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A city of nearly 1.5 million, Kyoto was once the imperial capital of Japan. Though its history is venerable, today it is a bustling metropolis, where ancient temples can be found next to cosmopolitan shopping districts and history and architecture from every era are around each corner.

Many of Japan's National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties can be found in Kyoto. The UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" highlights 17 locations in and around the city. One of these is regal Nijo Castle, located in central Kyoto.

First erected in 1603 for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period, Nijo Castle later served as an imperial palace before becoming a public, historic site. Its structures are perhaps the best standing examples of Japanese architecture of the feudal era. The castle was built in two concentric rings: the honmaru is the main circle of defense, and the ninomaru is the secondary circle of defense. Stroll the gardens that surround these structures and marvel at the massive moats and stone walls.

Also in central Kyoto is lively Nishiki Market, a long, narrow, outdoor marketplace where you can wander at your leisure, discovering a wide variety of Kyoto's finest culinary delights. Begun as a fish market in 1310, the district grew and added a wider variety of shops over the years. It now is popular with tourists and locals alike! Kyoto is known for its delicious cuisine, which features many unique varieties of vegetables that were developed because of the Buddhist Temples here (where monks often ate a vegetarian diet) and the city's distance from the sea.

The options are almost endless for your day in Kyoto. Enjoy some shopping or a visit to one of the city's many museums, such as the impressive Kyoto National Museum, the serene Kyoto Botanical Gardens, or even the charming Tin Toy Museum, where you can see one man's impressive vintage toy collection!

After a full day of fun and freedom in Kyoto, head back to port with a camera full of photos and a head full of memories of this delightful city.