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Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
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To help everyone who visits Kyoto experience its charm more deeply, we invite all who love Kyoto to make a simple travel pledge through the Kyoto Guidelines for sustainable tourism Declaration. By expressing your support for the Declaration, you can further appreciate Kyoto’s unique atmosphere and enjoy a richer, more meaningful travel experience.
On this website, you can learn more about Kyoto’s history and culture, as well as the principles of the Kyoto Guidelines for sustainable tourism. By understanding the important manners and mindset to keep in mind when visiting Kyoto, you will be able to make your stay even more rewarding.
We encourage you to deepen your understanding of Kyoto’s appeal and enjoy a wonderful journey in harmony with fellow visitors and local residents alike.
Urban development began in Kyoto in 794 CE, more than 1,230 years ago. From that time forward, Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan, and even after the capital was moved to Tokyo, it continued to thrive as the nation’s cultural heart. Because Kyoto escaped much of the devastation of war and its cultural assets were preserved, it has become a city that welcomes visitors from around the world.
To ensure that Kyoto, as a tourism city, continues to be cherished for generations to come, the Kyoto Guidelines for sustainable tourism (Kyoto Tourism Code of Conduct) were established in 2020. These guidelines set out shared values to be upheld by tourism businesses and their employees, visitors, and local residents alike.
We kindly ask all visitors to be mindful of the impact tourism can have on local communities and to act with consideration for the people who live here.
To help visitors enjoy Kyoto safely, comfortably, and with peace of mind while avoiding crowded areas, the “Kyoto Tourism Comfort Map” provides forecasts of sightseeing comfort levels by time of day, along with live camera footage. This service is available in Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
To support congestion visualization, live cameras are installed at locations such as Kyoto Station, Arashiyama, and Gion. In addition, congestion levels are made visible during Kyoto’s four major annual events and peak tourism seasons, helping to encourage the dispersion of visitors across different times and locations.
The Aoi Matsuri graces Kyoto in the fresh early summer with an elegant procession. Believed to have begun approximately 1,500 years ago, it is the annual festival of Kamomioya Shrine (Shimogamo Shrine) and Kamigamo Shrine (Kamigamo Shrine). The stately parade, featuring participants dressed in classical court attire, evokes the refined atmosphere of ancient Kyoto.
In July, Kyoto is immersed in the spirit of the Gion Matsuri. With a history of more than a thousand years, this festival originated as a ritual to ward off epidemics and is the grand festival of Yasaka Shrine. From July 1 (Kippu-iri) to July 31 (Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai), a wide variety of events take place over the course of an entire month, transforming the city with vibrant traditions and magnificent floats.
The Jidai Matsuri began in 1895 (Meiji 28) to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Kyoto. Its highlight is a grand historical procession in which approximately 2,000 citizens parade through the city dressed in costumes representing successive eras, from the Meiji Restoration back to the Enryaku period when Heian-kyo was founded. The procession offers a vivid journey through Kyoto’s long and storied history.
The “Kyoto Gozan no Okuribi,” which illuminates the summer night sky, is a traditional event held during the Obon season to send off the spirits of ancestors. Bonfires are lit in distinctive shapes on five mountains: the character “Dai” on Higashiyama, followed by “Myo” and “Ho” on Matsugasaki, a boat shape on Nishigamo, the “Left Dai” on Daimonji-yama, and a torii gate shape in Saga—creating a solemn and unforgettable spectacle.
On public transportation, congestion—particularly on city buses—has become an issue, especially due to large luggage brought on board by visitors.
To help prevent bus overcrowding, the City of Kyoto is promoting “hands-free travel,” encouraging visitors to store their luggage at stations and other designated locations before heading out to explore. Through the “HANDS FREE KYOTO” initiative, the city shares useful information and has introduced measures such as temporary baggage storage counters to make sightseeing more comfortable and convenient.
Environmental Considerations
In Japan, it is generally understood that the person who generates waste is responsible for the cost of its disposal. In Kyoto, there is also a long-standing custom known as kado-baki, in which residents sweep the area in front of their homes each morning. Thanks to this practice, the streets tend to remain clean even without extensive public street-cleaning services.
Although media coverage of waste issues has led some to believe that Kyoto has few public trash bins, in fact, compared with other cities in Japan, many bins are installed around major sightseeing areas.
However, bins are sometimes removed when they are overfilled, when waste is forced into already full containers, or when household or commercial waste is improperly disposed of in them.
