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Kyoto Prefecture

Coordinates: 35°1′18″N 135°45′20.2″E / 35.02167°N 135.755611°E / 35.02167; 135.755611
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Kyoto Prefecture
京都府
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese京都府
 • RōmajiKyōto-fu
Kiyomizu Temple
Kinkakuji
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Sagano Bamboo forest in Arashiyama
Ine-ura
Byōdō-in
Tō-ji
Tea Plantation in Uji
Panorama view of Amanohashidate and Miyazu Bay
Flag of Kyoto Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Kyoto Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Kyoto-fu no uta
Location of Kyoto Prefecture
Map
Coordinates: 35°1′18″N 135°45′20.2″E / 35.02167°N 135.755611°E / 35.02167; 135.755611
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
IslandHonshu
CapitalKyoto City
SubdivisionsDistricts: 6, Municipalities: 26
Government
 • GovernorTakatoshi Nishiwaki
Area
 • Total4,612.19 km2 (1,780.78 sq mi)
 • Rank31st
Population
 (1 October 2020)
 • Total2,578,087
 • Rank13th
 • Density566/km2 (1,470/sq mi)
GDP
[1]
 • TotalJP¥ 10,766 billion
US$ 98.8 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 codeJP-26
Websitewww.pref.kyoto.jp/en/index.html
Symbols of Japan
BirdStreaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas)
FlowerWeeping cherry blossom (Prunus spachiana)
TreeKitayama Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica)

Kyoto Prefecture (Japanese: 京都府, Hepburn: Kyōto-fu) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[2]: 477, 587  Kyoto Prefecture has a population of 2,561,358[3] (as of October 2021) and has a geographic area of 4,612 square kilometres (1,781 sq mi). Kyoto Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the northeast, Shiga Prefecture to the east, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the west.

Kyoto, the capital and largest city, accommodates 57% of the prefecture's total population, with other major cities including Uji, Kameoka, and Maizuru.[2]: 565–587  Kyoto Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan coast and extends to the southeast towards the Kii Peninsula, covering territory of the former provinces of Yamashiro, Tamba, and Tango. Kyoto Prefecture is centered on the historic Imperial capital of Kyoto, and is one of Japan's two "prefectures" using the designation fu rather than the standard ken for prefectures. Kyoto has made Kyoto Prefecture one of the most popular tourism destinations in Japan for national and international tourists, and 21% of the prefecture's land area was designated as Natural Parks. Kyoto Prefecture forms part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, the second-most-populated region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world's most productive regions by GDP.

History

[edit]
Kuni-kyō
Nagaoka-kyō, a Capital of Japan in Otokuni Palace
See also: Historic Sites of Kyoto Prefecture

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto Prefecture was known as Yamashiro.[2]: 780 

For most of its history, the city of Kyoto was Japan's Imperial capital. The city's history can be traced back as far as the 6th century. In 544, the Aoi Matsuri was held in Kyoto to pray for good harvest and good weather.

Kyoto did not start out as Japan's capital. A noteworthy earlier capital was Nara. In 741, Emperor Shōmu moved the capital briefly to Kuni-kyo, between the cities of Nara and Kyoto, in present-day Kyoto Prefecture. In 784, the capital was moved to Nagaokakyō, also in present-day Kyoto Prefecture. In 794, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyō, and this was the beginning of the current-day city of Kyoto. Even today, almost all of the streets, houses, stores, temples and shrines in Kyoto exist where they were placed in this year.

Although in 1192 real political power shifted to Kamakura, where a samurai clan established the shogunate, Kyoto remained the imperial capital as the powerless emperors and their court continued to be seated in the city. Imperial rule was briefly restored in 1333, but another samurai clan established a new shogunate in Kyoto three years later.

In 1467, a great civil war, the Ōnin War, took place inside Kyoto, and most of the town was burned down. Japan plunged into the age of warring feudal lords. A new strong man, Tokugawa Ieyasu, established the shogunate at Edo (today's Tokyo) in 1603.

In the 15th century AD, tea-jars were brought by the shōguns to Uji in Kyoto from the Philippines which was used in the Japanese tea ceremony.[4]

The Meiji Restoration returned Japan to imperial rule in 1868. Emperor Meiji, who was now the absolute sovereign, went to stay in Tokyo during the next year. The imperial court has not returned to Kyoto since then. During the instigation of Fuhanken Sanchisei in 1868, the prefecture received its suffix fu. The subsequent reorganization of the old provincial system merged the former Tango Province, Yamashiro Province and the eastern part of Tanba Province into today's Kyoto Prefecture.

