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.

Heian courtiers 1,200 years ago wore robes made of fabric dyed with medicinal herbs to produce colors of prayer for peace and to keep evil at bay. But most of these colors have been lost to time. Fascinated with these forgotten pigments, some Kyotoites are endeavoring to revive them and create new dyeing techniques. Discover how people have taken up the challenge by learning from the classics and the ancients, cultivating wild plants to be used for pigments, and making handcrafted garments.