The former capital of Japan, Kyoto, surprises with its surrounding mountains, stunning nature, countless temples, colorful shrines, excellent gardens, and bustling traditions.
Kyoto has more than a thousand years old history to tell – it is still the center of the traditional Japanese culture. The city located in the central part of Honshu Island is one of the most interesting and attractive cities in the whole world which should be on your bucket list if you love history and traditions.
1. Kyoto preserves much of its historical charm and beauty in its many temples and shrines, its parks and gardens, and its old wooden houses with their gray tile roofs.
2. Kyoto has several hundred Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, a castle, three palaces, beautiful parks and gardens, numerous museums, and more than 30 colleges and universities.
3. Kyoto also has many picturesque and historically interesting sites in the environs. These include Arashiyama with its river and temples, the tea-growing district around Uji, Mt. Hiei with the historic Enryaku Monastery, and Lake Biwa with its beautiful views.
4. Some of Kyoto's Buddhist temples are considered among the finest in all Japan.
5. The original name of Kyoto was Heiankyo, or Capital of Peace, but the city came to be called Kyoto, meaning the Capital. Although it now ranks only sixth in population among Japanese urban centers, it was for many centuries the largest city in the country and one of the most populous in the world. It is estimated to have had a half-million people by the 16th century, when few cities in Europe were that large.
6. Kyoto is Largely untouched by War because the city was excluded by the American war plans. The Americans were planning to drop the atom bomb of Nagasaki here in Kyoto, but after considering the fact that Kyoto has some of the most important historical buildings in Japan they left the city without bombing it!
