Today I bring you a great destination if you are considering going to Japan. Kyoto (or in Japanese Kyoto [京都]) is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Japan and the world. What’s good there? I don’t know if you are interested in temples, historical centers, different cultures, industrial hubs, so I will not mention just one but all the tourist attractions in this part of Japan.
But before we look at the reflection in the water, let’s see what’s in it. This way we can be better informed regarding some important events and historical facts, we will not fall short if there is any situation that requires this knowledge. It will also be useful because Kyoto is rich in historical landmarks.
As the article is gigantic, we will leave a Summary Below to facilitate your navigation:
Table of Contents
General Information about Kyoto
Kyoto is not just a city, but it is also the name of its province (state), located in the central south of the country. Its population was about 1.5 million people in 2010, and it was founded in the 1st century. It was also the capital of imperial Japan, replaced in 1868 by the current Tokyo. It is also nicknamed the “old capital” and “city of the samurai.”
Kyoto is very close to Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and Shiga, other large cities full of tourist attractions. Kyoto is located in a very strategic point, its surroundings form a region known as Keihanshin, which houses more than 18.5 million people (a relatively high number), making it the second largest population region after Tokyo.
History of Kyoto
Little is known about the history of Kyoto before the 6th century. During the 7th century, Emperor Kanmu decided to relocate the capital to a place far from the clerical establishment in Nara, at that time a large Buddhist clergy became involved with the imperial government.
A new city called Heian-Kyo became the seat of the imperial court of Japan in 794. Thus beginning the Heian period in the history of Japan. And this is basically the beginning of Kyoto, which remained the capital of Japan until the Meiji Restoration.
Between 1467 – 1477, the city suffered great destruction during the Onin War, and did not recover until Toyotomi Hideyoshi rebuilt the city in the 16th century. Also creating new streets to double the number of north-south streets in the city center. Thus, a few years later, during the Edo period (we have an article here on the site specifically talking about this period), the city grew and became one of the three largest cities in Japan, alongside Osaka and Edo (current Tokyo).
Kyoto and World War II
As many of us know, Japan was largely destroyed during the Second World War, the two atomic bombs alone caused disturbing damage both physically and mentally in Japan. But it could have been worse, not in the sense that the damage was relatively good or anything like that, I have to say it could have been much worse.
In 1932, the population of this city exceeded 1 million people. This means that during the Second World War, if it had been hit by one of the atomic bombs, more than half of that population could have died, all hypothetically. Just to be clear, the US considered this issue for two reasons:
Why was Kyoto the intellectual center of Japan?
It had a large enough population to persuade the emperor to surrender. We have to thank Henry L. Stimson for his insistence on trying to save this cultural center he had known during his diplomatic travels and also on his honeymoon. This man was Secretary of War in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations. Thus Kyoto was removed from the targets and was replaced by Nagasaki. However, Kyoto did not come out completely unscathed from this war; it suffered some bombings.
Location of Kyoto
As a result of being cut from the bombing targets, Kyoto is one of the few Japanese cities that still has a large number of pre-war buildings. But modernization is taking over the city and hiding traditional architecture in favor of modern.
But changing the subject, Kyoto is situated in a valley, part of the Yamashiro basin, in the eastern part of a mountainous region known as the Tamba plateau. Surrounded by three mountains named Higashiyama, Katayama, and Nishiyama. This basin contains three rivers: the Ujgawa to the south, the Katsuragawa to the west, and the Kamogawa to the east.
Structure of Kyoto
It was originally built according to the traditional Chinese feng shui custom. Thus the front of the imperial palace faced south, resulting in the Ukyō which was the right side of the city to the west, and the Sakyō which was the left side of the city to the east.
Nowadays, in the southern part of the old palace is located the main business district, and in the northern part is the green and less populated area of the city. Kyoto is almost entirely dependent on Lake Biwa for its water supply, being partially dependent on the Uji River. Kyoto has eleven districts that together form the city. And like other Japanese cities, it also has only one mayor and a city council.
