Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It’s famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district. Kyoto (also Kyōto) is the former capital of Japan and for more than a thousand years the centre of traditional Japanese culture. Located in west-central Honshu, in the picturesque valley of the Kamo River with surrounding mountains, it is one of the most historic and attractive of the world’s cities.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
Kyoto is Japan’s third-largest city and also one its oldest. It was originally founded as Heian in 794, and had its golden age during the court’s heyday from 794 to 1185. Home to many cultural landmarks and historical sites, Kyoto is thought of as the heart of Japan. Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan and a major tourist destination. It is home to numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens, many of which are listed collectively by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Shintō and Buddhism have historically been Japan’s most important religions. Shintō (‘the way of the gods’) is an animist tradition indigenous to Japan.
Brief City History
The Kyoto basin was first settled in the 7th century, and by 794 it had become Heian-kyō, the capital of Japan. Like Nara, a previous capital, the city was laid out in a grid pattern modelled on the Chinese Tang dynasty capital, Chang’an (contemporary Xi’an). Although the city was to serve as home to the Japanese imperial family from 794 to 1868 (when the Meiji Restoration took the imperial family to the new capital, Tokyo), the city was not always the focus of Japanese political power. During the Kamakura period (1185–1333), Kamakura served as the national capital, and during the Edo period (1600–1867), the Tokugawa shōgunate ruled Japan from Edo (now Tokyo). The problem was that from the 9th century, the imperial family was increasingly isolated from the mechanics of political power and the country was ruled primarily by military families, or shōgunates. While Kyoto still remained capital in name and was the cultural focus of the nation, imperial power was, for the most part, symbolic and the business of running state affairs was often carried out elsewhere. Just as imperial fortunes have waxed and waned, the fortunes of the city itself have fluctuated dramatically. During the Ōnin War (1466–67), which marked the close of the Muromachi period, the Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace) and most of the city were destroyed. Much of what can be seen in Kyoto today dates from the Edo period. Although political power resided in Edo, Kyoto was rebuilt and flourished as a cultural, religious and economic centre. Fortunately, Kyoto was spared the aerial bombing that razed other Japanese urban centres in the closing months of WWII. Today, even though it has seen rapid industrialisation Kyoto remains an important cultural and educational centre. It has some 20% of Japan’s National Treasures and 15% of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties. In addition, there are 24 museums and 37 universities and colleges scattered throughout the city. Even though the city centre looks remarkably like the centre of a dozen other large Japanese cities, a little exploration will turn up countless reminders of Kyoto’s long history.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
Instead, the variety of Japanese spoken in Kyoto (since it was the capital) back then was considered the “standard” and most prestigious variety, albeit slower than the prestige given to the standard Japanese variety spoken today.
Important Types of Commerce in Kyoto
“Life Sciences”, “Tourism”, “Manufacturing” and “Contents” are the four key industries in modern Kyoto. Life sciences. Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application. Tourism. Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Manufacturing. The first unattended railway station system. Contents. Toei Kyoto Studio Park (Drama shooting scene)
Language Services US and others will provide working with Kyoto
Japanese is the official language of Kyoto. For any industry to penetrate into Kyoto, it’s exceptionally important to use a professional translator when you want to translate Japanese. Many business sectors, including Automobile, Legal, Medical, Agriculture, Tech, Science, Government and so on utilize professional Japanese translation services to flawlessly translate their important documents. A professional Japanese translator with an expert understanding of the use of vocabulary and grammar is best equipped to handle the specific nuances of this unique language.
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