Kyoto as a Cultural Capital of the World

 Throughout its long history, Kyoto has incubated and evolved excellent culture and art that can be viewed as origins of present-day Japanese culture, and has accumulated them in a multilayered manner. At the same time, the city has actively introduced diverse cultures through domestic and international exchanges and has continued to create new culture and art by combining innovation with tradition. Since the issuance of the Declaration of Kyoto as a City Open to the Free Exchange of World Culture in 1978, the Kyoto City government has been committed to revitalizing civil life and community building through Kyoto-based culture and art. The Agency for Cultural Affairs, the headquarters for the strategy of the Government of Japan for national development through culture and art, is scheduled to be relocated completely to Kyoto. Taking advantage of this relocation, the Kyoto City government will serve as a cultural capital of the world, continuing to support culture and art and perform culture-based urban management.

※Declaration of Kyoto as a City Open to the Free Exchange of World Culture (※Only available in Japanese)

Video "Declaration of Kyoto as a City Open to the Free Exchange of World Cultures"

 The Kyoto City government fosters close cooperation between culture and art on one hand and other related fields, including industry, tourism, academia, town-development, education, welfare with the aim of creating new economic value, realizing an inclusive regional society, and further developing cultural exchanges with other cities both in Japan and abroad.

Through such culture-based urban management, Kyoto City will remain and develop, in a sustainable manner, as an evergreen cultural city that can continue to create excellent culture.

 Approximately 20% of National Treasures of Japan and about 15% of its important cultural properties are concentrated in Kyoto City. The city also embraces 14 components of a cultural site inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, including Nijo-jo Castle. In addition, through more than a millennium of history as the capital city of Japan, Kyoto originated various cultural elements that represent Japan, including tea ceremony, flower arrangement and Japanese cuisine, combining the elegant culture of the aristocracy with samurai culture strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. 

 The city has also long fostered various cultural elements supported by citizens and deeply rooted in their lives, including festivals and annual events represented by the Gion Festival. The Kyoto City government works to preserve and utilize these many tangible and intangible cultural heritage items.

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 Long-developed Kyoto culture based on globally renowned, sophisticated aesthetic values and high-level spirituality is underpinned by the housing-, food- and clothing-related lifestyles led by citizens. The Kyoto City government not only promotes community building by leveraging deeply-rooted local lifestyles but also actively creates opportunities for citizens to become more familiar with culture and art, for example by offering culture and art programs to children at schools in the city. Moreover, the Kyoto City government also encourages the creation of new culture and art by supporting the activities of young artists and creators, and implementing various projects through public-private partnership.

※Kyoto Art Center

Overview of Kyoto City

Kyoto as a City of History

Kyoto as a Sustainable City

Kyoto as a Home to Universities and Innovations

Kyoto City General Planning Bureau General Policy Office Kyoto Revitalization Section

mail: [email protected]　

Tel:+81-75-222-3375 ※Only available in Japanese