Many modern buildings for use by ordinary citizens, such as homes, schools, and restaurants, sprang up around Kyoto in the early 1900's. Kyotoites desired buildings that blended in with the natural environment and suited the local lifestyle. So they erected impressive structures merging the latest Western technology and design with Japanese flair. Discover Kyoto's modern architecture through the citizens who aimed to revitalize the city through their quest for buildings befitting the new age.

It may come as a surprise that Kyoto -- the capital of Japanese cuisine -- leads the country in the consumption of Western culture's staple food. Bread entered through Yokohama and Kobe during modernization in the mid-1800's and soon took root in Kyoto, leading to a flourishing bakery culture centered around snack buns and sandwiches, as practical, novelty-loving Kyotoites took to the convenience and modernity of baked goods. Discover Kyoto's love of the new through its embrace of bread.

Kabuki evolved from the unorthodox dances of a female performer in Kyoto in the early 1600's. The Minamiza is the only remaining theatre of the many that operated in its time. The name Kabuki derives from the verb kabuku, which refers to unusual dancing and bold behavior. Festive Kaomise Performances and maneki signboards heighten pre-season anticipation for fans of the genre. Discover Kyoto's swaggering and innovative spirit through the reopening of the Minamiza after a three-year refurbishment.