What Kyoto Is

Kyoto is the epitome of historic Japan.

Kyoto is a professional tourism city. No matter how maddeningly packed it gets during the high seasons the city always has a way of organizing the crowds.

Kyoto is a mélange of the old and the new. It is a strangely exciting place where large chain stores and small hole-in-the-wall places both thrive so take advantage of both.

Kyoto is always under construction. Repetitive construction work is necessary to maintain century-old wooden architecture. If the temple you really wanted to take a picture of is going through a major fixing during your visit, you can always buy a postcard.

What Kyoto Is Not

Kyoto is not always English-friendly. Most staff members at small stores and restaurants don’t speak English, but are usually extremely helpful. Smile, bow lightly and use hand gestures.

Kyoto is not as serene and quiet as you may have seen in books, movies and TV documentaries. Unless you are willing to get up with the monks at sunrise, you will queue along lines of people at temples, museums, bus stops and store cash registers.

Kyoto is not a hard-to-find destination place. There are many travelers just like you, though more visitors will be Japanese than foreigners. Accept the fact that this is one of the most popular destinations to be shared with the rest of the world.