Kyoto: Japan's Ancient Imperial Capital
Kyoto, officially Kyoto City, is located in the Kansai region on Honshu, Japan's largest island. The city was chosen in 794 as the new seat of Japan's imperial court by Emperor Kanmu. The original city, named Heian-kyō, was designed following traditional Chinese feng shui principles, modeled after ancient Chinese capitals. Emperors ruled from Kyoto for eleven centuries until 1869, when the capital was relocated to Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration. 2
Kyoto is recognized as the cultural capital of Japan and is a significant tourist destination. The city was largely spared from destruction during World War II, which helped preserve its prewar cultural heritage. It is home to numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces, and gardens, some of which are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notable landmarks include the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, and Ginkaku-ji. 2
The Gion Matsuri Festival
The Gion Festival, or Gion Matsuri, is one of Japan's largest and most famous festivals, occurring annually in Kyoto during July. Many events take place in central Kyoto and at the Yasaka Shrine, the festival's patron shrine located in the Gion district, which gives the festival its name. It is formally a Shinto festival, originally intended for purification and pacification of disease-causing entities. 1
The festival is well-known for its two Yamaboko Junkō processions of floats, which are held on July 17 and 24. The three nights leading up to each procession day are known as yoiyoiyoiyama, yoiyoiyama, and yoiyama. During these yoiyama evenings, Kyoto's downtown area is reserved for pedestrian traffic. Some traditional private houses near the floats open their entryways to the public, displaying family heirlooms in a custom called the Folding Screen Festival. The streets also feature night stalls selling various foods, including yakitori, taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and traditional Japanese sweets. 1
Modern Art and Education in Kyoto
Kyoto is also a center for higher learning in Japan, with institutions such as Kyoto University, the country's second-oldest university. The city is home to the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, also known by its English acronym MoMAK. Additionally, the internationally recognized video game company Nintendo is based in Kyoto. 2 3