Coordinates: 35°1′18″N 135°45′20.2″E Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto Prefecture ( 京 都 府 Kyōto-fu) is a prefecture of Kyoto Prefecture Japan in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu.[1] Its 京都府 capital is the city of Kyoto.[2] Prefecture Japanese transcription(s) Contents • Japanese 京都府 • Rōmaji Kyōto-fu History Geography Cities Towns and villages Mergers Economy Flag Symbol Culture Education Universities Sports Transportation Rail City Tram Ports Road Expressways National highways Tourism Defense facilities Politics Prefectural symbols Coordinates: 35°1′18″N Sister areas 135°45′20.2″E Notes Country Japan References Region Kansai External links Island Honshu Capital Kyoto History Government • Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto Prefecture Area [3] was known as Y amashiro. • Total 4,612.19 km2 (1,780.78 sq mi) For most of its history, the city of Kyoto was Japan's Area rank 31st Imperial capital. The city's history can be traced back as far Population (October 1, 2015) as the 6th century. In 544, the Aoi Matsuri was held in • Total 2,610,353 Kyoto to pray for good harvest and good weather. • Rank 13th • Density 566/km2 (1,470/sq mi) Kyoto did not ISO 3166 JP-26 code start out as Japan's capital. A Districts 6 noteworthy Municipalities 26 earlier capital was Flower Weeping cherry blossom Nara. In 7 41, (Prunus spachiana) Emperor Shōmu Tree Kitayama Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) moved the capital Iwashimizu Hachimangū, a Shinto Bird Streaked shearwater briefly to Kuni- shrine in Yawata (Calonectris leucomelas) kyo, between the Website www.pref.kyoto.jp (htt cities of Nara and p://www.pref.kyoto.jp/e Kyoto, in present-day Kyoto Prefecture. In 7 84, the capital n/index.html) was moved to Nagaokakyō, also in present-day Kyoto Prefecture. In 7 94, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyo, and this was the beginning of the current-day city of Kyoto. Even today, almost all of the streets, houses, stores, temples and shrines in Kyoto exist where they were placed in this year. Although in 1192 real political power shifted to Kamakura, where a samurai clan established the shogunate, Kyoto remained the imperial capital as the powerless emperors and their court continued to be seated in the city. Imperial rule was briefly restored in 1333, but another samurai clan established a new shogunate in Kyoto three years later. In 1467 , a great civil war, the Ōnin War, took place inside Kyoto, and most of the town was burned down. Japan plunged into the age of warring feudal lords. A new strong man, Tokugawa Ieyasu, established the shogunate at Edo (today's Tokyo) in 1603. In the 15th century AD, tea-jars were brought by the shōguns to Uji in Kyoto from the Philippines which was used in the Japanese tea ceremony.[4] The Meiji Restoration returned Japan to imperial rule in 1868. Emperor Meiji, who was now the absolute sovereign, went to stay in Tokyo during the next year. The imperial court has not returned to Kyoto since then. During the instigation of Fuhanken Sanchisei in 1868, the prefecture received its suffix fu. The subsequent reorganization of the old provincial system merged the former Tango Province, Y amashiro Province and the eastern part of Tanba Province into today's Kyoto Prefecture. Although many Japanese major cities were heavily bombed by U.S. bombers during World War II, the old capital escaped such devastating bombing. During the occupation, the U.S. Sixth Army was headquartered in Kyoto.[5] Geography Kyoto Prefecture is almost in the center of Honshu and of Japan. It covers an area of 4,612.19 square kilometres (1,7 80.7 8 sq mi), which is 1.2% of Japan. Kyoto is 31st by size. 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 its west is Hyōgo Prefecture. The prefecture is separated in the middle by the Tanba Mountains. This makes its climate very different in the north and south. As of 15 April 2016, 21% of the prefecture's Historical population land area was Year Pop. ±% designated as Natural 1885 846,761 — 1890 894,928 +5.7% Parks, namely Sanin 1900 1,022,695 +14.3% Kaigan National Park; 1910 1,197,473 +17.1% Biwako, Kyoto Tamba 1920 1,287,147 +7.5% Kogen, Tango- 1930 1,552,832 +20.6% Amanohashidate- 1940 1,729,993 +11.4% Ōeyama and Wakasa 1950 1,832,934 +6.0% Wan Quasi-National 1960 1,993,403 +8.8% 1970 2,250,087 +12.9% Parks; and Hozukyō, 1980 2,527,330 +12.3% Map of Kyoto Prefecture Kasagiyama, and 1990 2,602,460 +3.0% Government Ordinance Designated Rurikei Prefectural 2000 2,644,391 +1.6% City City Town Village Natural Parks.