In Kyoto you can find both landscapes and culture that are distinctly Japanese. The city provides intimate views of well-preserved architecture, set against exquisite backdrops of rolling mountains and meandering rivers lined with tile-roofed houses. Once, the city outskirts were dotted with fields of rice and vegetables, and the bases of the surrounding mountains were spotted with temples and shrines, recreational areas, and sites for villas. No exploration of Japanese culture can be considered complete without a look at some of the countless cultural assets to be found in Kyoto, such as the streets of Gion and Nishijin, the unique Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Katsura Villa, and the Tachu-jiin, in the Daitokuji Temple compound, with its charming tea-houses showing the spiritual.phpects of the ancient culture.