a city in central Japan on southern Honshu; a famous cultural center that was once the capital of Japan
"Kyoto, once the imperial capital of Japan, remains a vibrant cultural center known for its ancient temples and traditional gardens."
A prefecture of Japan.
"Kyoto is no longer a capital city but remains a distinct and culturally rich prefecture in western Japan."
The word Kyoto comes from the Japanese phrase kyō-to, which literally means "capital city." It was originally used to describe the capital of Japan before being adopted into English.