In 1879, the two wards of Kamigyo and Shimogyo were established in Kyoto under the Gun-ku-cho-son Henseiho (an act for the organization of the administrative divisions), and in 1889, Kamigyo Ward and Shimogyo Ward became 'Kyoto City' under the jurisdiction of the prefecture.
1879年（明治12年）には郡区町村編制法により、京都に上京区と下京区の2区が置かれ、続いて1889年（明治22年）に上京区・下京区は府管轄下の「京都市」となった。