Do not open car doors or take photos of geisha girls without permission！ Kyoto launches a "Chinese guide to tourist taboos"

Reporter You t
ru / Comprehensive report

The Kyoto Tourism Bureau recently released a "Kyoto Taboos" handbook specifically for travelers, written in Chinese, listing 19 common mistakes foreign visitors tend to make in Kyoto. These include smoking while walking, opening or closing taxi doors by oneself, taking photos of maiko (apprentice geisha) without permission, and more. It also prominently states “People in Kyoto follow rules strictly,” specially reminding visitors to pay attention to details when traveling in Kyoto.


▲Although Kyoto has many rules, it is also a beautiful city with deep cultural heritage. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

The "Kyoto Taboos," specially designed for foreign travelers, comes in both English and Chinese versions. Zhong Zhifang, the Taiwan representative of the Kyoto Tourism Bureau, explained that many tourists come to Japan via group tours. Most tourists are polite, but some minor behaviors often cause discomfort among locals. For example, smoking while walking, opening taxi doors on their own, drinking beverages inside restaurants, or skipping reservations can seem trivial, but they may easily offend people in the more traditional areas of central Kyoto.

Taboos in Kyoto
1. Smoking while walking
2. Taking photos of maiko without permission
3. Opening or closing taxi doors by yourself
4. Littering
5. Use "OKINI" instead of tipping
6. Do not step on tatami mats with shoes on
7. Do not bring drinks into restaurants
8. Do not cut in line
9. Do not no-show at restaurants
10. Do not ride a bicycle under the influence of alcohol
11. Do not touch residential buildings (or objects) casually
12. Do not walk side by side in groups
13. Do not park bicycles anywhere randomly
14. Keep restrooms clean
15. Occupy priority seats designated for elderly, weak, women, and children
16. Do not take photos near railway tracks
17. Do not speak loudly at shrines or temples
18. Do not wear hats when entering shrines
19. Do not take photos where photography is prohibited at shrines or temples

% The guide was created based on actual feedback. (Image / Provided by the Kyoto Tourism Bureau)