Due to reorganization of cities, towns and villages, the area of this ward has become considerably large, centered on former Otagi-gun which was located remotely (until Ukyo Ward merged former Keihoku-cho, Sakyo Ward occupied the largest land area among all the eleven wards of Kyoto City).
現在はその後の市町村の統廃合により、更に外縁の旧愛宕郡部を中心としたかなり大きなものとなっている（右京区が旧京北町と合併するまでは、京都市全11区の中で最も大きい面積の区であった）。