2016 Kyoto mayoral election

The 2016 Kyoto mayoral election was held on February 7, 2016. Incumbent mayor Daisaku Kadokawa ran for a third term, opposed by Independent and JCP politician Kumiko Honda and Independent Takashi Mikami. The total votes in the election were 398,988, a slight decrease in turnout compared to 2012. Kadokawa won by a wide margin compared to his 2012 election.

Overview
The election was held upon the expiration of the term of incumbent Daisaku Kadokawa. Kadokawa ran for another term, and was backed by the LDP, DPJ, Komeito, and SDP. The Japanese Communist Party supported Kumiko Honda. There was thought briefly that Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Kyoto Party, a smaller regional conservative group, would run Kyoto City Councilor Yoshie Murayama on a joint-ticket, but the two parties split and the candidacy was aborted. Both parties chose to support neither candidate afterwards. Takashi Mikami also ran as an independent.

Candidates
Three candidates ran, two of which were backed by national parties.