Kyoto Touristship: The 17 Etiquette Rules Kyoto Wants Visitors to Know Before Peak Autumn Leaves

Kyoto launched a new visitor etiquette campaign, KYOTO TOURISTSHIP, on October 1, 2026, just ahead of the autumn sightseeing season that the city expects to bring large numbers of visitors. It is run by Kyoto City and the Kyoto City Tourism Association, and its official website lists 17 etiquette points, in English, Japanese and Simplified and Traditional Chinese. If you are heading to Kyoto for the autumn leaves, these are the 17 points in plain language, with a note on which ones the site says can carry penalties.

All wording below is paraphrased from the official KYOTO TOURISTSHIP website (English and Japanese versions) and Kyoto City's October 1, 2026 announcement, checked on October 31, 2026. Quoted headings are the site's own English titles.

The short version

• What it is: an official Kyoto City campaign launched Oct 1, 2026, asking visitors to travel "with respect for the local culture and everyday life of the places you visit."
• 17 points on the official site, covering smoking, litter, photography, geiko and maiko, private property, cultural sites, plants, noise, luggage, crowds, cycling, eating and unlicensed taxis.
• Nine of the 17 carry the site's own wording that breaking them is, or may be, subject to penalties.
• Quiz: an online etiquette quiz runs Oct 1 to Nov 30, 2026 (until 5:00 p.m. JST). Every participant gets a Kyoto wallpaper, and four pairs (8 people) win a hotel stay in Kyoto by lottery.
• On paper: a new fold-out Kyoto Tourism Map, with etiquette on one side and a city map on the other, is handed out from Oct 1 at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center (Kyo Navi) and other locations, in English, Japanese and Chinese.

The 17 points

Streets and public spaces

1. "Smoke Only in Designated Areas." Do not smoke on the street anywhere in Kyoto City. In the city's designated no-street-smoking districts, smoking on the street is subject to penalties.
2. "Help Keep Kyoto Beautiful —for the Next Visitor." Littering may be subject to penalties or other measures.
3. "Every Narrow Street Is Part of Someone's Everyday Life." Blocking traffic or creating hazardous situations, for example by spreading out across a narrow road, may be subject to penalties.
4. "Beyond These Streets Lies Someone's Everyday Life." Do not enter private property, and do not sit down in front of homes or shops.

Photography, geiko and maiko

1. "If You Meet a Geiko or Maiko, Admire Them Respectfully." Touching geiko or maiko, blocking their path, or photographing them without permission may be subject to penalties. The site links to places where you can watch Kyomai dance and other maiko performances instead.
2. "A Thoughtful Photo Begins Before You Press the Shutter." Blocking a road to take photos, or entering private property for a shot, may be subject to penalties.
3. "Enjoy Kyoto's Beauty from a Safe Distance." Entering railway tracks, or interfering with train operations while taking photos, may be subject to penalties.
4. "Everyday Lives Are Part of the Scenery, Too." Even where photography is allowed, do not photograph children or local residents without their permission.

Temples, gardens and cultural sites

1. "Help Preserve What Has Been Passed Down for Generations." Do not touch cultural properties, exhibits or historic buildings, and follow the posted signs.
2. "Leave Your Memories in Your Heart—Not on Kyoto's Walls." Graffiti, damage and other deliberate vandalism may be subject to penalties.
3. "Every Flower and Branch Is Part of Kyoto's Beauty." Damaging bamboo groves, or breaking, picking or taking home branches of cherry or maple trees, may be subject to penalties. This one matters in autumn, when maple branches are within reach on many temple paths.
4. "Let Kyoto's Peaceful Atmosphere Become Part of Your Memories." Keep your voice down in public facilities, temples and shrines.

