The world's oldest orchestral music, gagaku was imported from mainland China in ancient times. The melody is not based on a scale, yet the tunes are gentle, unmetered tones of continuous notes. The shakuhachi flute is a Buddhist instrument that brings enlightenment. The koto zither was much loved among the ancient aristocracy. The guitar-like shamisen entertains banquet guests in the flower districts. Discover the eternal tunes that harmonized the musical instruments' nature with human emotions.

Traditional woodblock prints in the ancient capital have a strong, distinct history. Their origins lie in the woodblock printing of Buddhist scriptures. Compared to the mass production of ukiyo-e prints that were popular with Edo (now Tokyo) residents, woodblock printers in Kyoto were more focused on quality over quantity, creating delicate, soft expressions of art with their honed skills. Discover the subtle, elaborate beauty through the expertise of the 3 artists involved in process.

Traditional Kyoto machiya townhouses have narrow entrances, and are long and deep. At the back lie small tsubo-niwa gardens, enclosed on all sides. Originally serving to light and ventilate the house, they enabled residents to comfortably endure the intense, summer heat. Over time, people applied their simple, austere aesthetic sensibilities to create beauty in these confined spaces. Discover the wisdom behind these gardens through the local lifestyle and the expertise of the landscape artists.