Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Encyclopedia
is one of the eleven wards
in the city
of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture
, Japan
. It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Kamigyo-ku
.
It is located in the north-east corner of Kyoto city. In the east it borders the city of Ōtsu
in Shiga Prefecture
. In the south Sanjō Street separates it from Higashiyama-ku
and Yamashina-ku
. In the north it borders the city of Nantan
in Kyoto Prefecture and Takashima
in Shiga Prefecture. In central Kyoto, the Kamo River
flows on the western border of this ward.
In the southern part there are many residential areas and schools. For example, the main campus of Kyoto University
is located here, as is Kyoto Institute of Technology
and Kyoto Seika University
. Areas like Iwakura
have been designated urbanization control areas, where large-scale exploitation and erection of tall buildings is restricted. Many rice fields remain in this area. The northern part of Sakyō-ku is mountainous and has a thriving forest industry.
The large streets Kawabata, Higashiōji and Shirakawa run from south to north. The train station Demachiyanagi is the terminal for both the Keihan railway with trains running south to Osaka
, and the Eizan railway running north to Yase and Kurama
.
Famous places located inside Sakyō-ku include Ginkaku-ji
, Nanzen-ji
, Kamigamo Jinja
and Heian-jingu. In the northern parts are Kuramadera, Kifunejinja, Sanzen'in, the ruins of a house where Iwakura Tomomi
was imprisoned, the Shugakuin Imperial Villa and Manshuin Temple
, and the Kyoto International Conference Hall where the Kyoto Protocol
was adopted. Sakyō-ku also contains the Kyoto Botanical Garden
and several of the mountains lit up during the yearly Gozan no Okuribi
festival, including the main Daimonji-yama.
The meaning of sakyō (左京) is "on the Emperor's left." When residing in the Imperial Palace
the Emperor
would sit facing south, thus the eastern direction would be to his left. Similarly, there is a ward to the west called Ukyo-ku
(右京区), meaning "the ward on the Emperor's right." In old times, sakyō was referring to the eastern part of the capital, but the present Sakyō-ku is bounded to the west by the Kamo River
, and is thus outside the historical capital.
Wards of Kyoto
The city of Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan has eleven wards.Unlike the 23 special wards of Tokyo, the wards of Kyoto are not separate municipalities, they are divisions just for municipal administration. Together, they comprise the city of Kyoto, under a single mayor and city council....
in the city
Municipalities of Japan
Japan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...
of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Kamigyo-ku
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Located in the center of the present-day city of Kyoto, Japan it previously occupied the northern region of the ancient capital of Kyoto. The Kamo River flows on the eastern border of the ward...
.
It is located in the north-east corner of Kyoto city. In the east it borders the city of Ōtsu
Otsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
. In the south Sanjō Street separates it from Higashiyama-ku
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
' is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Shimogyō-ku. During the years 1931 to 1976 it also covered the area of present-day Yamashina-ku, which was an independent town until its merger into the city in 1931...
and Yamashina-ku
Yamashina-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It lies in the southeastern part of the city, and Yamashina Station is one stop away from Kyoto Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line ....
. In the north it borders the city of Nantan
Nantan, Kyoto
is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 35,424. The total area is 616.31 km².The city was founded on January 1, 2006 by the merger of the former towns of Sonobe, Yagi, Hiyoshi, and Miyama...
in Kyoto Prefecture and Takashima
Takashima, Shiga
is a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.On November 30, 2004 the city had an estimated population of 56,220 and a density of 110 persons per square kilometres. The total area is 511 square kilometres....
in Shiga Prefecture. In central Kyoto, the Kamo River
Kamo River
The is located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists. In summer, restaurants open balconies looking out to the river. There are pathways running alongside the river on which one can walk along the river, and some stepping stones that cross...
flows on the western border of this ward.
In the southern part there are many residential areas and schools. For example, the main campus of Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
is located here, as is Kyoto Institute of Technology
Kyoto Institute of Technology
Kyoto Institute of Technology in Kyoto, Japan is a Japanese national university established in 1949. History of the Institute extends back to two schools, Kyoto Craft High School and Kyoto Sericulture Training School Kyoto Institute of Technology (京都工芸繊維大学, Kyōto Kōgei Sen'i Daigaku) in Kyoto,...
and Kyoto Seika University
Kyoto Seika University
is a private university, located in Seika, Kyoto, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1968, and it was chartered as a university in 1979....
