Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan. Kyoto is very rich in historical sites. It has the prefectural government and its one of Japan’s largest cities. Kyoto is renowned for its fine textile and traditional products and is also a thriving center for industry. Kyoto is a great place to see the historical sites of Japan. Kyoto is surrounded by the low Tamba Mountains to the north, east and west side. The rivers Kamogawa and Katsuragawa flow through the central and western districts of the city. The area is 610.6 sq km and the population is 1,461,140. Kyoto has a history of over 1200 years. Kyoto fault basin was first settled in the 7th century by the Hata family, immigrants from Korea. In 794 Kyoto, then called Heiankyo, became the capital of Japan. Kyoto was the capital of Japan until the Edo era. During the Edo period (1600-1868) the Tokugawa shogunate was firmly established in Edo which now Tokyo and the political focus of the country was shifted away from Kyoto. However, the city still prospered as an artistic, economic and religious center. Particularly notable were fabrics, pottery, lacquer ware, doll making, and fan making. Today as part of the Hanshin Industrial Zone, Kyoto has numerous electrical, machinery and chemical plants. The city is also an educational and cultural center. There are some 37 universities and privet institutes of higher learning including Kyoto and Doshisha universities. Kyoto has 24 museums, including the Kyoto National Museum and it possesses a total of 202 national treasures 1684 Important Cultural Properties. In addition the city itself is a veritable historical storehouse. The Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Nijo Castle are both remarkable examples of Japanese architecture. The Katsura Detached Palace with its lovely pond and teahouses and the Shugakuin detached Palace, famed for its fine garden, draw visitors from afar.