Houses and Gardens of Kyoto - by Thomas Daniell (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto presents over 500 photos of the most excellent examples of traditional Japanese architecture from every significant historical period in this new edition of a favorite classic.

Kyoto, considered the quintessential birthplace of Japanese culture, has survived centuries of damage and the onslaught of modernization, yet remains the undisputed home of the country's architectural and cultural history. This vibrant collection of Japanese garden design and landscaping photographs introduces a wide variety of traditional houses, from aristocratic villas, temple residences, and merchant townhouses, to ryokan inns and private retreats--each uniquely equipped with a garden space.

Houses And Gardens of Kyoto features residences--many of which have never before been photographed or shown in any other book--hand-picked by photographer Akihiko Seki. The accompanying text is informative and is sure to be a standard reference guide on the topic for years to come.

Each entry in this Japanese gardening and landscape design book is a colorful example of the most exquisite classic Japanese houses and garden styles and will serve as a lasting inspiration to anyone who is captivated by Japanese architecture and design.

Review Quotes

"Houses and Gardens of Kyoto is a coffee table book with more than just gorgeous photos. The descriptions, history, and details provided next to the photos are excellent as well...This is a great book, especially if you have been to Kyoto or are going at some point." -- Travel Japan blog

"Although Thomas Daniell provides extensive information about the domiciles and temples profiled, the highlights of this newly revised edition are decidedly visual. Akihiko Seki's beautiful color photographs (more than 500 in all) will surely take you back to places in Kyoto you (probably) visited." -- JQ Magazine

"The beautiful photos make the book almost feel like a photo album, but it doesn't stop there as the informative text turns the book into a fascinating historical study of Kyoto." --Japan Australia blog

"The book will plunge you into a complex world of well-organized traditional architecture and serene natural settings. You will learn the subtleties and secrets behind some of Kyoto's most remarkable houses and gardens. You will visit temples and ryokans and enjoy the changing seasons of their environment. The book is a great reference for Kyoto lovers as well as an enticing introduction for first-time visitors. I enjoyed learning so much and admiring the quiet beauty of the pictures!" --LittleAesthete.com blog

About the Author

Born in New Zealand, Thomas Daniell is a practicing architect who has been living and working in Kyoto since the early 1990s. Widely published, he is a contributing editor for the architecture journals Mark and Archis.

Born in Tokyo, Akihiko Seki spent over 20 years working outside of Japan. Since taking early retirement, he has traveled with his wife and cameras throughout Japan and Asia. He is the photographer and author of Asian Resorts and also photographed and co-authored Ryokan: Japan's Finest Spas and Inns.

New Foreword by Matthew Stavros an historian of early Japan at the University of Sydney and the author of Kyoto: An Urban History of Japan's Premodern Capital (UHawai'I, 2014). His research focuses on the urban and architectural history of Japan to about 1700, with interests extending to religion, material culture, and monumentalism in East and Southeast Asia. www.mstavros.com