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Kansai region - Kyoto
Three geographical features, saw-toothed coast, Tamba Mountains and Kyoto
Basin - Capital of Japan flourished for 1,200 years
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Kyoto stretches from southeast to northwest in the central and
northern Kansai Region (Midwest Japan). It has three geographical
features, the saw-toothed coast area around the Maizuru Bay in the
northwest, the Tamba Mountains around the center and the Kyoto Basin
in the southeast.
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Kyoto became the capital of Japan in the 8th century. It had flourished
as the center for Japanese politics, economy and culture for some 1,200
years until the capital functions were transferred to Tokyo in the mid
19th century. There remain many temples and shrines that had been built
during this long period. Seventeen historic sites including the Kiyomizu-dera
Temple and the Nijo-jo Castle are designated as World Cultural Heritage
sites.
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You may meet Maiko, young dancing entertainers who
walk in long hanging sleeved kimono in the Gion, see the townscape
characterized with popular 19th century style latticework, and visit
the Nishijin where they weave traditional nishijin-ori textiles
with vivid colored threads. The festivals are famous not only in
Japan but are known worldwide.
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The three major festivals of Kyoto are Aoi-Matsuri Festival in early
summer, Gion-Matsuri Festival in summer and Jidai-Matsuri Festival in
autumn. There is also the Okuribi in five hills of Daimonji, where torches
shaping a letter or figure are ignited into flames on the night of August
15, in a Buddhist ritual called O-bon or Urabon-e.
Getting to Kyoto
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 2 hours and 15 minutes from Tokyo
Station or a Rapid Train on JR Tokaido Line from Shin-Osaka Station for
25 minutes to Kyoto Station.
previous: Japan regions - Kansai
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