[6] 2010 2,636,092 −0.3% 2015 2,610,353 −1.0% Source: [1] (http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/t- Cities ptl/tname/k076.html) Fifteen cities are located in Kyoto Prefecture: Ayabe Maizuru Fukuchiyama Miyazu Jōyō Mukō Kameoka Nagaokakyō Kizugawa Nantan Kyōtanabe Uji Kyōtango Yawata Kyoto (capital) Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each district: Funai District Sōraku District Tsuzuki District Kyōtamba Kasagi Ide Kuse District Minamiyamashiro Ujitawara Seika Kumiyama Yosa District Wazuka Otokuni District Ine Yosano Ōyamazaki Kyoto City Uji Fukuchiyama Miyazu and Aso Bay Mergers Economy Kyoto prefecture's economy is supported by industries that create value that is unique to GDP (PPP) per Kyoto, such as the tourism and traditional industries supported by 1,200 years of capita[7][8] history and culture, as well as high-technology industries that combine the technology of Year US$ Kyoto's traditional industries with new ideas.[9] 1975 4,746 Northern Kyoto on the Tango Peninsula has fishing and water transportation, and 1980 8,375 midland Kyoto has agriculture and forestry. The prefecture produces 13% of the 1985 12,799 domestic sake and green tea. Japan's largest vertical farm is located in the 1990 18,128 prefectuture.[10] 1995 21,190 The Kyoto-based manufacturing industry holds shares of Japan's high-technology 2000 24,692 product markets and others. In 2017 , four Nikkei 225 companies were located in Kyoto 2005 29,256 prefecture: Takara Holdings, GS Y uasa, Kyocera, SCREEN Holdings. Murata 2010 33,058 Manufacturing, Nidec, Mitsubishi Logisnext, Maxell, Nintendo, and Kyoto Animation are 2014 37,595 based in the prefecture. As of October 2017 , the minimum wage in the prefecture was ¥ 856 per hour.[11] Culture Kyoto has been, and still remains, Japan's cultural center.[12] For over 1000 years it was Japan's capital. When the capital was changed to Tokyo, Kyoto remained Japan's cultural capital. The local government proposes a plan to move the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto and to regard Tokyo as the capital of politics and economy and Kyoto as the capital of culture.[13] See Culture of Japan. Kinkaku-ji Ginkaku-ji Togetsu Bridge in Heian Shrine Arashiyama Japanese tea plantation Rokkaku-dō, where a school of the Japanese flower arrangement originated from. Education Universities Bukkyo University Doshisha University Hanazono University Heian Jogakuin University Kyoto Bunkyo University Kyoto City University of Arts Kyoto Gakuen University Kyoto Institute of Technology Kyoto Kacho University Kyoto Koka Women's University Kyoto Notre Dame University Kyoto Pharmaceutical University Kyoto Prefectural University Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Saga University of Arts Kyoto Sangyo University Kyoto Seika University Kyoto Tachibana University Kyoto University Kyoto University of Art and Design Kyoto Arts and Crafts University Kyoto University of Education Kyoto University of Foreign Studies Kyoto Women's University Meiji University of Integrative Medicine Ōtani University Ritsumeikan University Ryukoku University Seibi University Shuchiin University Sports The sports teams listed below are based in Kyoto. Football (soccer) Kyoto Sanga F.C. (J2 League) Amitie SC Kyoto (Kansai Soccer League) Bunnys Kyoto SC (Japan Women's Football League) Basketball Kyoto Hannaryz (B.League) Baseball Kyoto Flora (Japan Women's Baseball League) Rugby Mitsubishi Motors Kyoto Red Evoluitions (Top West) Transportation Rail JR Central Tōkaidō Shinkansen—Kyōto Station JR West Kyoto Station Kyoto Line Biwako Line Kosei Line Nara Line Kansai Line (Kizu-Kamo) Sagano Line Sanin Line Fukuchiyama Line Maizuru Line Obama Line Keihan Keihan Line Uji Line Keishin Line Outou Line Hankyu Kyoto Line Arashiyama Line Kintetsu Kyoto Line Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line Tōzai Line Sagano Scenic Railway (Arashiyama-Kameoka) Kyoto Tango Railway Miyafuku Line Miyamai Line Miyatoyo Line City Tram Randen Arashiyama Line Kitano Line Eiden Eizan Line Kurama Line Ports Maizuru Port - Mainly international container terminal and ferry route to Hokkaido (Otaru and Tomakomai). Road Expressways Meishin Expressway Hanshin Expressway Second Keihan Highway Keiji(Kyoto-Shiga) Bypass Maizuru Wakasa Expressway Keinawa(Kyoto-Nara-Wakayama) Expressway Kyoto-Jukan Expressway National highways Route 1 Route 9 (Kyoto-Fukuchiyama-Tottori-Yonago-Izumo-Hamada-Yamaguchi) Route 24 (Kyoto-Nara-Kashihara-Hashimoto-Wakayama) Route 27 (Tanba-Maizuru-Tsuruga) Route 162 Route 163 Route 171 (Kyoto-Takatsuki-Minoo-Itami-Nishinomiya) Route 173 Route 175 (Akashi-Nishiwaki-Fukuchiyama-Maizuru) Route 176 (Osaka-Sanda-Sasayama-Fukuchiyama-Miyazu) Route 178 Route 307 Route 312 Route 372 (Kameoka-Sasayama-Kasai-Himeji) Route 423 Route 426 Route 429 Route 477 Route 478 Tourism 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 Tokyo, Kyoto is a favorite location for the graduation trip of Junior High and High schools.