Kyoto

INTRO
Heian-kyo( "Tranquility and Peace Capital"), Saikyo ("Western Capital"), Meaco/Miako("Capital"), Keishi("Metropolis"), Kyoto("Capital City") These are the names of a true Capital, the former imperial capital of Japan and its present cultural capital, Kyoto. The ancient Feng shui practice is embodied in this city, where history, culture and natural beauty exist in perfect harmony. Gracefully nestled among mountains the 12-century old city presents an unparalleled collection of temples, shrines, palaces and last but not least exuberant gardens, reflecting the changing of the seasons. Yet it never ceases to keep its revolutionary spirit and is always open to the new. By any account, you can't get a real taste of Japan without visiting its "heartland", Kyoto.

City Profile
City: Kyoto
Country: Japan
Area: 827.90 km2
Population: 1,473,068
Districts: 11
Mayor: Yorikane Masumoto
Language: Japanese

LOCATION
Besides the fact that it is the industrial, social, political and commercial centre of the country, Dhaka represents its geographical middle. The city rests on the eastern banks of Buriganga River and is moreover situated in the lower part of the great delta of the Ganges River. It is also the principal city of Dhaka District, which covers a total area of 1463.60square kilometres.

TIME TO VISIT
The climate of Kyoto is determined by its interior position in the Kyoto Basin. This results in considerable differences in temperature between summer and winter. In general there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The yearly average temperature is 16.3 C and the yearly precipitation is 1,026 mm. Average temperatures in the winter run as low as 5 C in January. Average temperatures in the summer reach 27 C in July. Because of the cold winters and hot summers, the best option is to be enchanted by the gaiety of spring flowers or to delve among crimson autumn leaves. Summers are nevertheless more than tempting with their famous festivals.

POPULATION
The estimated population of the city is close to 1.5 million people, making it the seventh largest city in Japan. It is located in the Kansai region and is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture. Furthermore, the city comprises a vital part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. The population density is 1,775 persons per km2 and the majority of the inhabitants are Japanese as is also the official language. English is widely taught but not especially widely spoken. As far as religion is concerned, Shinto and Buddhism are the principal religions.

DISTRICTS
The original city of Kyoto was arranged according to traditional Chinese geomancy, copying the model of the ancient Chinese city of Xi'an. The city centre follows a grid pattern unlike the surrounding areas, but all streets share the characteristics of bearing names. Nowadays the city is divided into eleven wards. Those among them most worthy of attention are:

Higashiyama has a western residential part and a northern commercial part. The entertainment district of Gion can also be found here together with a series of temples and shrines, including the World Heritage Kiyomizu Temple. This ward is in addition home to Kyoto National Museum.
Kamigyo-ku lies at the heart of the present-day city. This area was formerly a residential district for the royalty in the old capital. Kyoto Imperial Palace is for this reason located here. Kitano Tenmangu Shinto shrine, Seimei Shrine and Nishijin-ori textiles are also essential for this ward.
Nakagyo-ku is also known as the central ward. Here is the Kawaramachi area, a popular tourism, shopping and entertainment hub. Several historical sites and temples have their home in this ward, where visitors can also witness the three most exciting festivals of Kyoto, Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri.
Shimogyo-ku is one of the modern wards, presenting a different face of the city. The ultramodern glass and steel railway station, Kyoto Station and the 131 meter high observation tower, Kyoto Tower are both positioned here.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Kyoto is one of the best preserved cities in Japan and therefore offers an enormous amount of cultural landmarks steeped in history and traditions. The historic monuments of ancient Kyoto, namely Uji and Otsu cities, are on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Apart from the architectural gems, there are some exquisite examples of Japanese gardening, which are not to be missed, either.

