The former capital of Japan, famous worldwide for its temples and shrines. Kyoto was the centre of politics and culture for 1,200 years.
Kyoto stretches from southeast to northwest in the central and northern Kansai Region (mid-west Japan). It has three geographical features, the saw-toothed coast area around the Maizuru Bay in the northwest, the Tamba Mountains around the centre and the Kyoto Basin in the southeast.

Kyoto became the capital of Japan in the 8th century. It had flourished as the centre for Japanese politics, economy and culture for some 1,200 years until the capital functions were transferred to Tokyo in the mid 19th century. There remain many temples and shrines that had been built during this long period. Seventeen historic sites including the Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Nijo-jo Castle are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

You may meet Maiko, young dancing entertainers who walk in long hanging sleeved kimono in the Gion, see the townscape characterized with popular 19th century style latticework, and visit the Nishijin where they weave traditional nishijin-ori textiles with vivid coloured threads. The festivals are famous not only in Japan but are known worldwide. The three major festivals of Kyoto are Aoi-Matsuri Festival in early summer, Gion-Matsuri Festival in summer and Jidai-Matsuri Festival in autumn.

There is also the Okuribi in five hills of Daimonji, where torches shaping a letter or figure are ignited into flames on the night of August 15, in a Buddhist ritual called O-bon or Urabon-e.

Kinkakuji is the famed and busy Golden Pavilion, Ginkakuji is a Zen temple as is Ninnaji – a former palace and another classic. Ryoan-ji houses an amazing Zen garden and Kiyomizu is worthwhile too.