Through a series of smart strategies to protect its living history, Kyoto is getting tourism right, and it means you and your family will have an even better time exploring Japan’s ancient capital.
A city that has been Japan’s cultural heart for over a thousand years, Kyoto is the birthplace of tea ceremony, kaiseki cuisine, geisha culture and virtually every traditional Japanese art form you can think of. And with its 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites and more than 2,000 temples and shrines, Kyoto is a literal living museum.
Except that unlike a museum, everything here is still alive, still practised and still genuinely part of daily life. Which is why Kyoto remains one of the world’s most extraordinary cultural destinations.
Here’s what you need to know before visiting Kyoto.
The problem of popularity
Let’s not pretend there isn’t an issue. Kyoto’s been a victim of its own success. Like Venice, Barcelona and other beloved destinations, the city faces a paradox. People come to Kyoto precisely because it has maintained its authentic character… yet too many visitors concentrated in the same iconic spots at the same times can threaten their authenticity and, in some cases, their very existence.
Those same narrow laneways in Gion that make the area so atmospheric? They were never designed for thousands of tourists a day. The bamboo grove at Arashiyama that looks so magical on Instagram? Try visiting at 11am and you’ll be in a queue just to take a photo. You end up spending your holiday fighting crowds instead of experiencing anything.
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Why Kyoto is doing tourism differently
Rather than simply accepting this as the inevitable price of popularity or telling visitors to just sod off, Kyoto has created a plan. A really good one. Working closely with the Kyoto DMO, local businesses and residents, the city has launched a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Kyoto remains Kyoto.
For the city, it means preserving its beauty and culture with care and keeping it liveable for locals. For us travellers, it means better information for planning, less time stuck in crowds and more time having actual experiences, opportunities to engage more deeply with incredible culture and the satisfaction of knowing your visit helps rather than harms.
Kyoto’s approach to smarter tourism
Instead of trying to keep people away, Kyoto City and the local tourism organisation have built a whole strategy around getting visitors to spread out more, stay longer, visit at different times and genuinely engage with the culture instead of just photographing it. It sounds almost too simple, but the initiatives they’re rolling out are genuinely clever.
The Tourism Morals Code – These are not rules, but a shared understanding of how to be a good visitor. Practical stuff like not blocking streets in Gion for geisha photos, keeping your voice down in temples and being aware that real people live in these neighbourhoods. It’s explained in English (and multiple languages) through signs, pamphlets and a really good website.
Hidden Gems Program – Kyoto is promoting incredible places that get a fraction of the crowds that the famous attractions do. But we’re not talking about second-tier consolation prizes here. We’re talking UNESCO World Heritage sites, master craftspeople’s workshops and neighbourhoods that are every bit as beautiful as the Instafamous spots, but without the queue.
Live Crowd Forecasting – The city has installed webcams at major sites and created a congestion prediction tool. Before you leave your hotel, you can check exactly how busy places are right now and plan accordingly. This is a particular game changer for families with kids, as they can find the crowds overwhelming.
Off-Peak Campaigns – The city encourages dawn and evening visits (some temples now open early or late specially), promoting winter and summer travel (traditionally quieter seasons) and offering special events to spread demand.
The Traveller’s Promise – There are also programs that link your tourism spending (accommodation, dining) directly to heritage preservation. For example, a meal at a participating restaurant could help fund temple restoration. This is tourism that gives back and doesn’t just take.
The Kyoto accommodation tax
One of the ways Kyoto is getting tourism right is thhough the implementation of the Kyoto accommodation tax. From March 1, 2026, Kyoto’s changing its accommodation tax, but they’re not trying to price anyone out. Instead, they are charging a fair tax per person (regardless of age), per night on a tiered basis, depending on how much your accommodation costs.
As of January 1st, 2026 (but subject to change), the taxes are as follows.
Budget stays (under ¥6,000—about $59 AUD per person per night): ¥200 tax (about $2 AUD)
Mid-range (¥6,000-19,999—about $59-$197 AUD per person per night): ¥400 tax (about $4 AUD)
Upper mid-range (¥20,000-49,999—about $197-$493 AUD per person per night): ¥1,000 tax (about $10 AUD)
Luxury (¥50,000-99,999—about $493-$986 AUD per person per night): ¥4,000 tax (about $40 AUD)
Ultra-luxury (¥100,000+—about $986+ AUD per person per night): ¥10,000 tax (about $99 AUD)
So if you’re a family of four staying somewhere mid-range at around $80-100 per person per night (so $320-400 total per night for the room), you’re paying an extra $16 a night in tax. That’s a couple of coffees. But if you’re a couple staying in a $1,000 per night luxury ryokan suite, you’ll be paying significantly more tax.
The big increases really only kick in at the luxury end with the people dropping $1,000+ per person per night. And honestly? They can afford to contribute more to preserving the city they’re visiting.
It’s important to know that this is not simply some cash grab. It is a well-considered investment in making sure Kyoto remains Kyoto 20 years from now… when your kids want to bring their kids. It does this by funding heritage preservation (those temples don’t maintain themselves), better infrastructure for visitors such as multilingual signs, information services and transportation improvements, programs to help local residents and businesses adapt to tourism, crowd management initiatives, and all the tools and services that make your visit better.
8 smart ways to plan your Kyoto visit
1. Stay longer, stress less
Don’t try to smash through everything in two days. Give yourself five or six days minimum.
2. Time things right
If you must visit the more popular temples, do it early in the morning or late afternoon and dedicate whole days to quiet neighbourhoods and experiences.
3. Think about Kyoto’s seasons
Summer’s hot but has festivals and night illuminations. Winter is cold but clear with smaller crowds and nearby onsens. Spring and autumn are lovely, but expect a whole lot of company. Shoulder seasons (June and late January to February) can be brilliant.
4. Use the official Kyoto City Official Travel website
Bookmark the Kyoto City Official Travel Guide (kyoto.travel) as it offers crowd forecasts, hidden gems and transport info. And everything is in English.
5. Get around like a Kyoto local
Kyoto’s bus and subway system is excellent. Download the app. Or rent bikes. Kyoto’s surprisingly flat and bike-friendly, and many places offer family-sized rentals.
6. Look for Kyoto preservation programs
Accommodations and restaurants participating in heritage programs usually advertise it. Your stay literally funds conservation.
7. Be respectful of Kyoto’s culture and people
Following the tourism code isn’t just being nice. It’s ensuring these places stay open to visitors. Nobody wants to see temples close to tourists because people can’t behave.
8. Make better tourism choices in Kyoto
Beyond the big-name attractions like Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the historic Gion district, there are so many things to do in Kyoto that deliver all the magic without the human traffic jams. Click here for the best things to do in Kyoto without the crowds.
For more information, visit the official Kyoto City Travel Guide, where you’ll find real-time congestion forecasts, hidden gem recommendations and comprehensive planning resources for your family’s visit.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Aleney de Winter was fresh from school when she first set off to explore the far reaches of Australia with a two-man tent and a beaten-up Kingswood for company. Three decades, and two kids later, and she's still on the go, with her itchy-footed offspring in tow. 