Kyoto, located near the center of the island of Honshu, was Japan’s imperial capital for almost 1,000 years before the throne moved to Edo (today, Tokyo). The city continues to be Japan’s cultural centre, best known for its gardens, traditional architecture, and university. Historically, Kyoto was known as “The City of Ten Thousand Shrines”.

Today, Kyoto is home to 1.5 million people. It is also known as the home of the Nintendo game company, which has its headquarters in the city.

Kyoto was largely spared from the physical destruction of WWII. It was removed from its place at the top of the target list for the atomic bomb by the intervention of the US Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who had honeymooned there.

As a result, many of Kyoto's preserved locations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent temple mounted on wooden pillars on the side of a mountain, and Ryōan-ji temple, famous for its rock garden. Tourism is a very important facet of Kyoto's income, especially the visitors drawn to the city by annual cultural events, many of which have been celebrated for more than a millennium. The other traditional industry in Kyoto is the production of sake.

Kyoto is located in Yamashiro valley, high in the Tamba mountain range. The city's geographical location results in humid summers and cold winters, with occassional snowfall.