During the Kamakura Age (1185-1333), Kyoto experienced a period of decline. One of the only social classes to prosper during those years was the merchant class. This created a re-distribution of wealth such that merchants not only became wealthier, but also became more politically connected. While this re-distribution

of wealth would benefit the merchant class, it did so only at the expense of  the nobility and the lower class.   Eventually, the tension created by this disparity among classes would erupt into the Civil War of Onin in 1467. Eleven years later: Kyoto was left in ruins, the nobility was left powerless and the merchants that could

leave did.  Despite earlier signs of recovery, it would be the Tokugawa shogunate of the 1600's that would reap the benefits of Kyoto’s economic re-emergence.  The Tokugawa bakufu used the law to acquire impressive tax revenues under the new castletown system.  Under this regime, merchants received tax incentives to

bring business to castletowns while consumers were subject to high taxes.  Changes in urban planning such as highway development, the development of commercial residences and their effect on city blocks all contributed to the growth of Kyoto.