Kyoto Sights will become your go-to Kyoto guide for a lifetime." --Kyoto Journal

"If you haven't visited Kyoto or are planning on going to the city, the book serves as a possible list of places that you could visit. It's a high-level view of the city with some basic inside-resident tips from people that have lived in the city." --Daddy Mojo blog

About the Author

John Dougill was born in the UK and studied at Leeds and Oxford Universities. He has recently retired and is now professor emeritus at Ryukoku University in Kyoto. He runs the Green Shinto blog and is the organizer of Writers in Kyoto. He has written papers on Shinto and paganism as well as a study of Lafcadio Hearn, and amongst his many books on Japan are Kyoto: A Cultural History, Zen Gardens and Temples of Kyoto, Japan's World Heritage Sites, and In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians.

Patrick Hochner started taking photographs in his native Alsace, France, when he was 14, squatting the family bathroom for his darkroom. At around the same time, he started to be interested in traveling, in meeting other people, and discovering how they live. He has never stopped doing both, combining photography and travels, whenever possible, and has traveled over 100 countries in every part of the world. Arriving in Japan at the end of the 70's, he got married to a Japanese woman, and has called Japan his home for some 30 years. After falling in love with the city of Kyoto, the old imperial capital, he is now sharing his life between this city, Nice in France, and traveling. His main interest is currently the Hanamachi or so-called "flower districts" of Kyoto, an amazing secret world full of grace and beauty.