5. Ninomaru Palace To protect the occupants from sneak attacks and assassins, the builders constructed the floors of the corridors in such a way as to squeak like birds when anyone walks on them.
18. Fushimi Inari Shrine is the most famous of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari across Japan. Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes are thought to be his messengers. Therefore, many fox statues can be found at Inari shrines. Fushimi Inari Shrine is also famous for the countless torii gates, offerings by worshippers, that cover the hiking trails of Inarisan, the wooded mountain behind the shrine's main buildings. It takes about two hours to walk along the whole trail.
41. Gion Gion is famous as the geisha district. The narrow streets are lined with teahouses and restaurants. In the evenings, you might even spot a Geisha or Maiko – a geisha apprentice.
42. We happen to be in the right spot at the right time! The best time to see any Geisha and Maiko is around and just after sunset. Get there a little bit early and you can watch the crowds gathering with their cameras. At stages you feel a bit like a member of the Paparazzi. There is a sighting and everybody rushes to take photographs.
