the main island of Japan.

本州的西部

This city, regarded as one of Japan's most beautiful,

這個城市，被視為日本最美麗的地方之一

wore the country's imperial robes for over 1,000 years,

是日本千年來的帝都

until Tokyo became the modern capital in 1868.

直到東京在 1868 年成為了現代的首都

Emerging from ultra-modern Kyoto Station, you may wonder,

從超現代的京都站出現，你可能會想

“where are the centuries of culture and tradition this city is famous for?”

這個城市幾世紀來著名的文化與與傳統到底在哪？

And as you look down upon the gridded streets from Kyoto Tower,

但當你從京都塔上往下看到那些整齊交錯的街道時

you might even be forgiven for thinking you've arrived at the wrong city.

你將會對你有來錯城市這個想法而感到抱歉

Yet, the old Kyoto is all around you, and more often than not,

然而，舊京都不只是你週遭看得見的事物

it's right under your nose.

更多的是你聞的到氣味

From Kyoto Tower, head east,

從京都塔直到川口東頭

and push through the curtains of the downtown's high-rise,

並揭開市中心內高樓大廈的簾幕

into the streets of Gion.

一直到祗園・花見小路

It is here, in this historic entertainment quarter,

在這裡，在這個歷史悠久的娛樂區

that you'll begin to catch glimpses

你將有機會一窺

of one of Kyoto's most alluring traditions,

京都最具吸引力的傳統之一

the geisha.

藝伎

Refined, artistic and otherworldly,

精緻，藝術且超凡脫俗

the geisha are the very embodiment of old Kyoto.

藝伎就是古京都的化身

Venture further east,

進一步往東部探索

into narrow alleyways like Ishibe Koji,

進入狹窄的石塀小路

and feel the echoes of the past

在整排京都風的房屋中感受

amid the rows of traditional Kyoto-style houses.

過去的歷史在迴聲中擺盪

It's in areas like this you'll find some of Kyoto's finest Ryokan.

在這個地區你會發現一些京都最好的旅館

These traditional inns originated in the Edo period,

這些傳統的客棧起源於江戶時代

and are the perfect places to lay your head and dream of days gone by.

是個能讓你與過去連結的完美地方

Just a rickshaw ride away,

而這人力車路過的地方

are the traffic-free streets of Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka.

是無車輛通行的街道三年坂與二年坂

Explore the traditional teahouses and crafts shops,

探索這些傳統茶館和工藝品店

then retrace the steps of generations of worshipers

走在好幾代信徒為了向山頂寺廟參拜

who made their way to and from the nearby hilltop temples.

所建造的街道

Kyoto is known as “the city of 10,000 shrines”,

京都也被稱為萬神殿

and it would take a lifetime to experience them all. Kyoto residents'

這將會花費你一生的時間把它們全都拜訪完

place enormous importance in the seasons. And just like the seasons,

對東京的居民來說季節十分重要 而就像四季一樣

every place of worship has its own colours, … its own mood.

每個地方的信仰都有屬於它的顏色與氛圍

There are places of spacious austerity, such

也有許多廣闊且樸實的地方

as the Heian Shrine,

像是平安神宮

dedicated to the first, and the last,

祭祀的是第一位和最後一位

of the city's emperors. And intimate places,

以平安京 (京都) 為首都的天皇 而另一個關係密切的地方

such as the Shorenin Temple, where you are invited to sit,

青蓮院，在這裡你可以坐下

and quietly contemplate the gardens outside.

靜靜地注視外面的花園

Visit temples dominated by stone, such as the Kiyomizadera,

參觀以石頭為主的寺廟，清水寺

one of the most revered in Japan.

日本最受尊崇的地方之一

And others crafted from ancient timbers, such as Tofukuji,

而另一個由千百年木材製作而成的地方，東福寺

loved for its covered bridges which span valleys filled with maple and spruce.

以它那跨越滿是楓木雲杉山谷的廊橋所被人喜愛

Water is an integral and unifying element

水是所有京都信仰中

in all of Kyoto's places of worship.

不可或缺的元素

At the Kodai Temple,

在高台寺

let your thoughts drift across a raked gravel garden

讓你的思緒穿過

which represents the infinite ocean.

代表了無限的海洋漂移的礫石花園

For a water feature with a difference, visit Nanzenji,

想對水有另一種了解，請訪問南禪寺

and rest beneath the arches of a 19th- century aqueduct,

並在一個 19 世紀渡槽的拱門上休息片刻

which still supplies much of the city's water.

而它持續提供這個城市許多的水源

But of all Kyoto's temples,

但所有京都的寺廟

nothing quite compares to Fushimi Inari-taisha.

很少有能和伏見稻荷大社相提並論的

Dedicated to the fox spirit, Inari,

祭祀著狐仙，伊納裡

this temple complex spans an entire mountainside.

這個寺廟建築群跨越了整個山腰

From the main shrine,

從正殿

climb the extraordinary two and a half mile path lined with 10,000 tori gates.

爬上一條 2.5 英里長的千本鳥居

Along the way there are thousands of smaller shrines

一路上有成千上萬的小神社

where you can pay your respects or simply catch your breath,

在那裡你可以虔心的參拜，或者乾脆在

before arriving at the summit two hours later.

到達山頂前先喘口氣，因為可是還有兩小時的路程呢

It's not just within the streets and temples where you'll find old Kyoto.

在古京都內可不只有街道和寺廟

You'll find it the palace grounds of Nijo Castle,

在二條城內的宮殿庭園

and in the fleeting cherry blossom season

你將會發現那短暫櫻花盛開的季節

which reminds us of the preciousness of time.

提醒了我們時間的珍貴

It resides amid the whispering leaves and

這是嵐山裡靜謐

the ethereal light of the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama,

空靈的嵯峨野竹林

and in the Zen-like calm of the city's resident monkeys.

還有舉止像禪宗般平靜的猴子

You'll find old Kyoto in the rising steam

你可以在涮涮鍋上升的蒸汽中

of a communal dishes like shabu shabu,

在人力車的柔軟的腳踏墊上

in the gentle pad of the rickshaw pullers' footsteps,

你都可以發現舊京都的蹤影

and it can certainly be found as evening falls

或是夜幕降臨時活像燈籠的城市街景裡

and the city lights up like a living lantern.

你也一定可以找到它

Perhaps it's then, beneath the glow of the city's lights,

也許，在城市的燈光光暈之下

you'll realize that there is no old Kyoto. Kyoto is timeless,

你會體悟到根本沒有甚麼舊京都 因為京都是永恆的

it exists equally in the echoes of the past and in the ringtones of today.

它在過去的迴聲和今天的鈴聲中同樣存在著

As the world rushes by on the river of time, Kyoto is but a series of perfect moments,

在世界被時間的河流奔流湧過，京都也無非是一系列完美的時刻

each to be savored and enjoyed.

且每個片刻都被被細細回味與享受

Kyoto is Kyoto, here, now and forever.

京都便是京都，在這，當下和永恆