Getting around

1. "Travel Light. It's Better for Everyone." Travel without heavy bags where you can. The site links to the city's overview of hands-free travel services, such as luggage storage and delivery.
2. "Escape the Crowds and Discover Another Side of Kyoto." Check congestion levels at popular sightseeing areas before you go. The site links to a congestion map.
3. "Ride with the Flow of the City." Cycling violations may be subject to penalties. The Japanese version adds a reminder to watch for no-cycling zones in central Kyoto; the English version refers to cycling during restricted hours. The site links to Kyoto's cycling rules.
4. "Take a Break and Enjoy Your Meal or Sweet Treat." Rather than eating while you walk, enjoy food and sweets at the shop or in designated areas. (The English version says "in front of the shop"; the Japanese version says inside the shop.)
5. "Choose a Ride You Can Trust." Do not use unlicensed taxis offering paid rides without authorization. Even when you book through a ride-hailing app, check the vehicle, the operator and the booking details before you get in.

Which points can lead to penalties?

The official site uses penalty wording ("subject to penalties" or "may be subject to penalties") on nine points: street smoking in designated districts (1), littering (2), blocking or endangering traffic (3), geiko and maiko (5), photography that blocks roads or enters private property (6), railway tracks (7), graffiti and vandalism (10), damaging bamboo, cherry or maple (11) and cycling violations (15).

The site does not list fine amounts on these summaries, so we have not included any. If you want the specific rules, follow the links on each item of the official site.

What is new compared with Kyoto's earlier manner guides

Kyoto City's announcement marks several items as new compared with its earlier etiquette tools, such as the "MIND YOUR MANNERS" campaign: not entering railway crossings for photos, not photographing children without permission, not trespassing or sitting in front of homes, not damaging plants, cycling manners, not using unlicensed taxis, and not defacing property. The rest carry over from earlier campaigns in a friendlier format, with illustrations and a mascot that, in the site's words, encourages "small moments of awareness and consideration" rather than telling people what they must or must not do.

How the campaign reaches overseas visitors

According to Kyoto City, the campaign is also being shared before travel through the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) head office and overseas offices with local travel companies, and domestic tour operators are being asked to pass the materials to their guides and travellers. Short videos are being released from mid-October on the Kyoto City Tourism Association's official Instagram and RED accounts.

Practical tips for an autumn visit

• [ ] Save the official English page (promise.kyoto.travel/en) on your phone. Several items link to useful tools, such as the congestion map and hands-free luggage services.
• [ ] Plan photo stops where you are not blocking a lane, a doorway or a railway crossing.
• [ ] If you see a geiko or maiko in Gion or another district, step aside and let them pass. Do not stop them for photos.
• [ ] Send big suitcases ahead or store them before heading to temple districts.
• [ ] Eat at the shop counter or in a seating area, then move on.
• [ ] Book taxis and rides through licensed services, and check the vehicle and operator details before you get in.
• [ ] Try the official quiz before November 30 (5:00 p.m. JST) if you want the free wallpaper.

Planning an autumn trip to Kyoto from Canada? Join DOJI for free.

Sources

• KYOTO TOURISTSHIP — official website (English): the 17 etiquette points, penalty wording, quiz details and entry period. Checked 2026-10-31.
• KYOTO TOURISTSHIP — official website (Japanese): Japanese wording of the 17 points, used to check translations (cycling and food items). Checked 2026-10-31.
• Kyoto City — "KYOTO TOURISTSHIP" launch announcement, Oct 1, 2026 (Japanese): launch date, 17 points, supported languages, Kyoto Tourism Map, JNTO and tour-operator outreach, short videos. Checked 2026-10-31.
• Kyoto City Tourism Association (DMO KYOTO) — launch announcement, Oct 1, 2026 (Japanese): list of the 17 items, which carry penalty notes, and which are new. Checked 2026-10-31.
• Kyoto City Official Travel Guide — KYOTO TOURISTSHIP: English campaign summary. Checked 2026-10-31.

Cover photo: Kiyomizu-dera in autumn, Kyoto. Photo by Omkar Jori via Unsplash.