The Little Book of Kyoto

Description

The Little Book of Kyoto is a celebratory visual guide to one of the world's truly unique cities. Kyoto was Japan's imperial capital for one thousand years as well as its cultural birthplace. A companion to the best-selling travel book The Little Book of Japan, this captivating volume weaves words and images to form a rich tapestry of the fantastic sights of Kyoto including dozens of World Heritage Sites as well as gardens, temples, shrines, shopping areas, festivals, and food. A series of forty-eight essays organized into four chapters cover Kyoto's imperial legacy, cultural highlights, the city's Zen heritage, and its essential spirit. Veteran photojournalist Ben Simmons continues a journey of discovery begun over twenty-five years ago, seeking fresh insights and an immersive take on this endlessly compelling city combining history, art, cultural commentary, and travel tips. Small enough to carry anywhere, this book is the perfect guide for any visitor to Kyoto, whether planning a first trip or taking a more in-depth look beneath the surface of this ancient capital.

Ben Simmons grew up in Columbus, Georgia, and completed a Master of Fine Arts in photography and art history at the University of Florida. He has a degree in psychology from the State University of New York. Ben taught photography at Haystack Mountain School on Deer Isle, Maine, and was Photography Resident at Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, before moving to Japan, where he has been working as a professional photojournalist for more than 20 years. Recent books include Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art; Japanese Architecture; Tokyo Megacity; Kyoto: City of Zen; Tokyo Desire; and Japans Heilige Platze.

"The amount of tips in this book must have taken the author/photographer years to gather and his enthusiasm for everything Japanese rolls [right] off the colorful pages." --The Travel Tester "The Little Book of Kyoto is filled with gorgeous photographs and loaded with information about every area of the city in the form of short essays...Kyoto is definitely a place I would love to return to, and now I can return, if even for a short time by picking up this book and flipping through the pages." --Castle View Academy blog "In this compact volume, Simmons introduces readers to the most notable sites and experiences in Japan's ancient capital. Through vivid photography and easily digestible captions, he provides readers with a more human and personal window into Kyoto life...This book is a perfect handbag-sized companion for any traveler to Kyoto, be they first-time visitors or seasoned explorers looking for something more." -- Kyoto Journal