Kyoto (1.5 million) is located in the mid-western section of the island of Honshu. Kyoto was settled in the 7th century and was once the capital of imperial Japan. Kyoto is now Japan’s cultural center, containing thousands of ancient Buddhist temples and hundreds of ancient Shinto shrines. Kyoto’s climate is defined by stifling airless summer nights caused by the city being surrounded by mountains. Kyoto is a major tourist destination known for its fine cuisine and kimono manufacturing.