Culture of Kyoto
With over 2000 religious places as well as palaces, gardens, and intact architecture, Kyoto is one of the most preserved cities in Japan. Who has never heard of the Kinkaku-ji temple? That one known as the golden pavilion, well to not spoil the surprise I will not give more examples. But I can say that this is a city with a rich culture and many cultural aspects very well preserved.
Kyoto is also known for its cuisine. As it is a city far from the sea and also home to many Buddhist temples, it resulted in a great variety of peculiar vegetables being developed in the region. The dialect spoken is called Kyō-kotoba or Kyōto-bem, derived from the Kansai dialect. The dialect was indeed the standard Japanese at the time when Kyoto was the capital and influenced the development of the Tokyo dialect, the modern standard Japanese.
Economy of Kyoto
To talk about Kyoto’s industry, we have to mention things like Information Technology, electronics, tourism, handicrafts, and sake production as the most relevant. So it will be about them that we will talk. However, like any other city, there are several other sectors that participate and that will not be mentioned here.
But first, we will provide other more generalized information. The population concentration in the capital is 55%, making it the largest among all in this regard. Its economy has a significant difference between the coastal area and the inland area. In 2010, the country had the fourth largest economy in the country, with about 10.12 trillion Japanese yen.
Sectors of Kyoto’s economy
Information technology and electronics are the main activities in Kyoto, it is home to the headquarters of companies like Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, Nissin Electric, Screen Holdings, and others. All relevant companies in the area. Tourism also plays a large part in the economy; its cultural heritage is a major attraction visited by tourists from all over the world and even school groups from all over Japan, yes there they respect their heritage regardless of the age of the people.
Handicrafts such as products from artisans and particularly the kimono weavers in this city are extremely popular. The latter was grand in past centuries but has declined in recent years; however, the city remains a major center for kimono manufacturing.
And to finish, we have the sake industry, a traditional industry in Kyoto. Companies like Gekkeikan and Takara Holdings are examples of companies based in the city, these in question are the largest among them. And as we know, sake is a traditional drink of Japan, just as cachaça is in Brazil, so we can deduce why this is a big business.
Education and transportation in Kyoto
With the right attributes, any city can have a good education, but Kyoto stands out in this area for being one of the academic centers of Japan. In addition to the 40 higher education institutions located in the city, Kyoto University stands out among them for being considered one of the best in the country.
It is the second best university in the country, behind only the University of Tokyo, which is no surprise, according to Times Higher Education, and according to this ranking, it is the 25th in the world. Not only it, but other famous private universities are also based in the city, such as Dōshisha University and Ritsumeikan University.
This may be the subject of a future post, as it is interesting to evaluate how good Japan’s educational system is. But for now, we will have to settle for just this information. But now we will move on to the main objective of this article, which is to present some options for tourism.
Tourist Attractions
Books related to Kyoto
Tourist Attractions in Kyoto
Let’s primarily mention the main tourist attractions and then make a list of other interesting specific points.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
It is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of red gates, which extend along a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead to the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which is 233 meters high and belongs to the shrine’s grounds.
Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousand shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. It is believed that foxes are messengers of Inari, resulting in many fox statues on the shrine’s grounds. The Fushimi Inari shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital’s move to Kyoto in 794.
Kyoto Railway Museum
The Kyoto Railway Museum was inaugurated in April 2016 by JR West at the former site of the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, about a 20-minute walk from Kyoto Station.
Covering three floors in an area of 30,000 square meters, the museum displays a total of 53 retired trains, from steam locomotives to electric trains and the latest shinkansen. Visitors can also walk underneath and observe the inner workings of a retired freight locomotive.
In addition to the railway museum, there are many other museums such as:
- Samurai & Ninja Museum;
- Gekkeikan Okura Sake;
- Kyoto International Manga Museum;
- Kyoto Shibori Museum;
- Kyoto National Museum;
- Kyoto Municipal Art Museum;
- Jotenkaku Museum;
Nishiki Market and Shopping
Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow shopping street spanning five blocks, lined with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this retail market specializes in food-related items, such as fresh seafood, produce, knives, and pots, making it a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties.
