Kyoto Travel Guide

Practical Info

Culture and etiquette

Religion

The most common religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism

Tipping

Do you need tip in Kyoto? Tipping isn't customary in Japan and can even be considered rude. There are rare situations where tipping may be expected but for the most but it's safer not to.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in most indoor public spaces and public transport, with some exceptions. It's also not allowed on public streets in busy districts – though you can find designated smoking areas.

Language 101

Japanese is the official language, though English is spoken in some parts of Kyoto and other big cities. It might be worthwile to learn a little Japanese in case you need it while you're there.

Hello - Kon'nichiwa

How are you? - O-genki desu ka

Yes - Hai

No - Iie

What's your name? - O-namae wa nan desu ka

My name is - Watashi no namae [name] desu

Please - Onegaishimasu

Thank you - Arigato gozaimasu

How much is it? - Ikura desu ka?

Where is? - Wa doko desu ka?

Numbers:

• One - Ichi
• Two - Ni
• Three - San
• Four - Shi, yon
• Five - Go

Goodbye - Sayonara

Jabs, visas and other advice

For up-to-date advice on jabs, visas and other foreign advice, we recommend following the government's website

Emergency numbers

110 for police. 119 for fire or ambulance.

Facts about Kyoto

The ancient city of Kyoto lies around 280 miles west of it's neon counterpart, Tokyo, and roughly 25 miles north of Osaka.

For well over a thousand years the city of Kyoto was home to the Japanese Imperial Family, and therefore the nation's capital city until 1868. It was at this time that the Emperor moved east to Edo, the home of the Shogunate and an already well-established port of trade, who renamed the city, Tokyo.

It's fair to say that the traditional and historic Kyoto is in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Here, arts and culture have had a huge influence on the city, which has helped shaped the beautiful and peaceful Kyoto that stands today.

Getting to Kyoto

Flights from the UK will arrive at Osaka Kansai International airport 60 miles south of Kyoto. From here you can take one of Japan's super-efficient trains into the city or hop on the Airport Limousine bus.

The JR Haruka Express takes 75 minutes to Kyoto Station, stopping at Shin-Osaka along the way.

The Limousine Bus departs from the first floor of both terminals and takes 90 minutes to reach Kyoto Station, after which it makes several further stops across town. If one of these stops is near your hotel, the bus may end up quicker than the train, so check their online timetable before planning your journey.

If you hold a British passport you will not need a visa to enter Japan and can stay for up to 90 days as a tourist. You'll need to fill out a landing card when you arrive and may need proof that your departure flight is booked.

Getting around Kyoto

Kyoto does not have an extensive subway network. Yes, there is a metro, but it generally works out quicker to get the bus and you get to really see the city.

Most bus services run between 7am and 9pm, with some offering earlier and later routes, what's more, most have announcements in English for tourists.

Kyoto is an old city and the subway system isn't nearly as convenient as hopping on a bus, or even walking and cycling

There are two metro lines in Kyoto: the Karasuma line that runs north to south, and the Tozai line which runs east to west.

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What to eat in Kyoto

Cuisine in Kyoto is known for being refined, delicious and second only to Tokyo when it comes to quality, in fact the city of Kyoto has over 100 Michelin-star restaurants.

When it comes to food (and pretty much anything in Japan for that matter) the attention to detail and the care taken in preparation is unrivalled. The food on offer here is nothing short of spectacular and from high-end restaurants to street stalls or even ready-prepared meals from a 7-Eleven store, you will not be disappointed. Neither will you go hungry.

One Kyoto's many specialities is Kaiseki, which is Japanese haute cuisine. The meal itself consists of a set menu offering a simple, hand-crafted dish for each each course, of which there can be as many as 11. However, both style and substance play a huge part, with a focus on balancing flavours, colour and texture.

Kyoto is also famous for its tofu. There's also a strong Japanese Buddhist influence in the region making this city a great place to find vegetarian cuisine, like yudofu and shojin ryori.

Another speciality in Kyoto are sweets, specifically Kyo-wagashi – beautifully crafted confections in various shapes and colours, which genuinely are as sweet as they look.

Japanese dining etiquette

To make it easier, remember these important notes on Japanese etiquette when dining out in Japan:

• Shoes and slippers off
• Wet towels are for your hands, not your face
• It's polite to wait for all dishes to arrive before tucking in
• Pick up small bowls and lean into bigger ones
• When finished, leave dishes how they arrived (lids on etc)
• It's polite to serve each other alcohol, rather than yourself and always sip before a refill

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