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.

Kyoto artist Insho Domoto was prolific in the mid-20th century. He painted more than 600 dynamic sliding door paintings for Tofuku-ji, Chishaku-in and other major Buddhist temples in styles ranging from traditional Nihonga painting to innovative abstract painting. He has influenced a range of fields, such as sculpture, architecture, and the designs of traditional confectionery and accessories. Discover how "innovation is tradition" in Kyoto through works that reveal Domoto's creative spirit.

During the spring and fall tourist seasons Kyoto's shrines and temples open their usually hidden treasures to the public. The Buddhist statues and paintings, and other precious cultural assets that have survived centuries are threatened by degeneration, so special exhibitions are held to raise funds through entrance fees for repairing and preserving the objects. Discover Kyoto's fervor for preserving its cultural assets through the hidden treasures exhibited in Fushimi in spring 2016.