Saved from the destruction of the atomic bomb during WW2 thanks to its exceptional historic value, Kyoto today is a not only a city of historically priceless structures but also of artisans.Īrt, music, and literature thrive here, as do cultural experiences no traveler should leave Japan without trying. Today, Kyoto remains one of the country’s largest cities with a sizable population of 1.5 million people – but managed to pull off a timeless feel lacking in all of its other major cities. Kyoto functioned as Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence for over a thousand years until 1868 when it was moved to Tokyo in the countries push to modernize. Nowhere in Japan are gay travelers likely to face discrimination, but the fact is that the gay scene in Kyoto is pretty low key and overshadowed by nearby Osaka. Kyoto, the ancient heart of Japan renown for its temples, ancient traditions, mysterious geisha and more conservative attitudes.