Kinkaku-ji /The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple, formally known as Rokuonji. It is the symbol of the city. It was originally constructed in 1397 for the retired shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a part of his residence. Kinkakuji was converted into a temple after Yoshimitsu's death in 1408, but the present building actually dates from 1955 as the pavilion was burned down by a fanatic monk before that. Covered in gold leaf, the pavilion houses sacred ashes of Buddha. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) used to be the Imperial Palace of Japan as well as the residence of the Imperial Family until 1868, when the capital and emperor were moved to Tokyo. It burnt down and was rebuilt eight times so that the current structure was completed in 1855. The palace complex is surrounded by a long wall and consists of several gates, gardens and halls. It is located in the peaceful and spacious area of Kyoto Imperial Park. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e17/ed17-03.html
Fushimi Inari Shrine is situated in southern Kyoto. It is considered to be the head and most famous shrine among several thousands of Japanese Shinto shrines, dedicated to Inar, the fox goddess. The paths are therefore dotted with fox statues and there are hundreds of bright red torii gates stretching up the hillside behind the shrine's main buildings. It takes a couple of hours to walk along the whole trail. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera refers to a complex of Buddhist temples in eastern Kyoto but mostly to Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most celebrated sights of the city. It is also known as "Pure Water Temple", taking its name from the splendid waterfall that runs within the complex. The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera is renowned for its wooden veranda, which offers incredible view over the city. Behind the main hall also stands Jishu-jinja, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto
Katsura Imperial Villa / Katsura Detached Palace is a set of outbuildings and gardens in the western suburbs of Kyoto. The buildings, including a shoin and tea houses, represent one of the greatest achievements of Japanese architecture and make this landmark probably the most important large-scale cultural treasure in the country. The gardens are in its own right regarded as a masterpiece of Japanese gardening. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Imperial_Villa

AIRPORT
Kyoto doesn't have a separate airport. The nearest international airport, namely Kansai International Airport, is in Osaka.

Kansai International Airport is situated on an artificial island about 50 km south of Osaka. The Haruka limited express train carries passengers from the airport to Kyoto Station every fifteen minutes. The trip takes 72 minutes and costs 3490 yen, although there is no charge with Japan Rail Pass. Cheaper limousine buses run to the south entrance of Kyoto Station once or twice an hour for 2300 yen. More info at: http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Kyoto has an inadequately developed public transportation system, which can turn out to be irrelevant to tourists. In any case, there are a couple of optimum variants for getting around in the city.

Bicycles are an excellent choice for navigation in the city. They are a major form of personal transportation all year long. You can both buy and rent a bicycle for reasonable prices. Mountain bikes range from 1000 to 2000 yen and you can buy them at Kyoto Cycling Tour Project. Guided bike tours are also available. As for renting, it costs 300 yen for a day, 450 yen for 24 hours and 2000 yen for a month.
The subway) is equipped with two lines, which are useful only for traveling in the city centre. A one-day pass costs 600 yen.
Buses represent the only practical way to reach tourist attractions, in particular those in the northwestern part. Most buses have a fixed fare of 220 yen. You can however purchase a one day pass for 500 yen and ride an unlimited number of times within a day. Combined subway and bus one and two day passes, also known as Kyoto Sightseeing Card are also available for respectively 1200 and 2000 yen.

HISTORY
The city of Kyoto has a 1200 year long history. Its establishment as the capital of Japan under the name Heian-kyo in 794 marked the beginning of the Heian period in Japanese history. Around the 12th century it was renamed Kyoto and developed into one of Japan's most influential cities in the medieval period. The Great Civil Wars of Onin and Bunmei in the late 15th century caused severe damage to the city. It was gradually recovered and remained capital until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the capital was transferred to Edo, modern day Tokyo. It was spared bombing by the United States during World War II and is thus the only big city in Japan with preserved prewar buildings. It became a city designated by government ordinance in 1956 and hosted an ecological conference that gave rise to Kyoto protocol in 1997.

CITY LINKS

The Kyoto Shimbun News, a newspaper in English: http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/english/index.html
Kyoto City Web, official city site: http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/index.html
Useful information and places of interest: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto
Kyoto City Tourism and Culture Information System: http://kaiwai.city.kyoto.jp/raku/modules/english/index.php

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Kyoto University, the second oldest university in Japan: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-e.html
Kyoto Institute of Technology, one of the best universities for architecture and design in the country: http://www.kit.ac.jp/english/index.html