Although many Japanese major cities were heavily bombed during World War II, the old capital escaped such devastation.[5] During the occupation, the U.S. Sixth Army and I Corps were headquartered in Kyoto.[6][7]

Geography

[edit]
Map of Kyoto Prefecture      Designated City      City      Town      Village

Kyoto Prefecture is almost in the center of Honshu and of Japan. It covers an area of 4,612.19 square kilometres (1,780.78 sq mi), which is 1.2% of Japan. Kyoto is the 31st largest prefecture by size. To the north, it faces the Sea of Japan and Fukui Prefecture. To the south, it faces Osaka and Nara Prefectures. To the east, it faces Mie and Shiga Prefectures. To its west is Hyōgo Prefecture. The prefecture is separated in the middle by the Tanba Mountains. This makes its climate very different in the north and south.

As of April 2016, 21% of the prefecture's land area was designated as Natural Parks, namely Sanin Kaigan National Park; Biwako, Kyoto Tamba Kogen, Tango-Amanohashidate-Ōeyama and Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Parks; and Hozukyō, Kasagiyama, and Rurikei Prefectural Natural Parks.[8]

Municipalities

[edit]
Cities
See also: List of cities in Kyoto Prefecture by population

Fifteen cities are located in Kyoto Prefecture:

Flag, name w/o suffix Full name Area
(km2) 		Population Map
Japanese Transcription Translation
Ayabe 綾部市 Ayabe-shi Ayabe City 347.10 31,846 1
Fukuchiyama 福知山市 Fukuchiyama-shi Fukuchiyama City 552.54 77,306 2
Jōyō 城陽市 Jōyō-shi Jōyō City 32.71 74,607 3
Kameoka 亀岡市 Kameoka-shi Kameoka City 224.80 86,174 4
Kizugawa 木津川市 Kizugawa-shi Kizugawa City 85.13 77,907 5
Kyōtanabe 京田辺市 Kyōtanabe-shi Kyōtanabe City 42.92 73,753 6
Kyōtango 京丹後市 Kyōtango-shi Kyōtango City 501.44 50,860 7
Kyoto (capital) 京都市 Kyōto-shi Kyoto City 827.83 1,463,723 8
Maizuru 舞鶴市 Maizuru-shi Maizuru City 342.13 80,336 9
Miyazu 宮津市 Miyazu-shi Miyazu City 172.74 16,758 10
Mukō 向日市 Mukō-shi Mukō City 7.72 56,859 11
Nagaokakyō 長岡京市 Nagaokakyō-shi Nagaokakyō City 19.17 80,608 12
Nantan 南丹市 Nantan-shi Nantan City 616.40 31,629 13
Uji 宇治市 Uji-shi Uji City 67.54 179,630 14
Yawata 八幡市 Yawata-shi Yawata City 24.35 70,433 15

Kansai Science City is located in the southwest.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Flag, name w/o suffix Full name Area
(km2) 		Population District Map
Japanese Transcription Translation
Ide 井手町 Ide-chō Ide Town 18.04 7,406 Tsuzuki District 16
Ine 伊根町 Ine-chō Ine Town 61.95 1,928 Yosa District 17
Kasagi 笠置町 Kasagi-chō Kasagi Town 23.52 1,144 Sōraku District 18
Kumiyama 久御山町 Kumiyama-chō Kumiyama Town 13.86 15,250 Kuse District 19
Kyōtamba 京丹波町 Kyōtamba-chō Kyōtamba Town 303.09 12,907 Funai District 20
Minamiyamashiro 南山城村 Minamiyamashiro-mura Minamiyamashiro Village 64.11 2,391 Sōraku District 21
Ōyamazaki 大山崎町 Ōyamazaki-chō Ōyamazaki Town 5.97 15,953 Otokuni District 22
Seika 精華町 Seika-chō Seika Town 25.68 36,198 Sōraku District 23
Ujitawara 宇治田原町 Ujitawara-chō Ujitawara Town 58.16 8,911 Tsuzuki District 24
Wazuka 和束町 Wazuka-chō Wazuka Town 64.93 3,478 Sōraku District 25
Yosano 与謝野町 Yosano-chō Yosano Town 108.38 20,092 Yosa District 26

Mergers

[edit]
Main article: List of mergers in Kyoto Prefecture

Demographics

[edit]
Kyoto population pyramid in 2020
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1885 846,761—    
1890 894,928+5.7%
1900 1,022,695+14.3%
1910 1,197,473+17.1%
1920 1,287,147+7.5%
1930 1,552,832+20.6%
1940 1,729,993+11.4%
1950 1,832,934+6.0%
1960 1,993,403+8.8%
1970 2,250,087+12.9%
1980 2,527,330+12.3%
1990 2,602,460+3.0%
2000 2,644,391+1.6%
2010 2,636,092−0.3%
2020 2,578,087−2.2%
Source: Statistics Division, Policy Planning Department, Kyoto Prefecture[9]

