The top level domain (TLD) .KYOTO is a geographic TLD, or geoTLD, referring specifically to the city of Kyoto, Japan. This kind of TLD is intended to highlight the association with a particular geographical location, in this case the cultural and historical city of Kyoto.
The .KYOTO TLD was approved by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which is in charge of managing and coordinating the Internet’s Domain Name System, including the introduction of new generic top-level domains (gTLD). This approval took place within ICANN’s new gTLD program, a process designed to increase the amount of gTLDs available on the internet, allowing organizations, businesses, and cities to apply for their domain names.
The .KYOTO TLD is administered by the Kyoto Jyoho Gakuen Educational Foundation. This is a non-profit educational foundation based in Kyoto, which aimed to utilize .KYOTO to enhance the internet presence of Kyoto. As of now, .KYOTO is not open to general registration, rather it is used by official Kyoto entities and institutions, for genuine non-commercial use.
An example domain using this extension is www.kyoto-u.ac.kyoto, the URL for Kyoto University. The use of .KYOTO in this URL clearly shows the University’s association with the city of Kyoto, as well as its official status. Other establishments in Kyoto also use it for their official websites, such as municipal offices, tourism associations, and local businesses, to represent their geographical significance and unambiguous relation to Kyoto.
It’s worth mentioning that GeoTLDs such as .KYOTO are considered a valuable digital asset for cities. They not only affirm the digital identity of the city but also help in promoting tourism and local businesses. For instance, a tourist seeking information about Kyoto’s cultural heritage, points of interest or accommodations, would find a .KYOTO domain more trustworthy and relevant.
The demand for geographical TLDs has been increasing, with cities and regions worldwide securing their TLDs. As of ICANN’s last reported period in 2019, ICANN had approved over 50 GeoTLD applications, including .BERLIN for Berlin, Germany, .NYC for New York City, United States, and indeed .KYOTO for Kyoto, Japan.
In conclusion, the .KYOTO TLD is a geographic TLD representing the city of Kyoto, Japan. Its use is limited to genuine, official, and non-commercial entities related to the city of Kyoto.
Sources:
ICANN – “New gTLD Program“
ICANN – “Delegation Record for .KYOTO“
Kyoto Jyoho Gakuen Educational Foundation – “About .KYOTO Domain“
Kyoto University – Official Website
1083 – “Study on the operation and the impact of the .BERLIN Top Level Domain”
