Useful tips

ICOCA, Suica or a phone wallet works on trains, buses and in convenience stores.

City buses crawl in November. Use subway, JR, Keihan and Hankyu lines, then walk.

Tourist express routes from Kyoto Station link the main sights at a higher fare than regular buses.

The icons are calm before 9am. Save afternoons for smaller temples and museums.

Cards are widely taken, but small temples, stalls and shrine offerings still need yen.

Private lanes are off-limits and photography is banned there. Never stop geiko or maiko.

Many temples ask you to remove shoes. Wear socks and slip-on shoes.

Finish snacks where you buy them; carry rubbish, as bins are rare.

Kyoto’s accommodation tax rose in March 2026 and scales with room rate. It is paid per person, per night.

Some night viewings sell timed tickets online. Check each temple’s site the week before.

The Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) runs 24 hours in English.

Install the JNTO “Safety tips” app and read your hotel’s evacuation plan.