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Ancient Kyoto Facts & Worksheets

Ancient Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan since 74 A.D until the mid-1800s.

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Ancient Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan since 74 A.D until the mid-1800s. Today, the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto include Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities; they were all inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1994.

See the fact file below for more information on Ancient Kyoto, or you can download our 25-page Ancient Kyoto worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History of Ancient Kyoto

  • Archaeologists date Kyoto as being settled by humans in the Paleolithic period.
  • Kyoto is one of the oldest cities in Japan, and is said to be the heart of Japan.
  • Kyoto still retains its name (Japanese for “Capital City”), even though the Emperor and National Diet are located in Tokyo.
  • In 869 A.D, people in Japan were suffering from plagues attributed to the deity Gozu Renno; the Emperor at the time decided to perform a purification ritual in order to appease the gods and cause fire, floods, and other natural disasters to cure the citizens.
  • The purification ritual became a yearly festival that runs through the entire month of July, called the Gion Festival; a picture of the parade in the 1920s can be seen to the right.
  • The festival began in 970 A.D. Several important temples were constructed between 947 and 1397.
  • In 1431, famine struck Japan.
  • The modern city of Kyoto was formed on April 1, 1889, and its population surpassed one million by 1932.
  • During World War II, the United States considered dropping the atomic bomb on Kyoto, as it had a large population that the U.S thought could persuade the emperor to surrender.
  • Due to the U.S’s decision not to bomb Kyoto, it now holds several prewar buildings and traditional homes.
  • Kyoto became a city designated by government ordinance on the first of September, 1956; this means it has a population of over 500,000 and has been designated as such by the Cabinet of Japan.

Geography and Monuments in Ancient Kyoto

  • Kyoto is located in a valley in the Tamba highlands, and is surrounded on three sides by mountains.
  • This results in hot summers and cold winters in Kyoto.
  • Kyoto has 2,000 religious places – 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, and plenty of gardens, palaces, and structures, mainly constructed with wood.
  • Of the Historic Monuments, 13 are Buddhist temples, 3 are Shinto shrines, and one is a castle.
  • Kyoto has the largest concentration of designated Cultural Properties in all of Japan, as they withstood foreign invasions and the impact of war.
  • The 17 properties included on the World Heritage Site list originate from the 10th century all the way until the 19th century, and each represents the time period it was built in.
  • Since Kyoto was the centre of Japanese culture for so long, it spanned the development of Japanese wooden architecture, Japanese gardens, and an emphasis on religious structures.
  • All 17 components of the site are religious places, with the exception of the castle of Nijo-jo.
  • In total, the 17 places account for 1,056 hectares and are surrounded by a buffer zone which is 3,579 hectares in size.
  • All of the 17 parts maintain a high degree of individual integrity.

Random Facts about Ancient Kyoto

  • Japanese people have a deep link to their culture and country’s history, so many of them visit Kyoto at least once in their lives.
  • Approximately one-third of Japanese citizens visit Kyoto every year, as the city represents their rich culture and heritage.
  • For over 1,000 years, Kyoto was the centre of art and craftsmanship in Japan.
  • Historic and ancient architecture are very important and well appreciated in Japan; many buildings are very well-preserved.
  • In the spring, cherry blossom trees are in bloom, and can be seen just about everywhere in Kyoto; by mid-November, the leaves of maple trees change colours and produce red, orange, yellow, and warm green colors.
  • In 1897, the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law came into effect, which was designed to impose restrictions on alterations, repairs, and exports of designated objects deemed important; the logo for this protection can be seen below.
  • Garden conservation was included as part of Japan’s preservation laws in 1965.

World Heritage Sites: Ancient Kyoto Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Ancient Kyoto across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use World Heritage Sites: Ancient Kyoto worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Ancient Kyoto which was the imperial capital of Japan since 74 A.D until the mid-1800s. Today, the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto include Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities; they were all inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1994.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Ancient Kyoto Facts.
  • Ancient Kyoto Wordsearch.
  • Table of Sites.
  • Climate Change and Kyoto.
  • Ancient Kyoto Acrostic.
  • True or False?
  • Ancient Kyoto Crossword.
  • Match the Monument.
  • Tourist Information.
  • See, Think, Wonder.
  • Postcard from Kyoto.

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Link will appear as Ancient Kyoto Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 19, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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