Things to Do in Kyoto
14 Japanese roundups
Kyoto is where Japan’s overtourism debate is loudest — and where local knowledge pays off most. In their own comment sections, Japanese commenters call Nishiki Market a tourist trap, blame tour guides for the Gion mess, and still quietly name the diners, ramen joints and souvenir shops they actually use. Start with their warnings, then follow where they’d send you instead.
Kyoto at a glance
Japanese commenters say go
What a hotel night in Kyoto costs
Median nightly rate of the cheapest 90 hotels with a room free: 2 adults, 1 night, room rate incl. tax (around Kyoto Station)
- Next day
- ¥26,200
- 30 days ahead
- ¥23,580
- 90 days ahead
- ¥7,226
Source: Rakuten Travel vacant-room search, recorded by us daily. Figures describe the cheaper end of each city's market, not the whole city. As of Oct 19, 2026 JST.
Where to eat7
- Japanese visitors say skipArashiyama Food: Japan Judges Its Most Notorious Cafe
44,729 likes on one line about Arashiyama's resold-cake cafe: "My only impression is that it still hasn't gone under."
44,729 likes
- Japanese visitors say goZenkashoin, Kyoto: The Cafe Japan's Harshest Approved
Japan's bluntest dessert reviewer praised every single thing at Zen Kashoin — 13,133 likes are still in disbelief it costs this little.
13,133 likesWhere to go instead →
- Japanese visitors say goArashiyama Street Food: Japan's Bluntest Review
Japan's bluntest food channel walked Arashiyama's street food and liked everything — "high marks across the board for once" (403 likes).
1,107 likes
- Best Ramen in Kyoto? What Japanese Ramen Fans Say
A Kyoto channel listed nine ramen shops "tourists never find"; the top reply (23 likes) snaps that it forgot Ore no Ramen Appareya.
23 likesWhere to go instead →
- Kyoto Souvenirs: What Japanese Shoppers Actually Buy
120 comments of Japanese shoppers naming the Kyoto souvenirs they actually buy: Shizuya's Carné roll, Demachi Futaba's bean mochi and Ajari-mochi.
26 likesWhere to go instead →
- Kyoto Cheap Eats: The Diners Japanese Regulars Use
Kyoto cheap eats: a Kyoto channel's five favorite working-class diners and 112 comments backing them — the real everyday eating isn't the kaiseki on TV.
16 likes
- Japanese visitors say goKiyomizu-dera Street Food: The ¥250 Cucumber Wins
Japanese commenters crowned a ¥250 pickled cucumber on a stick over matcha and parfaits — the top cucumber comment alone drew 3,787 likes.
3,938 likesWhere to go instead →
See or skip3
- Japanese visitors splitNishiki Market Prices: The ¥5,000 Beef Skewer Verdict
Nishiki Market prices: Japanese commenters say ¥5,000 beef skewers helped turn it into "vulgar markets with no atmosphere left" (161 likes).
161 likesWhere to go instead →
- Japanese people splitKyoto Overtourism: Is Kyoto Worth Visiting Anymore?
Japanese viewers answer Kyoto's crowds with policy, not blame: the most-liked comment (3,178 likes) wants a tourist tax to bring the numbers down.
3,178 likesWhere to go instead →
- Japanese visitors say skipIs Nishiki Market a Tourist Trap? Japanese Visitors Answer
Is Nishiki Market a tourist trap? The top comment (20,198 likes) isn't about food: Japanese visitors hate the idea that any quality will do for tourists.
20,198 likesWhere to go instead →
Know before you go4
- Is Kyoto Dual Pricing Fair? What Japanese Commenters Say
Fair or not, it won't empty the buses: a Kyoto local (12 likes) says visitors ride because there is no other option. Take the train instead.
39 likes
- Japanese Politeness: What Kyoto Locals Really Mean
Japanese politeness, decoded: “I'll think about it” usually means no — 1,430 likes for the Kyoto exchange that nails it, and locals calling it too simple.
1,430 likes
- Arashiyama Crowds: Blame the Cars, Not the Tourists
Arashiyama's crush gets blamed on cars, not visitors: the most-liked fix (666 likes) is to ban every vehicle except residents' cars and buses.
