In 794, more than 12 centuries ago, the national capital of Japan was moved to Heian Kyo, where Kyoto is now located. (Heian Kyo means "Capital of Peace and Tranquility.") For more than a millennium, it remained the residence of the Emperor and the center of the country, until the capital was moved again in 1868, this time to Tokyo. Kyoto was pivotal in Japanese culture, religion and politics from one historical period to another, beginning with the Heian period, which lasted almost 400 years, and continuing through the Kamakura, Muromachi, Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods. It could be said that, throughout this time, the history of Japan was synonymous with the history of Kyoto.

Kyoto has 14 temples and shrines on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and more than 1,700 national treasures and important cultural properties registered by the Japanese government. A trip to Kyoto is an unforgettable experience, a discovery of old Japan.

Today, Kyoto has a population of about 1.5 million. It has the conveniences of any modern city in Japan, and it continues to change as time passes. But the ancient cultural heritage of the city of Kyoto, the nation's capital for a thousand years, is still there, waiting for you to enjoy.