. Areas like Iwakura
Iwakura
Iwakura may refer to:*Iwakura , sacred rocks considered to be abodes of the gods in Shinto*Iwakura, Aichi, a city in Aichi Prefecture of Japan*Iwakura Mission, a diplomatic program during the Meiji restoration...
have been designated urbanization control areas, where large-scale exploitation and erection of tall buildings is restricted. Many rice fields remain in this area. The northern part of Sakyō-ku is mountainous and has a thriving forest industry.
The large streets Kawabata, Higashiōji and Shirakawa run from south to north. The train station Demachiyanagi is the terminal for both the Keihan railway with trains running south to Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, and the Eizan railway running north to Yase and Kurama
Kurama
Kurama may refer to:In Japan:* Mount Kurama, a mountain in Japan frequently referenced in martial arts* Japanese armored cruiser Kurama, an Ibuki class armored cruiser named after Mount Kurama...
.
Famous places located inside Sakyō-ku include Ginkaku-ji
Ginkaku-ji
, the "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the construction that represents the Higashiyama Culture of Muromachi period....
, Nanzen-ji
Nanzen-ji
, or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyama established it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen...
, Kamigamo Jinja
Kamo Shrine
is a general term for an important Shinto sanctuary complex on both banks of the Kamo River in northeast Kyoto. It is centered on two shrines. The two shrines, an upper and a lower, lie in a corner of the old capital which was known as the due to traditional geomancy beliefs that the north-east...
and Heian-jingu. In the northern parts are Kuramadera, Kifunejinja, Sanzen'in, the ruins of a house where Iwakura Tomomi
Iwakura Tomomi
was a Japanese statesman in the Meiji period. The former 500 Yen banknote issued by the Bank of Japan carried his portrait.-Early life:Iwakura was born in Kyoto as the second son of a low-ranking courtier and nobleman . In 1836 he was adopted by another nobleman, , from whom he received his family...
was imprisoned, the Shugakuin Imperial Villa and Manshuin Temple
Manshuin Temple
Manshu-in , also known as the Manshuin Monzeki, is a Tendai temple located near the Shugakuin Imperial Villa at Sakyō-ku, Ichijo-ji, Takenouchi-cho, in northeast Kyoto, Japan....
, and the Kyoto International Conference Hall where the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
was adopted. Sakyō-ku also contains the Kyoto Botanical Garden
Kyoto Botanical Garden
The , also known as the Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden, is a major botanical garden with conservatory located next to the Kamo River, Hangi-cho Simogamo, Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It is open daily; an admission fee is charged....
and several of the mountains lit up during the yearly Gozan no Okuribi
Gozan no Okuribi
Gozan no Okuribi , more commonly known as Daimonji , is a festival in Kyoto, Japan. It is the culmination of the O-Bon festival on August 16, in which five giant bonfires are lit on mountains surrounding the city...
festival, including the main Daimonji-yama.
The meaning of sakyō (左京) is "on the Emperor's left." When residing in the Imperial Palace
Kyoto Gosho
The is an imperial palace of Japan, though the Emperor of Japan is not in residence. The Emperor has resided at the Tokyo Imperial Palace since 1869 and ordered the preservation of the Kyōto Imperial Palace in 1877....
the Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
would sit facing south, thus the eastern direction would be to his left. Similarly, there is a ward to the west called Ukyo-ku
Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The word , as opposed to , refers to the western half of the ancient capital of Heiankyō – the palace faced south, hence west was to the right...
(右京区), meaning "the ward on the Emperor's right." In old times, sakyō was referring to the eastern part of the capital, but the present Sakyō-ku is bounded to the west by the Kamo River
Kamo River
The is located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists. In summer, restaurants open balconies looking out to the river. There are pathways running alongside the river on which one can walk along the river, and some stepping stones that cross...
, and is thus outside the historical capital.
External links
- The ward's official homepage
- Government of Japan Ministry of the Environment article on Kyoto Protocol (retrieved February 8, 2007)
- Pool of photographs taken in Sakyo-ku on Flickr (retrieved March 9, 2010)