Composite profile
Overall score
86/100
Read Kyoto as a heritage-rich, walkable mid-sized city where cultural depth and service quality balance seasonal tourism pressure.
Overall86/100
Affordability72/100
Air quality82/100
Energy78/100
Japan / East Asia
Kyoto, Japan City Intelligence
Kyoto anchors Japan's cultural heritage with deep traditional crafts, university research, and a compact, transit-served urban core. Kyoto is a east asia city of about 1.5M city in Japan. On the composite city-intelligence score, Kyoto sits comfortably above the indexed median (86/100).
- Last updated
- 2026-05-16
- Data year
- 2025
- Population
- 1.5M city
Image credit: Image: Basile Morin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall city intelligence
Strong86/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Cultural heritage
Globally leading
Heritage sites and traditional crafts shape urban identity.
Mobility confidence
Strong
Bus, rail, and walking networks support car-light daily life.
Kyoto data table
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 86/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 72/100 | Kyoto is more affordable than Tokyo and Osaka for most residents, with seasonal tourism shaping central housing. |
| Air Quality | 82/100 | Kyoto performs solidly on air-quality benchmarks, with seasonal particulates the main concern. |
| Energy | 78/100 | Kyoto benefits from active retrofit programs and Japan's broader decarbonization policy. |
| Safety | 93/100 | Kyoto scores very high on safety, with stable institutional response and steady public-safety perception. |
| Internet Speed | 86/100 | Kyoto offers fast fiber and mobile networks supporting digital services and remote work. |
| Climate Risk | 76/100 | Kyoto carries moderate climate risk centered on rising summer heat and heavy-rain stormwater pressure. |
| Resilience | 80/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Safety
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Safety
Overall safety90/100
Low crime94/100
Personal safety92/100
Night safety84/100
Road safety86/100
Kyoto ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (90/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
Quality of Life
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Quality of Life
Quality of life85/100
Healthcare95/100
Education94/100
Green space48/100
Cleanliness96/100
Infrastructure100/100
Mobility79/100
Kyoto has a very high quality-of-life estimate (85/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, cleanliness and infrastructure.
Family Friendliness
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Family Friendliness
Family friendliness84/100
Education94/100
Green space48/100
Overall safety90/100
Kyoto scores very high for family living (84/100), helped by education access, safety and healthcare.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Digital nomad suitability86/100
Walkability92/100
Cycling84/100
Infrastructure100/100
Kyoto is very high for remote workers (86/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Retirement Suitability
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Retirement Suitability
Retirement suitability84/100
Healthcare95/100
Cleanliness96/100
Outdoor lifestyle28/100
Kyoto is very high for retirement (84/100), appealing for healthcare access, affordability, a comfortable climate and a clean environment.
Emergency and public safety in Kyoto
Local public safety guidance for Kyoto, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 11024/7 | — |
| Ambulance and fire | 11924/7 | 119 routes to both fire and emergency medical services. |
| Fire and ambulance | 11924/7 | — |
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Kyoto, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the Japan emergency profile.
Public safety sources
Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.
- National Police Agency, Japan: National Police Agency of Japan
Used as the primary attribution for Japan's 110 police and 119 fire and ambulance emergency numbers.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare and hospitals in Kyoto
Healthcare context for Kyoto, with national-level information from Japan where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Kyoto, see the Japan healthcare profile.
Healthcare sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
Used as the primary attribution for Japanese public-health context.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Transport and mobility in Kyoto
Local mobility context for Kyoto, with national-level context from Japan where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Kyoto, see the Japan transport profile.
Transport sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Used as the primary attribution for Japanese national transport and aviation context.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Air quality dataset
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Kyoto. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Air quality dataset for Kyoto
Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025
Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location
Source-attributed values for Kyoto will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Data provenance
Source attributionGlobal City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailable- Publisher
- Global City Intelligence
- Last verified
- 2026-05-16
The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Methodology and context
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
- Scoring methodology — how indicators across the platform are constructed.
- Data sources registry — the official sources cited by verified datasets.
- Open the Kyoto air-quality module
- Browse the clean-air city collection
Quick answers
Quick, evidence-based answers about Kyoto drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.
Quick answers about Kyoto
Is Kyoto worth visiting?
Yes — excellent quality of life (85/100) and a industrial city economy.
Is Kyoto good for families?
Excellent (84/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Is Kyoto affordable?
More affordable than average; about ¥229,000/month for one person (estimate).
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.
What are Kyoto's main industries?
Mainly manufacturing, automotive, tourism.
What is the climate in Kyoto?
A humid subtropical climate, averaging about 19.8°C.
Does Kyoto have universities?
Higher education is strong (79/100).
What is healthcare like in Kyoto?
Healthcare access is strong (79/100).
Is Kyoto good for retirement?
Retirement suitability is strong (76/100).
What nature is near Kyoto?
No major nature destinations are indexed within day-trip range.