Religion

[edit]

According to Agency for Cultural Affairs research in 2020, over 60% believe in Shinto and Buddhism.[10]

Politics

[edit]

The current governor of Kyoto is Takatoshi Nishiwaki, a former vice minister of the Reconstruction Agency. He has been elected in April 2018.[11]

The previous governor of Kyoto is former Home Affairs Ministry bureaucrat Keiji Yamada. He has been reelected to a fourth term in April 2014 with support from the major non-Communist parties against only one JCP-supported challenger.[12][13][14]

The prefectural assembly has 60 members from 25 electoral districts and is still elected in unified local elections (last round: 2019). As of September 2020, it was composed as follows: Liberal Democratic Party 30, Japanese Communist Party 12, Democratic Party 11, Kōmeitō 5, Japan Restoration Party 2.[15]

National representatives

[edit]

Kyoto's delegation to the National Diet consists of six members of the House of Representatives and four members (two per election) of the House of Councillors. After the national elections of 2019, 2021 and 2022, the prefecture is represented by two Liberal Democrats, two Constitutional Democrats, a FEFA member, and a independent in the lower house, and two Liberal Democrats, one Democrat and one Communist in the upper house.

Representatives（lower house）

[edit]
Constituency Name Party
Kyoto 1st district Yasushi Katsume Liberal Democratic
Kyoto 2nd district Seiji Maehara FEFA
Kyoto 3rd district Kenta Izumi Constitutional Democratic
Kyoto 4th district Keiro Kitagami Independent
Kyoto 5th district Taro Honda Liberal Democratic
Kyoto 6th district Kazunori Yamanoi Constitutional Democratic

Councillors（upper house）

[edit]
Class Name Party
2019 Shoji Nishida Liberal Democratic
Akiko Kurabayashi Communist
2022 Akira Yoshii Liberal Democratic
Tetsuro Fukuyama Constitutional Democratic

Prefectural symbols

[edit]

The prefectural flower of Kyoto is the weeping cherry. The Kitayama Sugi is the official tree, and the streaked shearwater the bird that symbolizes the prefecture.

Defense facilities

[edit]

On 1 August 2013, prefectural and municipal authorities gave consent for a USFJ missile monitoring station to be set up in the city of Kyōtango. It will be co-located with a JASDF facility already based in the city. At least initially, its primary sensor will be a mobile X-band radar used to gather data on ballistic missile launches which will then be relayed by the station to warships equipped with Aegis air defense systems and to ground-based interceptor missile sites. A hundred and sixty personnel will be based at the station.[16]

Economy

[edit]
GDP (PPP) per capita[17][18]
Year US$
1975 4,746
1980 8,375
1985 12,799
1990 18,128
1995 21,190
2000 24,692
2005 29,256
2010 33,058
2015 38,567

Kyoto prefecture's economy is supported by industries that create value that is unique to Kyoto, such as the tourism and traditional industries supported by 1,200 years of history and culture, as well as high-technology industries that combine the technology of Kyoto's traditional industries with new ideas.[19]

Northern Kyoto on the Tango Peninsula has fishing and water transportation, and midland Kyoto has agriculture and forestry. The prefecture produces 13% of the domestic sake and green tea. Japan's largest vertical farm is located in the prefecture.[20]

The Kyoto-based manufacturing industry holds shares of Japan's high-technology product markets and others. As of 2021, eight Forbes Global 2000 companies were located in Kyoto prefecture: Nintendo, Nidec, Kyocera, Murata Manufacturing, Omron, Rohm, Bank of Kyoto, SCREEN Holdings. Takara Holdings, GS Yuasa, Mitsubishi Logisnext, Maxell, and Kyoto Animation are also based in the prefecture.

As of October 2021, the minimum wage in the prefecture was ¥937 per hour.[21]

Education

[edit]
See also: Category:Schools in Kyoto Prefecture

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]
Kyoto Station
Tōkaidō Shinkansen arriving at Kyoto Station
Railway map around southern Kyoto Prefecture.

Railways

[edit]

City Tram

[edit]

SeaPorts

[edit]

Roads

[edit]
Expressway map around southern Kyoto Prefecture. Roads and junctions under planning are shown by dotted lines.