If you need to dispose of trash during your visit, we kindly ask that you do so at the shop where you made your purchase or take it back to your accommodation. To reduce single-use plastic waste, Kyoto is promoting the installation of public water refill stations that can be used with reusable bottles and certifying shops that encourage the use of personal bottles. We invite you to bring your own reusable bottle when exploring the city.
With the rapid increase in visitor numbers, the concentration of tourists in major sightseeing areas has led to overcrowded public transportation and inconvenience for nearby residents—issues that have become significant tourism challenges.
In response, the City of Kyoto is promoting the “Hidden Gems of Kyoto Project,” which highlights six areas within the city—Fushimi, Ohara, Takao, Yamashina, Nishikyo, and Keihoku. By sharing information about lesser-known attractions and local events not typically featured in guidebooks, the project encourages visitors to explore a wider range of destinations and helps distribute tourism more evenly.
For example, while the Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama is world-renowned, there are many other beautiful bamboo paths beyond the most famous sites, such as the bamboo groves in Muko City and at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. Kyoto offers numerous captivating places waiting to be discovered outside the main tourist routes.
In recent years, natural disasters—including frequent earthquakes and an increase in torrential rainfall due to climate change—have occurred across Japan. Kyoto, which welcomes many visitors each year, is no exception. If a disaster occurs during your visit, knowing how to respond can make all the difference. Prepare in advance by understanding what to do before and during your trip.
Actions to Take in the Event of a Large-Scale Disaster
STEP 1: Ensure Your Personal Safety
Move away from damaged or unstable buildings. Take shelter under sturdy furniture such as a desk and protect your head.
STEP 2: Move to a Safe Location
Immediately after an earthquake, avoid approaching hazardous areas and relocate to a safe place as soon as possible. Obtain accurate information before deciding on your next actions.
Train stations may become crowded, so please proceed to a nearby designated emergency evacuation area, such as open spaces near parks, temples, or shrines. The nearest evacuation area can be confirmed on the “Guide Map for People Unable to Return Home in the Event of a Disaster.”
Kyoto has many stone lanterns, stone torii gates, and old walls; in the event of an earthquake, move away from them promptly and be cautious of possible collapse.
STEP 3: Obtain Accurate Information
For updates during disasters, including public transportation operation status, please refer to the “Kyoto City Support Website for People Unable to Return Home.”
Related link: Safety Tips for Disasters During Sightseeing in Kyoto
Kyoto Trivia
History and TemplesHistory and Shrines & Temples
Within Kyoto, there are approximately 1,700 Buddhist temples and around 800 Shinto shrines—more than the number of convenience stores in the city. Seventeen sites are registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage properties under the collective designation “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” In 2024, Kyoto marked the 30th anniversary of its World Heritage inscription. To help preserve these invaluable cultural treasures for the future, please never deface buildings or cultural properties with graffiti.
When visiting temples and shrines, please keep the following in mind:
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Act respectfully and maintain a quiet demeanor.
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Do not touch historic buildings or cultural artifacts.
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The center of a torii gate is considered the pathway of the deities—please walk along either side.
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Photography may be prohibited in certain areas; check signs and notices carefully.
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Always remove your shoes when stepping onto tatami flooring. Bringing a small shoe bag can be helpful.
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Carry large luggage in front of you and remain mindful of those around you.
As you walk through the city, you will frequently see traditional wooden townhouses known as Kyo-machiya. Their wooden latticework (koshi) and tiled roofs, though simple in appearance, add depth and elegance to the streetscape and create a distinctive sense of “Kyoto-ness.”
However, these historic townhouses have been disappearing at an alarming rate in recent years—approximately 800 per year, which means more than two are lost each day.
Distinctive Features of Kyo-machiya
🔺Inuyarai
A wooden or bamboo guard installed along the base of the exterior wall to protect the house from mud splashes and to deter intrusion. It is not intended to be used as a bench.
🔺 Shoki-san
A small tile statue often seen seated atop the eaves, affectionately known as “Shoki-san,” is believed to ward off evil spirits.
🔺 Koshi (Latticework)
Designed to allow light and air to pass through while shielding the interior from outside view, latticework varies in shape and name depending on the type of business conducted in the house. The example shown is known as Itoya-goshi.
For those who would like to learn more about the distinctive features of Kyo-machiya, please click here [JP].
Make the Kyoto Traveler's Promise!
Those who have learned about Kyoto’s history, culture, and tourism manners are invited to take part by answering a quiz on the special website. By completing the quiz, you can receive benefits such as discounts and small gifts at various locations throughout Kyoto.
We hope you will enjoy exploring Kyoto through your participation in the Kyoto Guidelines for sustainable tourism Declaration.