666 likes
- Kyoto Photo Ban: Gion's ¥10,000 Fine, Explained
Gion's private lanes carry a ¥10,000 charge posted by the neighborhood council. In the top 60 of 2,953 comments, Japanese viewers blame the tour guides.
3,247 likes
Rules that apply anywhere in Japan39
These apply everywhere in Japan, not just here.
- Can You Share Food at a Japanese Restaurant? Ramen Answer
Usually yes, once everyone has ordered their own bowl. Top reply on a ramen-sharing row (8,048 likes): ask the staff on the spot. The shop decides.
8,048 likes
- Are Kids Allowed in Restaurants in Japan? Japanese Answer
Yes, at most places. The top Japanese reply (7,400 likes): no one is angry at crying kids, only at parents who leave them to it. Some shops post rules.
7,400 likes
- Is It Rude to Do Makeup on a Train in Japan?
Past lipstick, mostly yes. A leading Japanese answer (40,807 likes) says stop at lips; powder and brushes that hit the next rider are the problem.
41,495 likes
- Japanese people splitIs the Seishun 18 Ticket Still Worth It? What Japanese Say
Only if you ride far on back-to-back days. Japanese riders say the 3- and 5-day version suits rail fans, not workers or day-trippers (802 likes).
2,181 likes
- Can You Wear Earphones While Cycling in Japan?
Yes, if one ear stays open: one earbud or open-ear headphones are legal while you can hear traffic. Both ears sealed risks a ¥5,000 ticket (314 likes).
759 likes
Guides9
- Kyoto vs Osaka: Where to Stay? Hotel Data + Japanese Views
Kyoto vs Osaka as a base: daily hotel-price data near Kyoto Station and Namba, and where Japanese travelers sleep when Kyoto costs too much.
- Getting Around Japan: What Japanese Riders Say
218 of 931 Japan travel questions were about getting around. Japanese riders answer them: shinkansen seats, airport trains, taxis and the rules on board.
- What Travelers Ask About Japan vs What Japanese Say
We logged 755 Japan travel questions asked on Reddit in 18 days. Most ask if an itinerary is right. Almost none ask what Japanese threads argue about.
- 310 Places Japanese Locals Actually Named: The Index
We translated 1,110 comments from 75 Japanese YouTube comment sections — 873,324 likes between them. Every place locals named, indexed by city.
- Is It Worth the Queue? Japan's Food Lines, Judged
Japanese comment sections judge Japan's famous food queues — which are manufactured, which are only spectators, and the seven rules locals use to decide.
- First Time in Japan? 12 Things to Know Before You Go
What 60 Japanese comment threads say to sort out before you fly: the free reservations you must book, rail-pass math, cash, and the rules that carry fines.
- A Short History of Nara: Why the Great Buddha Feels Flat
Japanese commenters don't call Nara boring — they say the boredom is what happens when you arrive without the 1,300 years of context. Here it is.
- Are Japan's Famous Food Markets Tourist Traps?
We aggregated nearly 5,600 Japanese comments across seven local verdicts on Tsukiji, Nishiki, Kuromon and Nijo — and the pattern is remarkably consistent.
- Golden Route Japan: What Japanese Skip and Eat at Each Stop
Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka, per Japanese comment sections: what they'd skip at each stop, what's worth the crowd, and where they actually eat.
Questions these roundups answer45
- Will tourists pay more for Kyoto city buses?
- How much will Nijo Castle cost under dual pricing?
- How do you avoid the crowded buses in Kyoto?
- Is Kyoto's dual pricing aimed at foreigners?
- Does "I'll think about it" mean no in Kyoto?
- Are Kyoto people rude or passive-aggressive to visitors?
- Is Kyoto really that cold in winter?
- What does real Kyoto dialect sound like?
- What is Ransui Coffee in Arashiyama known for?
- Is Ransui Coffee worth visiting?
- How do I avoid tourist-trap cafes in Arashiyama?
- Is Zen Kashoin worth visiting in Kyoto?
- Where is Zen Kashoin?
- What should you order at Zen Kashoin?
- How do you find non-touristy cafes in Kyoto?
- How crowded is Arashiyama?
- Do Kyoto locals blame tourists for Arashiyama's congestion?
- Should I drive or take a taxi to Arashiyama?