Expressways

[edit]

National highways

[edit]

Culture

[edit]

Kyoto has been, and still remains, Japan's cultural center.[22][23] For over 1000 years it was Japan's capital. When the capital was changed to Tokyo, Kyoto remained Japan's cultural capital. The local government proposes a plan to move the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto and to regard Tokyo as the capital of politics and economy and Kyoto as the capital of culture.[24] See Culture of Japan.

Sports

[edit]
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera

The sports teams listed below are based in Kyoto.

See also: Category:Sports clubs and teams in Kyoto Prefecture
Football (soccer)
Basketball
Rugby

Tourism

[edit]

Kyoto City is one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan, and many people from far and wide visit there. Along with Tokyo, Kyoto is a favorite location for the graduation trip of Junior High and High schools.

Some of the festivals held in Kyoto are Aoi Matsuri from 544, Gion Matsuri from 869, Ine Matsuri from the Edo-era, Daimonji Gozan Okuribi from 1662, and Jidai Matsuri from 1895. Every shrine and temple holds some sort of event, and many of them are open for public viewing.

International relations

[edit]

Kyoto Prefecture has sister relationships with these places:[25]

These relationships are distinct from those of cities in Kyoto Prefecture with other cities.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Frédéric, Louis (31 May 2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Translated by Roth, Käthe. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674007703. OCLC 58053128. OL 7671330M.
  3. ^ "京都府推計人口". www.pref.kyoto.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ^ Manansala, Paul Kekai (5 September 2006). "Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan: Luzon Jars (Glossary)".
  5. ^ Oi, Mariko (9 August 2015). "The city saved from the atomic bomb". Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. ^ Chronology of the Occupation
  7. ^ THE EIGHTH ARMY MILITARY GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
  8. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  9. ^ "[Kyōtofu] Kyōtofu no jinkō nenji betsu suii" 【京都府】京都府の人口年次別推移 [[Kyoto Prefecture] Changes in Kyoto Prefecture by population year] (in Japanese). Kyoto Prefecture. Information Policy Division, Policy Planning Department. n.d. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ "White Papers and Annual Reports > Shukyo Nenkan" [Religious Yearbook] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Nishiwaki triumphs in Kyoto gubernatorial race, vows to continue policies of predecessor". The Japan Times. 8 April 2018.
  12. ^ Asahi Shimbun, 6 April 2014: 京都知事に山田氏、４選　新顔の尾崎氏破る
  13. ^ Yomiuri Shimbun, 6 April 2014: 京都府知事選、現職の山田啓二氏が４選
  14. ^ The Japan Times, 7 April 2014: Kyoto re-elects Yamada to top post
  15. ^ Kyoto Prefectural Assembly: caucuses (in Japanese)
  16. ^ U.S. to deploy mobile radar in Kyoto Prefecture to detect missile launches Archived 2013-08-12 at the Wayback Machine The Asahi Shimbun, 2 August 2013
  17. ^ "Kokumin Keizai Keisan (GDP Tōkei) > Kenmin Keizai Keisan" 国民経済計算（GDP統計） > 県民経済計算 [National Accounts (GDP Statistics)> Prefectural Accounts] (in Japanese). Government of Japan. Cabinet Office. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Purchasing power parities (PPP)". OECD. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Kyoto Prefecture Financial Profile and Fiscal Reforms" (PDF). October 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  20. ^ "The only way is up: Vertical farming in Kyoto". CNN. 19 September 2016.
  21. ^ "Minimum wages in Kyoto" (PDF). Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Retrieved 12 February 2022.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Kyoto | History, Geography, & Points of Interest | Britannica.com
  23. ^ Shinzō Abe (18 November 2018). Committee on Budget. The 190th ordinary session of the Diet (in Japanese). Vol. 8. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2018. 京都というのは文化的な中心
  24. ^ Shigefumi Matsuzawa (7 June 2018). Committee on Education, Culture and Science. The 196th ordinary session of the Diet (in Japanese). Vol. 14. House of Councillors. 政治経済の首都東京に対して文化の首都京都をつくっていく、そういう双眼構造、二元構造にする
  25. ^ International Exchange: Regions with Friendly Ties to Kyoto Prefecture Retrieved 29 November 2015
  26. ^ "Edinburgh – Twin and Partner Cities". 2008 The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Scotland. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  27. ^ "Twin and Partner Cities". City of Edinburgh Council. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  28. ^ "Communiqué du 26 mai 2016 – Signature d'une première entente de collaboration entre le Québec et la préfecture de Kyoto". www.premier-ministre.gouv.qc.ca.
  29. ^ "Peringatan 25 Tahun Sister City Kyoto-Yogya, Kedua Kota Mendapat Manfaat" (in Indonesian). Koran Tempo. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kyoto prefecture.
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