Kyoto is located in western Japan and southern Kyoto Prefecture. It is an important city in the Osaka Metropolitan Area, one of Japan's three major metropolitan areas. It is an inland city located in the north of the Kyoto Basin (mountain city). Hanbu and the eastern mountainous area of ??Tamba Plateau have a total area of ??827.90k㎡, accounting for 17.9% of Kyoto Prefecture. It is the largest city among the prefectures and cities in Kyoto Prefecture. Kyoto is the seat of the Kyoto Prefectural Government and one of the cities designated by government decree. It is the eighth most populous city in Japan. Kyoto City, southern Kyoto Prefecture, western Shiga Prefecture, and parts of Osaka Prefecture*** together form the Kyoto Metropolitan Area. Kyoto City is also part of the "Keihanshin Metropolitan Area".

Modern Kyoto offers visitors a glimpse into Japan's imperial past, the era of Shinto shrines and geisha, two traditions that still exist in Kyoto, which was once the nation's capital. The city was the seat of imperial power from 794 to 1868, and its beautiful traditional architectural style, including classical Buddhist temples and ornate palaces, has thousands of well-preserved examples of historic architecture. Traveling in Kyoto is a feast for the eyes, with many outstanding examples of traditional and modern architecture, such as Kyoto Tower.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace housed the Japanese imperial family for more than 1,100 years before 1868, and it is just one of several former royal residences scattered throughout the city. Nijo Castle was built in 1603 for Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1606), the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate who became the dominant force in Japan until 1868. Kyoto has carefully preserved authentic cuisine, culture, and art. In Gion, there are many Japanese teahouses in long, narrow traditional buildings, where geisha, known as Geiko or Maiko in Kyoto, entertain customers for tea or drinks with elaborate costumes, music and dance. In Kyoto, culinary traditions are well preserved, and from kaiseki restaurants, to historic multi-course meals, to sake made the old way, there are plenty of options to choose from, including many vegetarian and vegan options.