- Is Arashiyama street food a tourist trap?
- What do locals recommend eating in Arashiyama?
- When should you avoid Arashiyama?
- Is the hour-long ramen queue in Kyoto worth it?
- Where is Kyoto's best ramen, according to Japanese ramen fans?
- What Kyoto souvenirs do Japanese shoppers actually buy?
- Is Demachi Futaba worth the queue?
- How long does mame-mochi keep?
- Can you take photos in Gion?
- Who do Japanese viewers blame for the Gion photo problem?
- How do I avoid the ¥10,000 fine in Gion?
- What is a taishu-shokudo?
- Is Kyoto food expensive?
- Are all of these places still open?
- What should I eat on the Kiyomizu-dera approach?
- Is street food around Kiyomizu-dera expensive?
- Is good matcha supposed to taste bitter?
- How do I escape the crowds near Kiyomizu-dera?
- Is Nishiki Market expensive?
- Where do Kyoto locals shop instead of Nishiki Market?
- Should I skip Nishiki Market entirely?
- Is Kyoto still worth visiting?
- Do Kyoto locals hate tourists?
- Where can you still feel the old Kyoto?
- Is Nishiki Market worth visiting?
- Why do Kyoto locals avoid Nishiki Market?
- Where do locals go instead of Nishiki Market?
Every place Japanese commenters named30
All the spots mentioned in the comments across these roundups. Tap a name to open Google Maps; tap the Japanese to copy it for taxis and map apps; tap the star to build your own list. Hours and prices change — details are as of the source comments.
- Tofukuji StationHigashiyama ward, KyotoThe transfer point one commenter wants visitors to know about: JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station, then the Keihan Line toward Kiyomizu-dera instead of the bus (7 likes). Another warns Kiyomizu-Gojo Station is still a fair walk from the temple (5 likes).MapWhy it's here
- Ransui CoffeeArashiyama, near Saga-Arashiyama StationThe cafe in question — 44,729 likes on "amazed it hasn't gone under." As of the comments, the consensus is to skip it; listed here so you can recognize it.MapWhy it's here
- Zen Kashoin Kyoto Muromachi HontenMuromachi-dori, north of Karasuma-OikeThe cafe from the review — full praise from Japan's harshest dessert critic, confirmed by regulars and by a Kyoto local in the comments. Easy to walk past, per a 41-like warning.MapWhy it's here
- Koto Imo HonpoArashiyamaA Kyoto local's top add (1,107 likes): the plain kinako dango is "huge, great value, and SO good."MapWhy it's here
- Enman MochitenArashiyamaKnown for hineri-mochi, "a mysterious sweet a bit like warabi-mochi" (9 likes). That commenter never visits Arashiyama without stopping here.MapWhy it's here
- Shinpachi ChayaArashiyamaGelato one commenter (1 like) says they've gone back to Arashiyama just to eat: matcha-and-azuki is the pick.MapWhy it's here
- TEA ROOM KIKI (tea & scones)Arashiyama (near Randen-Saga Sta.)A tea-and-scone specialist one customer calls "a godly shop" (63 likes), and one of their favorites.MapWhy it's here
- Kyo BaumArashiyamaMatcha baumkuchen on the slightly bitter side: one commenter (22 likes) has bought it on every Kyoto trip since their school excursion.MapWhy it's here
- Miyako HantenYawata, south of KyotoThe thread's darling: “I've eaten ramen all over, and Miyako Hanten's Sichuan ramen is still the best” — and a commenter from Otokoyama calls it “soul food, no question.”MapWhy it's here
- Ore no Ramen AppareyaJoyoThe most-liked comment (23) is pure indignation that the video's list left it out.MapWhy it's here
- Honke Daiichi-Asahi Takabashi (Joyo)Joyo, near Kutsukawa Sta.The branch a commenter insisted was missing from the list: “Wait — no Takabashi Daiichi-Asahi, the Joyo branch?” (8 likes).MapWhy it's here
- Tajima RamenOgura, UjiOne commuter's ride-or-die: “when I do get to Kyoto, I always end up at Tajima over anywhere else.”MapWhy it's here
- ShizuyaMultiple shops, incl. Kyoto StationThe Carné bread roll is the thread's consensus must-buy — “the one thing I can't skip before boarding the shinkansen” (26 likes). A local dissenter backs the casse-croûte instead.MapWhy it's here
