In the 10th century samurai guarding the emperor and aristocrats began to wear colorful armor, reflecting the capital's elegance. High-ranking samurai practiced mounted warfare, shooting arrows from horseback. When infantry warfare became the norm, armor lost its practicality and became a symbol of a samurai's power. The elaborate armor they commissioned involved dying, weaving, lacquer, and metal artisans. Discover the beauty within samurai armor that is now upheld as the ultimate in craftwork.

Minamiyamashiro, in the very south of Kyoto Pref., was once an important transportation hub, and many Buddhist temples were built to spiritually watch over this secluded region. Around the 15th century, the area escaped the civil unrest that razed Kyoto, and its valuable temples and treasures, some of which are more than a millennium old, survived unscathed. Discover the 11 remaining temples through the activities of a close-knit association that preserves Buddhist culture beyond denominations.