Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture (京都府 Kyōto-fu^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu.^[1]

The capital is the city of Kyoto.^[2]

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro.^[3] For most of its history, the city of Kyoto was the Imperial capital of Japan.

Kyoto Prefecture is located almost in the center of Honshū and of Japan.To the north, it faces the Sea of Japan and Fukui Prefecture. To the south, it faces Osaka and Nara Prefectures. To the east, it faces Mie and Shiga Prefectures. To the west, it faces Hyōgo Prefecture. The prefecture is separated in the middle by the Tanba Mountains. This makes its climate very different in the north and south.

The city of Kyoto is largely dependent on tourism. Northern Kyoto on the Tango Peninsula has fishing and water transportation, and midland Kyoto has agriculture and forestry.

Nintendo is headquartered in the city of Kyoto.

Kyoto has been, and still remains to this day, the cultural center of Japan. For over 1000 years it was Japan's capital. When the capital was changed to Tokyo, Kyoto remained Japan's cultural capital.

The city of Kyoto is one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan, and many people from far and wide visit there. Along with Nara, Kyoto is a favorite location for the graduation trip of Elementary and Junior High schools.

Some of the festivals held in Kyoto are Aoi Matsuri from 544, Gion Matsuri from 869, Ine Matsuri from the Edo-era, Daimonji Gozan Okuribi from 1662, and Jidai Matsuri from 1895. Every shrine and temple holds some sort of event, and many of them are open for public viewing.