Kyoto, Former imperial capital in Kansai Region, Japan
Kyoto is a city in Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, spreading across eleven wards along the Kamo River. The city contains more than 2000 religious structures built from wood, traditional residential quarters and modern developments along the riverbanks.
The city served as the seat of the Japanese imperial court from 794 to 1868 and shaped the cultural development of the country for centuries. When Emperor Meiji moved the government to Tokyo, this long period as the political center of Japan came to an end.
In Gion, geiko and maiko still walk the lanes on their way to evening appointments while visitors observe them from a respectful distance. The Nishiki Market stretches across five blocks and displays the city's food culture with pickled vegetables, fresh fish and local preparations.
The public transport network with two subway lines, several railway connections and a comprehensive bus system reaches all major sights in the city. Most signs at stations and stops are also labeled in English, which makes orientation easier for visitors.
Within the city boundaries lie 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which together represent the largest concentration of this designation in a single Japanese city. These sites are distributed across different neighborhoods and can be explored during several day trips.
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