The city of Kyoto is exploring a possible sale of debt to finance environmental, social and governance projects, in what may be the country's only such municipal bond after Tokyo, the mayor has said.

The historic former capital, which has more than 1,600 temples, is considering a yen issuance to help meet funding toward the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs), Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, 68, said in an interview after meeting with potential investors and financial institutions Monday in Tokyo.

Dressed in his trademark locally made kimono, Kadokawa said he's talking to banks about projects that could meet growing demand for such bonds.