Related comparisons
Pairs that share a city, comparison intent, or region — useful for users planning a wider relocation, remote-work, or business decision.
Explore Kyoto modules
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Cost of Living in Kyoto
Kyoto is more affordable than Tokyo and Osaka for most residents, with seasonal tourism shaping central housing.
Air Quality in Kyoto
Kyoto performs solidly on air-quality benchmarks, with seasonal particulates the main concern.
Energy in Kyoto
Kyoto benefits from active retrofit programs and Japan's broader decarbonization policy.
Safety in Kyoto
Kyoto scores very high on safety, with stable institutional response and steady public-safety perception.
Internet Speed in Kyoto
Kyoto offers fast fiber and mobile networks supporting digital services and remote work.
Climate Risk in Kyoto
Kyoto carries moderate climate risk centered on rising summer heat and heavy-rain stormwater pressure.
City rankings
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living in Kyoto
Cost of living estimates for Kyoto — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate in Kyoto
Climate profile for Kyoto — Humid Subtropical climate, annual average 19.8°C, comfort score 74/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs in Kyoto
Economy and jobs profile for Kyoto — industrial city, economy score 80/100, key industries including manufacturing, automotive, tourism. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Universities and education in Kyoto
Education profile for Kyoto — student city, education score 74/100, 6 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement in Kyoto
Healthcare and retirement profile for Kyoto — major healthcare center, healthcare score 79/100, retirement score 76/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Estimate a monthly budget for Kyoto
Estimate a monthly budget for Kyoto using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Kyoto
Plan a trip budget for Kyoto using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Nearby cities from Kyoto
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Kyoto. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Osaka, Japan
Same region · about 42 km from Kyoto. Explore Osaka's city intelligence profile.
Nagoya, Japan
Same region · about 105 km from Kyoto. Explore Nagoya's city intelligence profile.
Tokyo, Japan
Same region · about 368 km from Kyoto. Explore Tokyo's city intelligence profile.
Fukuoka, Japan
Same region · about 518 km from Kyoto. Explore Fukuoka's city intelligence profile.
Busan, South Korea
Cross-border · about 604 km from Kyoto. Explore Busan's city intelligence profile.
Daegu, South Korea
Cross-border · about 649 km from Kyoto. Explore Daegu's city intelligence profile.
Kyoto FAQ
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Kyoto, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Frequently asked questions about Kyoto
Is Kyoto worth visiting?
Kyoto has a very high quality-of-life estimate (85/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as nearby parks and countryside within weekend range.
What is it like to live in Kyoto?
Kyoto has a very high quality-of-life estimate (85/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 85/100 for overall quality of life.
How much does it cost to live in Kyoto?
A single resident of Kyoto spends roughly ¥229,000 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near ¥121,000. Overall the city is more affordable than average for Japan. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
What should I know about moving to Kyoto?
Plan for below-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Kyoto is very high for remote workers (86/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
What is the job market like in Kyoto?
Kyoto's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in manufacturing, technology and tourism and hospitality. Kyoto has a manufacturing-oriented economy with strengths in manufacturing, automotive and tourism.
Is Kyoto good for digital nomads and remote work?
Kyoto offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 85/100.
What are the education options in Kyoto?
Kyoto is a student-oriented city with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Mathematics, Computer Science and Law.
Is Kyoto a good place to study?
Kyoto offers a very strong student environment, supported by walkable neighborhoods, relatively affordable living and strong quality of life.
What is healthcare like in Kyoto?
Kyoto has a major healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 79/100. Residents have very strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Is Kyoto a good place to retire?
Kyoto offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 76/100. Residents benefit from walkable streets and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
What is the climate like in Kyoto?
Kyoto has a humid subtropical climate, averaging about 19.8°C annually with roughly 1500 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Jan.
Is Kyoto a safe place to live?
Kyoto ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (90/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
How easy is it to get around Kyoto?
Kyoto indexes a walkability score of 92 and a cycling score of 84 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
What nature and outdoor places are near Kyoto?
Kyoto has limited indexed nature destinations within day-trip range.
Is Kyoto good for families?
Kyoto scores very high for family living (84/100), helped by education access, safety and healthcare.
What outdoor activities are there around Kyoto?
Kyoto rates 28/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 48/100 for green space.
Interpretation
Read Kyoto as a heritage-rich, walkable mid-sized city where cultural depth and service quality balance seasonal tourism pressure. Its standout dimensions are safety (93/100) and internet speed (86/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (72/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.
Country context is available on the Japan country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Kyoto appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Sources
4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
- UN-Habitat: World Cities Report 2024
Used as a policy and methodology reference for urban exposure and resilience signals.
- NASA: NASA POWER
Used as an energy-resource and weather-normalization reference.
- World Health Organization: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines
Used to normalize air-quality indicators toward health-protective benchmarks.
- IPCC: AR6 WGII Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure
Used to explain urban climate vulnerability and adaptation scoring logic.