Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
From the 8th century until the late 19th century, Kyoto's history was almost synonymous with Japanese history.
Kyoto was literally the stage where the great events of Japanese history unfolded. This is where emperors and shō-
guns vied for power. This is where the main religious sects were born and popularised. And this is where the tradi-
tional arts of Japan were polished to their present-day perfection. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that Kyoto it-
self forms a vast living textbook of Japanese history: almost everywhere you step, an event took place that shaped
the nation we know as Japan.
