 Kyoto, located on the island of Honshu, is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture.
The City
- Earlier Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan
- Kyoto is surrounded on three sides by mountains known as Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama.
- Kyoto is one of the most important academic centers of the country. Doshisha University, Kyoto University, and Ritsumeikan University are important Universities in Kyoto.
Tourist Destinations
- Kyoto is considered the cultural center of Japan and houses hundreds of Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, sprawling palaces, and beautiful gardens.
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Temple is one of Kyoto's most famous attractions.
- Kiyomizu Temple, on a beautiful hillside location, is another popular tourist attraction in Kyoto.
- Nijo Castle,is a world heritage site, in Kyoto
- Ryugen-in Temple is famous for the 15th century Zen rock garden in Japan
- Kyoto Handicraft Center,is a very popular tourist destination, for buying local handicrafts.
Shopping/Eating out
- You can shop for traditional souvenirs in shops around Arashiyama station, in Gion, and the market near Kiyomizu Temple.
- If you are interested in samurai swords and kimono, head straight to Kiyomizudera.
- Various restaurants are located in Kyoto serving Japanese and foreign cuisine. These include Agatha, Hatakaku, Ichioka, Manyoken (French), and Pnto-cho Misogiya (Western)
Transportation
- Kyoto has an extensive bus network and subway system.
- The Tokaido Shinkansen provides passenger rail service linking Kyoto with cities like Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka.
- Kyoto is also connected to Kansai International Airport. It takes around one hour to travel from the airport to Kyoto Station
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