- Demachi FutabaDemachiyanagiThe famous mame-mochi: one commenter's all-time No.1 mamedaifuku (7 likes), while the thread's sharpest dissent says it isn't worth queuing hours for. Either way it hardens the same day, so eat it on the spot.MapWhy it's here
- OtafukuyaDemachi Masugata arcadeThe no-queue alternative one commenter walks to instead of Futaba: the same signature mame-mochi, and “honestly I think Otafukuya's is better.”MapWhy it's here
- Ajari-mochi Honpo Mangetsu (honten)Near Demachiyanagi / HyakumanbenLocal tip: buy the loose ones at the main shop and eat them right outside, still faintly warm (5 likes).MapWhy it's here
- Ryokujuan ShimizuNear HyakumanbenA Kyoto local of 63 years adds one the video didn't mention: Ryokujuan Shimizu's konpeitō (sugar candy), which they call wonderful.MapWhy it's here
- NakamurakenNear Katsura Imperial Villa“It doesn't keep long, but Nakamuraken's mugi-te-mochi near Katsura Imperial Villa is delicious” (11 likes).MapWhy it's here
- ShinodayaSanjo OhashiA regular swears its Chinese-style noodles beat the dedicated ramen shops; the sara-mori plate gets backed too.MapWhy it's here
- SuehiroTeramachi-Nijo, downtown"It gets pretty busy even on weekdays," per a commenter whose classmate's family runs it. A Kyo-sushi shop famous for winter mushi-zushi (steamed sushi).MapWhy it's here
- MasugatayaDemachi Masugata arcadeKnown for its saba (mackerel) sushi — “insanely good,” per one commenter.MapWhy it's here
- GonpachiInside the Central Wholesale Market"Cold zaru soba plus an oyako-don is the best combo" — one commenter's standing order.MapWhy it's here
- Inoue no GyozaDemachi Masugata arcadeOne commenter's regular spot near Masugataya, run by the former owner of the old Demachi Ohsho.MapWhy it's here
- HighlightHyakumanben, by Kyoto UniversityStudent-canteen vibe, famous for chicken katsu — recommended by that same commenter alongside the classic diners.MapWhy it's here
- Imai ShokudoBy Kamigamo ShrineHeads-up from the comments: takeout-only for a while as of these comments — check the listing before you go.MapWhy it's here
- Kyo Otsukemono-dokoro YamashitaSannenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera approachThe chilled-cucumber pickle shop a 285-like commenter named as their regular buy — and their shiso-daikon pickles got a repeat-customer endorsement too.MapWhy it's here
- Gekka BijinNinenzakaTakeout sweets stand from the video — a commenter was delighted to finally learn its name.MapWhy it's here
- Sanjo-kai Shopping StreetSanjo, west of downtown KyotoNamed by one commenter as the better bet over Nishiki (81 likes) — a covered arcade where the everyday shopping still happens.MapWhy it's here
- Shinkyogoku Shopping StreetDowntown Kyoto, parallel to TeramachiThe other arcade the same commenter names instead of Nishiki (81 likes).MapWhy it's here
- Fushimi Sake DistrictFushimi, south KyotoThe one alternative named in these comments: “It's a bit of a train ride, but the Fushimi sake district is a lovely spot” (295 likes).MapWhy it's here
The loudest voice on Kyoto
“My only impression is that it still hasn't gone under…”
まだ潰れてないんだという印象しかない…
Day trips from Kyoto
Where to go when Kyoto gets too crowded — each with its own roundups of Japanese comments.
More in Kansai
FAQ
- Where do these come from?
- From the comment sections of Japanese YouTube videos — food crawls, hidden-gem tours, honest reviews. We quote real comments only, show the actual like counts at the time of collection, and link back to the source video.
- How accurate are the translations?
- Each quote keeps the original Japanese alongside the English. We adapt slang so it reads naturally, but we never change the meaning or invent comments.
- What day trips from Kyoto does this page cover?
- Nara, Kobe, Himeji: places people head to from Kyoto. Each has its own roundups of what Japanese people actually say, quoted with real like counts and linked to the source videos.