Japan: Kyoto & Western Honshu Island

Kyoto, formerly the imperial capital where royalty held court for over 1000 years, is one of Japan's most beautiful cities. In the 21st century Kyoto remains the cultural capital with over 2000 temples & shrines.  Featuring: Kyoto Train Station, 400 year old Nishiki Market, Gion Teahouses and Arashiama District Gardens including Tenru-ji Zen Temple & Garden, Moss Garden & Bamboo Forest. Remarkably, twenty percent of Kyoto's population is involved in the kimono industry making and displaying a wide variety of kimonos, with the most expensive and elaborate going to the traditional female Japanese entertainers... Geisha, Geiko and Maiko (Geisha in training). Maiko serve a several year apprenticeship and the viewer is introduced to one of these extraordinary young ladies. Cherry Blossoms are Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture. Most of the cherry tree varieties only bloom for a couple of days in spring and festivals abound! Himeji Castle was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives in its original form today.  It is considered one of three fine examples of Japanese Castle architecture in the world and is both a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site. Hiroshima is a graphic reminder of the costs of nuclear war. Miyajima Island (Shrine Island), once the sole bastion of holy men, is now a popular resort destination with several sites of historic significance, roaming deer and monkeys atop 1700' Mount Misan.