I really doubt that Japanese people want to visit there right now.
My father’s family home is in Kyoto, so I feel proud that it is such a popular tourist destination. As a Japanese, I would be truly happy if visitors from abroad could experience Japan through Kyoto, and then go on to explore other culturally rich cities across the country.
Well, with the weak yen and rising prices (eggs are still cheap in Japan though) that makes sense.
I’m taking a bike trip to Nigatta. Iv seen 0 other white dudes for two days. I’m happy and things are cheap in the off ski season. Too bad about the rain though. I hate what Kyoto has become and there is 0 reason to go there for myself. I never understood the appeal.
I’m a fan of mount Ikoma, but everyone skips past to Nara.
I’m in Kyoto rn as a domestic tourist and it’s so bizarre to see even in relatively touristy zones there are such a reduced number of foreign-looking (ie non Asian) folks when you literally cross a single street from tourist hotspots. What happened to Westerners self-proclaimed individualism and adventurous spirit that Asians are supposedly lacking huh
Edit: Rant aside I believe Kyoto can easily handle another 10 or 20 million visitors if they are more evenly spread throughout this incredible city where literally every corner has rich history and lore
Foreign overnight stays outnumbering Japanese overnight stays isn’t particularly surprising.
Japanese people take shorter breaks in general and Kyoto is a feasible day-trip destination for most people in Japan. Foreign visitors take longer breaks and obviously need somewhere to stay.
I’ve been in Kyoto and i don’t recommend it. The city is beautiful as most Japan is but the amount of tourists is completely unbearable for the city infrastructure. Using buses or even walking on the sidewalk becomes challenging. I feel for the Japanese people when I see tourists behaving like animals.
I went there with some friends on a tour of Japan (because they wanted to go) and when I was getting coffee from a roadside stand the proprietress told me that sometimes she felt like she was overseas because there were more foreigners than Japanese people walking down the street
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Probably the biggest reason why is hotel prices in Kyoto are insane now. You’d be lucky to find anything under 10,000 yen a night. I have business in Kyoto frequently, but I end up getting a hotel in Osaka because it’s cheaper.
MAN there are some OPINIONS in here.
Honestly though I get it. The tourism money is a boon but I don’t necessarily disagree with limiting tourist visas and a small tax increase for foreign students and non-residents if said tax money went to local infrastructure and other initiatives. In the non-tourist areas of Kyoto it’s perfectly fine though, some of the writers of these articles are some bellyaching whiners.
I went to Kyoto once, and I won’t ever go again, and this was a few years ago before it got really insane.
Kyoto might be worth it for bucket listers who might only ever get to go to Japan once in their life for a single week of two. But if you think you’ll go several times, there’s plenty of alternatives that are great.
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I really doubt that Japanese people want to visit there right now.
My father’s family home is in Kyoto, so I feel proud that it is such a popular tourist destination. As a Japanese, I would be truly happy if visitors from abroad could experience Japan through Kyoto, and then go on to explore other culturally rich cities across the country.
Well, with the weak yen and rising prices (eggs are still cheap in Japan though) that makes sense.
I’m taking a bike trip to Nigatta. Iv seen 0 other white dudes for two days. I’m happy and things are cheap in the off ski season. Too bad about the rain though. I hate what Kyoto has become and there is 0 reason to go there for myself. I never understood the appeal.
I’m a fan of mount Ikoma, but everyone skips past to Nara.
I’m in Kyoto rn as a domestic tourist and it’s so bizarre to see even in relatively touristy zones there are such a reduced number of foreign-looking (ie non Asian) folks when you literally cross a single street from tourist hotspots. What happened to Westerners self-proclaimed individualism and adventurous spirit that Asians are supposedly lacking huh
Edit: Rant aside I believe Kyoto can easily handle another 10 or 20 million visitors if they are more evenly spread throughout this incredible city where literally every corner has rich history and lore
Foreign overnight stays outnumbering Japanese overnight stays isn’t particularly surprising.
Japanese people take shorter breaks in general and Kyoto is a feasible day-trip destination for most people in Japan. Foreign visitors take longer breaks and obviously need somewhere to stay.
I’ve been in Kyoto and i don’t recommend it. The city is beautiful as most Japan is but the amount of tourists is completely unbearable for the city infrastructure. Using buses or even walking on the sidewalk becomes challenging. I feel for the Japanese people when I see tourists behaving like animals.
I went there with some friends on a tour of Japan (because they wanted to go) and when I was getting coffee from a roadside stand the proprietress told me that sometimes she felt like she was overseas because there were more foreigners than Japanese people walking down the street
[deleted]
Probably the biggest reason why is hotel prices in Kyoto are insane now. You’d be lucky to find anything under 10,000 yen a night. I have business in Kyoto frequently, but I end up getting a hotel in Osaka because it’s cheaper.
MAN there are some OPINIONS in here.
Honestly though I get it. The tourism money is a boon but I don’t necessarily disagree with limiting tourist visas and a small tax increase for foreign students and non-residents if said tax money went to local infrastructure and other initiatives. In the non-tourist areas of Kyoto it’s perfectly fine though, some of the writers of these articles are some bellyaching whiners.
I went to Kyoto once, and I won’t ever go again, and this was a few years ago before it got really insane.
Kyoto might be worth it for bucket listers who might only ever get to go to Japan once in their life for a single week of two. But if you think you’ll go several times, there’s plenty of alternatives that are great.