Travel tips · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nina R from Africa, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Kyoto takes pride in its traditions: geiko and maiko still train in five hanamachi districts, craftspeople weave Nishijin silk and make Kiyomizu pottery, and temples hold ceremonies on a calendar that runs back centuries. Local manners are reserved and polite, and residents have pushed back against overcrowding, so considerate behaviour is noticed.
Key facts
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- JPY
- Plugs
- Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
Things to know
- Never touch, block or chase geiko and maiko for photos; respect 'no photography' signs in Gion's private lanes.
- Remove shoes where you see a step up or shoe racks, and do not step on tatami in slippers.
- At shrines, bow at the torii, walk at the side of the path, and rinse hands at the water basin before praying.
- Keep voices low in temples and on buses, and take rubbish with you; public bins are rare.
- Queue for buses and let passengers off first; carry large luggage by delivery service rather than on city buses.
- Fushimi Inari, the Philosopher's Path, Gion, the Kamo River and the Imperial Palace grounds are free.
Tipping
Tipping is not practised in Japan and can cause embarrassment. Ryokan sometimes receive a small gift in an envelope, but it is never expected.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Konnichiwa | Hello |
| Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
| Ookini | Thank you (Kyoto dialect) |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| Okaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
| Kore kudasai | This one, please |
What to wear
Wear shoes that slip on and off easily for temples and restaurants, and socks without holes. Light layers suit spring and autumn; summer is very hot and humid, and winter mornings are cold.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available at stations and many sights; pocket Wi-Fi, eSIMs and prepaid SIMs are easy to arrange at Kansai Airport.
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
Kyoto has very low crime. The main issues are crowding at major sights, heat exhaustion in July and August, and cyclists on pavements. Typhoons can disrupt travel in late summer and early autumn.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Japan's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Kyoto?
Tipping is not practised in Japan and can cause embarrassment. Ryokan sometimes receive a small gift in an envelope, but it is never expected.
+Can you drink the tap water in Kyoto?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Kyoto?
Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Kyoto?
Japanese.