The shops found throughout the market vary in size, from small narrow stalls to large two-story stores. Most specialize in a specific type of food, and almost everything sold in the market is produced and sourced locally. Tourists particularly enjoy the inviting and pleasant atmosphere that this place offers.
Other popular shopping places in Kyoto are:
- Kitano Tenmangū;
- Shinkyogoku;
- Gion;
- Nishijin;
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
Kinkakuji is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, whose last two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and, according to his will, became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408.
Kinkakuji is a structure built overlooking a large lake. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history, including twice during the Onin War; and once again in 1950, when it was set on fire by an obsessed monk. The current structure was rebuilt in 1955.
In addition to the golden temple, there is the silver temple called Ginkakuji located in the eastern region of Kyoto at the foot of Mount Tsukimachi, its construction began in the late 15th century.
Arashiyama – Bamboo Grove and Monkey Mountain
Arashiyama is a tourist district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural scenery. Arashiyama is particularly popular during cherry blossom and autumn color seasons.
The Togetsukyo Bridge is the famous central landmark of Arashiyama. Many small shops, restaurants, and other attractions are nearby, including the Tenryuji Temple, the famous bamboo groves of Arashiyama.
The area north of the Togetsukyo Bridge is known as Sagano, because the name “Arashiyama” technically only refers to the mountains on the south bank of the river, but is commonly used to name the entire district.
Other Tourist Attractions in Kyoto
Gion – A district in Kyoto famous for being the center of Geishas. In this district and around the center of Kyoto, you will find many leisure options for nightlife besides the very expensive geishas, you will find many bars, restaurants, karaoke bars, show houses, and nightclubs.
Nijō Castle – It was Tokugawa Ieyasu who ordered it to be built in 1603.
Ginkaku-ji – Located in the eastern region of Kyoto at the foot of Mount Tsukimachi, its construction began in the late 15th century.
Kyōto Gosho – The Kyōto Gosho, or Kyoto Palace, was an Imperial Palace of Japan during the Edo Period. Currently, its grounds are open to the public.
Heian Jingū – Heian Jingū is a Shinto shrine, its torii that precedes the main gate is one of the largest in Japan.
Katsura Imperial Villa – A villa with gardens and annexes located in the western suburbs of Kyoto, Japan.
Kyoto Tower – The Kyoto Tower is an observation tower that measures 131 meters. The observation deck is 100 meters above the ground. At the base, there is a hotel and several shops.
Temples and Shrines of Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera – An independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ryōan-ji – A Zen temple located in northwestern Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. It has a magnificent garden.
Byōdō-in – A Buddhist temple in the city of Uji, Kyoto, Japan.
Kamomioya-jinja – Known as the Shimogamo Shrine, it is a Shinto shrine and is part of the Kamo Shrines.
Kyo-o-gokoku-ji – Better known as To-ji, it is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Its name means “East Temple.”
Sanjūsangen-dō – The Sanjūsangen-dō is a Buddhist temple in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. Officially known as “Rengeō-in,” or Hall of the Lotus King.
- Eikan-do;
- Shoren-in Monzeki;
- Sanzen-in Temple;
- Kennin-ji Temple;
- Tofuku-ji Temple;
- Toji Temple;
- Kodai-ji Temple;
- Nanzen-ji Temple;
- Tenryuji Temple;
- Shimogamo Jinja;
- Daikaku-ji Temple;
- Gio-ji Temple;
- Jojakkoji Temple;
Conclusion and Author’s Notes
For those who love history, culture, and tradition just like I do, Kyoto is the cake and the cherry on top. Full of incredible temples, this place offers everything a good culture enthusiast could want, just as it has religion, legends, ancient sites, it also has modern and developed places like its universities and technological centers. In this last aspect, it leaves a bit to be desired when compared to the centers of Tokyo.
If I were to recommend this place, I would suggest it to people looking for relaxation and culture. For those who like hustle and technology, I would recommend Tokyo, which is also another potential theme. That’s all this article can offer; if you have questions, suggestions, or criticisms, just comment below. Otherwise, thank you, my dear reader, for following this article up to here. And until next time.
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