Kyoto

Not to be confused withTokyo.

The Golden Temple in Kyoto

Kyoto, main street, 1891, 1891

Kyoto(Japanese:Kinh đô) is acityinJapan.This city was thecapital of Japanfrom794until1868.

Kyoto is a major city in theKansai regionof Japan. Itspopulationis 1.5 million people. The city of Kyoto is the capital city of theprefecture of Kyoto.Kyoto is one of the cultural, educational, and technology centers of Japan. In it are many universities includingKyoto University,the second oldest national university of Japan.

History

After 794, theJapanese emperorslived in this city which was calledHeian-kyō.

In 1868, the city was calledSaikyō( "Western capital" ) in order to distinguish it fromEdo(Tokyo) which was the "Eastern capital".

Geography

There are mountains around the city on the east, north, and west sides. Some people in Kyoto believe that these mountains make Kyoto's summer especially hot and humid, and Kyoto's winter very cold.

We can see manytemplesandshrinesbuilt intraditionalJapanesearchitecturalstyleshere. Some of those buildings are registered asUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.On the other hand, since Kyoto was one of biggest and richest Japanese cities in the middle of the19th century;thecitizenswere eager to importEuropeanstyle, and there are many European style buildings in the center of Kyoto for company offices and schools.

Kyoto is one of oldest cities in Japan. Many tourists from all over the world come to Kyoto. Japanese people often come to Kyoto in thespringto see thecherry blossoms,and in theautumnto see the leaves change color.

Traditional Kyoto food often uses vegetables.McDonald'ssignboards in Kyoto are brown to preserve the traditional surroundings.

The oldest novel in the world, Shikibu Murasaki'sThe Tale of Genjiis set in Kyoto during theHeian Period.

Kyoto is famous for three festivals:Gion festival,Aoi festivalin the summer, andJidai festivalin the autumn.

Related pages

• Kyoto Protocol
• Tokyo