Question 1

I went to Kyoto last February. It was my first trip to Kyoto and we visited several sites such as Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kinkakuji temple, and Kiyomizu-dera temple.

Question 2

I've only seen these buildings in my architecture books before. I was amazed at how well-preserved the building features are. Sadly, it was raining the whole day during our trip so it was a little inconvenient to use our umbrellas while going around.

Question 3

Kinkakuji temple’s official name is Rokuon-ji but because of its golden facade it is more commonly as "The Golden Temple". It was the site of the villa of aristocrats Saionji Kintsune, known as Kitayamadai. Since then, many clans have been taking care of it and it has become one of the must-see destinations when you visit Kyoto.

Question 4

Kinkakuji is a designated World Heritage site. It is the focal point of a large estate with a lush landscape. In the past, this is where important guests were brought. They would have a tea ceremony while overlooking a picturesque view of the pond.

Question 5

I would like to visit Kyoto again and witness the Arashiyama Hanatoro in December. I've read that they place thousands of lanterns along Arashiyama Bamboo grove and you can also see some flower arrangements "ikebana" at night.

Question 6

In terms of comparing the built environment of Kyoto and Osaka, Kyoto has strict building design regulations. Thus, whenever a new building is proposed it has to go through a rigorous process. They have to follow building height limits and they need to incorporate certain materials into their design. They strongly put emphasis on adapting to the site context and making sure that the new building blends in with existing buildings, especially the traditional ones. Osaka's built environment on the other hand embraces eccentricity and you'll notice that buildings do not conform to a certain design style.

Tough Vocabulary

Question 1

The last time I went to Kyoto was in 2019. My father was visiting Japan, so I took him sightseeing. It was very easy to go there from my house in Osaka. I lived on the Hankyu line, so we visited the Pokemon Center before visiting some famous temples and shrines.

Question 2

It was very good because my father really enjoys going to new places and trying new food. We ate ramen for dinner.

Question 3

Kenninji is a famous temple in Kyoto. It is my favorite temple because it is the oldest zen temple in Japan and I think it has the most beautiful features. The dragons painted on the ceiling, the Fuujin and Raijin byoubu, and the zen rock garden are among the many beautiful things you can see there.

Question 4

Kenninji, like many other temples in Kyoto, is very popular with both tourists and local people. The reason is obvious when you visit. It is such a beautiful place to visit. I always want to show my visiting friends and family members.

Question 5

Every year in May there is an event called Yabusame Shinji, or horseback archery. I have never been to this event, but I would really love to go someday. It would be extremely exciting to have archers on horses rush by while shooting arrows at their targets.

Question 6

I think Kyoto and Osaka are extremely different. Osaka is a much bigger city with tons of large buildings and malls. Downtown is always crowded not only with tourists, but many locals who are just going through their routine. Kyoto is a smaller and much more humble city. They don't have so many large buildings and they keep the architecture simple yet sophisticated to match the local culture. It is crowded, but the crowd feels a lot different because there are more tourists than locals.

Tough Vocabulary