Customer Reviews

Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide

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The author has put a lot of TLC into writing this book and it shows. Aside from being a love letter to the city of Kyoto, it is a top-notch guidebook for anyone interested in exploring the temples of Kyoto. No other guidebook contains such carefully-researched and well-written descriptions of these temples. Though it was written decades ago, not much has changed at these sites, so don't let the date of publication deter you from using this book. I would highly recommend bringing this book along with the most recent edition of "Gateway to Japan" on your next trip to Kyoto.

This may well be the best guide book ever written -- period. It is divided into three parts. The first tells the history of Kyoto -- the capital of Japan for 1,000 years. Mosher uses a selection of historic sites throughout the greater Kyoto area as the "scenes" for the historical events as if this were the storyboard for an epic movie. He is an excellent narrator and you will enjoy this section as you would a good historical novel. In the second section he takes you on a self-guided tour of each of the sites from the first part of the book. Finally, the third section tells you how to get to each location using public transportation.

I lived and worked in Tokyo in the mid-to-late 1960s and bought this book when it was first published. I used to get up before the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings leaving my apartment just after 5 AM to get the Chuo LIne train to Tokyo Station where I caught the first bullet train to Kyoto at 6 AM. I'd get a room at an inn (from the travel kiosk in front of Kyoto Station) and then would spend Saturday and Sunday siteseeing returning to Tokyo late Sunday evening. After reading this book I started visiting the sites in the order they are presented. If you can find the time to do so I strongly suggest you do it that way. It's a wonderful experience. Be aware that some of the sites -- Sanzen-in and Jakko-in in Ohara and Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei are pretty much whole day trips. But if you want to see the real, historical Kyoto/Japan this is the way to do it.

I totally agree with the previous reviewer. This is the best and ONLY guidebook to Kyoto - the story of Kyoto's history through the story of a succession of temples and palaces, each of which typifies that period. Beautifully and gently written. Wonderful wonderful stuff. Tragically I've lost my copy. It shouldn't be so hard to find a new one. Tuttle, please reissue!!

The book, a gift to a brother on his way to Kyoto, arrived on time and has been praised by the recipient.