Seeing Kyoto

by Juliet Winters Carpenter

Tokyo may be the capital of Japan, but Kyoto is its heart and soul. The rich textures of twelve centuries of culture seem to have woven themselves into the very air. How else could you explain the centuries-old feel of the Gion quarter, where geisha still ply their trade? Or the quiet dignity of the cobblestone back streets lined with traditional wooden houses?
Seeing Kyoto captures all the elegance and charm of Japan's most beloved city with dozens of stunning images. One can imagine the days when aristocrats and samurai inhabited these neighborhoods. With insightful text, long-time Japan resident juliet Carpenter delves into the cultural history of Kyoto, as well as its treasures-artistic, culinary, and historical. She also introduces the neighboring city of Nara, often referred to as "little Kyoto." Finally, Carpenter tackles the clash of old and new: how Kyotoites, in their inimitable vigor, are turning the traditions of yesterday into the strengths of today.
With a lyrical foreword by tea master Sen Soshitsu, Seeing Kyoto offers an unparalleled view of one of the world's finest cities. It explores everything from the ancient palaces to sacred temple grounds, classic Japanese gardens to treasured artworks-in short, a deluxe volume not to be missed.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Travel, Photography

96 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2005

About the author

Juliet Winters Carpenter (1948–2026) was an American translator of modern Japanese literature. Her translations of novels have won awards.

Reviews

[books.bananatoes]

Good intro, doesnt get a star rating cuz its nonfiction

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully perceptive and characteristic photos of a city, revealing the inner as well as outer life of its people. Kyoto is one of those places that bears repeated inspection and that changes with every season. Although I was only there for a few weeks in May, I vicariously lived through the seasons with this lovely book. My only quibble is that there's a sort of glossy "tourist brochure" aesthetic at work that doesn't seem in keeping with some of the more modern aspects of the city.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great coffee-table book on Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. The photographs are fantastic.

The four parts of this book are:

Part 1: Kyoto in History
Part 2: Kyoto Culture and Life
Part 3: Nara in History
Part 4: Kyoto and Nara Today

I enjoyed reading the historical reviews of Kyoto and Nara. They were brief but informative. Well worth reading if planning a visit to Kyoto, although too large to lug around with you. A great book to have on your coffee table.

[Powersamurai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice coffee table book on Kyoto with a concise history of Kyoto.

[Sshelline]

Text is brief, but the illustrations are beautiful.