Kyoto has a strong image of being a historical and cultural city, but in fact, it is also a manufacturing city, in which traditional crafts coexist with cutting-edge technologies. Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, Yuzen dyeing and Nishijin weaving, sake brewing technology — the precious heritage of traditional industries continues to be earnestly handed down by local artisans.

Kyoto Station is the front door to the city and a hub for Tokaido Shinkansen Line, JR Line, subway and numerous private railways, which connect the city center with the neighbouring towns. Kyoto also has a convenient public transportation system, with a network of fixed-route buses, two subway lines, JR and private railways. The nearest airports are Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport).

From ancient times, Kyoto has been a holy city with the innumerable Shinto shrines and the finest examples of Buddhist architecture, arts, statues and Zen gardens. For its unique culture, the whole city can be considered as the heritage of the mankind. Kyoto is also a place rich in events and festivals of all kinds. Starting with the major Kyoto festivals, such as Aoi Matsuri with its display of the elegant cultures of the dynastic age, Gion Matsuri which was registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the colourful procession of Jidai Matsuri or the majestic flames of Kurama Fire Festival — it is said that there is no day without a festival in Kyoto.

Surrounded on three sides by mountains and crossed by two rivers, Kamogawa and Katsuragawa, Kyoto city is blessed with beautiful natural environment. Influenced by its position of an interior basin, the climate of Kyoto is marked by hot and humid summers, chilling cold winters and the distinctive passage of the seasons.

Kyoto is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with 56,840,000 domestic and 3,160,000 foreign overnight guests in 2015. Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kamigamo shrine and other 12 Kyoto cultural properties are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” (total of 17 locations).

Kyoto is renowned for its traditional crafts developed and perfected through its long history. Nishijin weaving, Yuzen dyeing, Kyo-Kanoko-Shibori (Kyoto tie-dyeing), Kyo-Kumihimo (Kyoto braided cords), Kyo-Sensu (Folding Paper Fans), Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki pottery are major local industries. Yatsuhashi, Kyoto sweets and Kyoto pickles count among the most popular local products.

Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto (MoMAK),National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto International Manga Museum, Museum of Kyoto, Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts, Kyoto Culinary Museum and Cooking Center, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto City Archaeological Museum, Kyoto City Library of Historical Documents, Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History, Kyoto Railway Museum, Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museumetc.（the total of 208 establishments – members of the Kyoto City Museum Association)

Kyoto is home to 38 institutions of higher education, including a great variety of public and private universities and junior colleges.
Number of students : about 147,000
Number of international students : about 7,000
Public universities

Kyoto University, Kyoto University of Education, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Private universities
Doshisha University, Ritsumeikan University, Ōtani University, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Kyoto Gakuen University, Kyoto Kacho University, Kyoto College of Nursing, Kyoto Koka Women’s University, Kyoto Saga University of Arts, Kyoto Sangyo University, The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics, Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto Notre Dame University, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Shuchiin University, Heian Jogakuin (St.Agnes’) University, Hanazono University, Bukkyo University, Ryukoku University
Private junior colleges
Ikenobo Junior College, Otani University Junior College, Kacho Junior College, Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Language, Kyoto College of Economics, Kyoto Koka Women’s College, Kyoto Saga Art College, Seibo Jogakuin Junior College, Junior College of Ryukoku University, Junior College of Heian Jogakuin (St.Agnes’) University

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Various elements of the Japanese traditional culture and performing arts were born, developed and brought to perfection in Kyoto : Kabuki, Noh, Kyogen, Nihon Buyo, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, waka poetry, etc. From a thousand-year-old picture scroll to the modern manga and pop-culture, the precious cultural heritage continues to be passed down in Kyoto.