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Kyoto (京都市;
-shi lit.
capital city) is a
city in
Japan that has a population of 1.5 million and
time zone
UTC + 9 hours. It was once the capital of Japan and now is the capital
of
Kyoto prefecture.
History
Kyoto was the capital or
Heian Kyo of Japan from
794 until the transfer of the government to
Tokyo in
1868 at the time of the
Imperial Restoration. Located on the middle-western portion of the
island of
Honshu the city is surrounded by mountains.
Though
archaeological evidence places the first human settlement on the islands
of Japan to approximately 10,000 BC, the Kyoto area was not settled until
the
7th century by the Hata clan from
Korea. During the
8th century, when the powerful
Buddhist clergy became meddlesome in the affairs of the Imperial
government, the Emperor chose to relocate the capital to a region far from
the Buddhist influence.
Because of the number of priceless cultural heritages in
Kyoto, the city was not bombed during
World War II. Today, it is the only major city in Japan that still has
an abundance of prewar buildings, although modernization is continually
breaking down the traditional Kyoto in favor of newer architecture, such as
the controversial
Kyoto Station complex.
Geography
The city was laid out in a logical grid pattern in
accordance with traditional
Chinese
geomancy. Today, the main business district is located in the south and
centre of town with the less populated northern area retaining a far greener
feel.
Because Kyoto is surrounded by mountains on all sides, it
is infamous for its stifling summer nights with no air movement.
Kyoto has following
wards:
Fushimi-ku,
Higashiyama-ku,
Kamigyou-ku,
Kita-ku,
Minami-ku,
Nakagyou-ku,
Nishikyou-ku,
Sakyou-ku,
Shimogyou-ku,
Ukyou-ku and
Yamashina-ku.
Demographics
As of
2003, the city has an estimated
population of 1,466,163 and the
density of 2,402.68 persons per
km². The total area is 610.22 km².
Kyoto people speak a dialect called Kyotoben, a slightly
archaic version of Osakaben (the Osaka dialect). It is most noticeable in
the unique Kyotoben word for "thank you" - "ookii-ni".
Culture
Kyoto is renowned for its abundance of delicious
foodstuffs. Unlike the volcanic
Kanto region the rich soil of Kyoto allows for the cultivation of a
variety of vegetables, and the various bodies of water provide ample
fishing.
Kyoto is considered the cultural center of Japan. During
World War II when firebombing was conducted throughout the country Kyoto
and its 1600
Buddhist temples, 400
Shinto shrines, palaces, gardens and architecture was spared. The Kyoto
area has some of the most famous temples in Japan, including:
-
Uji's
Byodoin (the world's oldest wooden structure, which appears on the 5
yen coin);
-
Kiyomizudera, a magnificent wooden
temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain;
-
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion;
-
Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion;
-
Heian Jingu, arguably Japan's most
famous Shinto shrine.
-
Ryoan-ji, famous for its rock
garden
Other notable sites in and around Kyoto include
Arashiyama and its picturesque lake,
the
Philosopher's Walk, and the canals
which line some of the older streets.
The "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" are listed by
the
UNESCO as
World Heritage Sites.
Economy
Kyoto is home to the main headquarters
of
Nintendo, as well as its domestic division,
Nintendo of Japan.
The car manufacturer
Daihatsu operates a plant in Kyoto.
Kyoto is also the headquarters of
Kyocera (Kyoto Ceramic).
Colleges and
universities
-
Doshisha University
-
Kyoto University
-
Ritsumeikan University
Festivals
Jidai Matsuri
Transportation
Kansai International Airport is 60 minutes from Kyoto by train. Most
foreign visitors to Kyoto arrive by
Shinkansen from
Tokyo, which takes about two hours. There are also regular
JR,
Keihan Railway, and
Kintetsu services to other cities in
the
Kansai region.
The subway and bus systems (see
Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau) are fairly extensive. Most
tourist points in the city, however, are fairly easy to reach on foot.
Miscellaneous topics
It is the sister city with
Boston,
Paris,
Cologne,
Florence,
Kiev,
Xian,
Guadalajara and
Zagreb.
In 1997, Kyoto was the site of the Kyoto conference that
resulted in the
Kyoto Protocol on
greenhouse gas emissions.
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