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Kyōto Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture
京都府
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 京都府
 • Rōmaji Kyōto-fu
Flag of Kyoto Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Kyoto Prefecture
Symbol of Kyoto Prefecture
Location of Kyoto Prefecture
Coordinates: 35°1′18″N 135°45′20.2″E / 35.02167°N 135.755611°E / 35.02167; 135.755611Coordinates: 35°1′18″N 135°45′20.2″E / 35.02167°N 135.755611°E / 35.02167; 135.755611
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Capital Kyoto
Government
 • Governor Keiji Yamada
Area
 • Total 4,613.26 km2 (1,781.19 sq mi)
Area rank 31st
Population (October 1, 2015)
 • Total 2,610,353
 • Rank 13th
 • Density 566/km2 (1,470/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-26
Districts 6
Municipalities 26
Flower Weeping cherry blossom (Prunus spachiana)
Tree Kitayama Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica)
Bird Streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas)
Website www.pref.kyoto.jp

Kyoto Prefecture (京都府 Kyōto-fu?) is a prefecture of Japan in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto Prefecture was known as Yamashiro.

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 Kammu moved the capital to Heian-kyo, 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.


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