Kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture stretches from the Sea of Japan in the north to the Kyoto Basin in the south with a slender north-south geography. The northern Tango Peninsula features a rias coastline, while the southern area is dominated by the ancient capital of Kyoto City. Since the capital relocation to Heian-kyo in 794, it has been the political, cultural, and religious center of Japan, with 17 assets constituting the UNESCO World Heritage site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." Refined culinary culture including Kyoto cuisine, Uji tea, and Kyoto vegetables thrives alongside living traditions of maiko culture and traditional crafts. The north offers scenic coasts like Amanohashidate, and diverse tourism is possible through all four seasons. The prefecture boasts excellent access via expressway networks and the Tokaido Shinkansen, with annual tourist numbers exceeding 50 million.