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Kyoto Local Customs

Learn the local customs of Kyoto. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kyoto locals.
Local Time 11:05 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Kyoto Local CustomsTips 1 - 10 of 112  
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Temple and shrine wells: Before Entering a Buddhist Temple
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 25, 2004
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  • Instructions - Kyoto
    Instructions
    by bkoon
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    Before entering a Japanese Temple, there is a washing ritual which worshippers need to take note of. If you do not know how to do it, follow what others do. Basically, you will need to wash your hands with the water in the Temple Well. It is not really a well per se. It is usually a big concrete container with long wooden ladles for you to use.

    From my understanding, the step-by-step approach of the washing ritual is as follows:
    1. Use right hand, pick up the ladle, scoup the water.
    2. Pour over your left hand and wash it.
    3. Change hand and wash the other hand.
    4. Drink/seep a little of the spring water.
    5. Place the ladle back on the rack..

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    Staying in a Ryokan
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 31, 2004
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  • Mum at Ryokan - Kyoto
    Mum at Ryokan
    by bkoon
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    Ryokan are accommodations, peculiar to Japan. And its the only one of its form in the world. Ryokan are an excellent accommodation as good as hotel. The structures are made of wood. They have a Western-style guest room but mainly composed of Japanese-style room.(Room with straw tatami mats) A Japanese-style room has various faces as a drawing room, living room and also a bed room. Ryokan is built in a traditional mode of Japanese architectual style and inside, you can see and feel the Japan's beautiful culture and tradition. You can enjoy Japanese dishes and culture also.

    At the entrance of your room, you remove your shoes and enter your room.

    In the evening, your room will be converted into a bedroom whereby futons will be laid on the tatami mat.

    Difference from Western-style hotels, Ryokan has a unique customs. Ryokan staff (usualy called "Nakai" in Japan) will enter your room and serve you in these cases.
    1. When you arrive at your room.
    2. When you have dinner. (breakfast)
    3. To make your bed (futon) after dinner.
    4. To clean up your bed (futon) in the morning.

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  • Website: http://www.ryokan.or.jp/

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    Geisha and Maiko: Becoming a Geisha...even if only for a day
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  • By BorderHopper on January 10, 2005
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  • Our son looking confused about Mommy as a Geisha - Kyoto
    Our son looking confused about
    Mommy as a Geisha
    by BorderHopper
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    It is said that there are between 100 and 150 Maiko and Geisha in Kyoto so if your intent on seeing one, without going through the complex process of official introductions and paying a wad of cash, you may have some luck if you hang out in the Gion district or around Ponto Cho.
    I spotted my first Geisha in a black taxi, riding shotgun & looking downcast, with two old Japanese businessmen in the back seat. It was a pretty exciting moment. If you don't have the time to hang around these areas you may want to try going to a photo studio which specializes in photographing people in Geisha costumes. They will first do your makeup in the Geisha style, dress you in ornate gowns which could take about an hour, then photograph you in their studio. Afterwards they'll take the client into their sitting room and conduct the business of paying (about $150 usd) whicle serving you delicous green tea & sweets.

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  • Phone: 075-532-1751
  • Website: http://www.emarsa.jp/maiko/

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    Public Hot Baths
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 31, 2004
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  • Yes, I tried it once. Many visitors do not know the procedure when bathing in a public hot bath.

    Basically, what you have to do is as follows :
    1. Walk into the hot bath area naked.
    2. Before dipping into the hot bath, shampoo and rinse yourself clean.
    3. Dip into the hot hot bath.
    4. When you are done, get up, towel dry and put on your yugata.

    Or just follow what others do.
    That's it.

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    Prayer and Luck: How You Pray
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  • Updated By bkoon on May 31, 2004
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  • Praying - Kyoto
    Praying
    by bkoon
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    How you pray is rather simple. The simplest is to put your hands together, face the god and bow your head a few times together with your hands which are together.

    At Shinto Temples, after you have prayed, you may ring the bell by pullung the long rope hard and bang it on the big gong. You may choose to burn a candle or the nice smelling joss sticks.

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    Temple and shrine wells: Ringing bells to wake the gods
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  • By BorderHopper on January 10, 2005
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  • Quit ringing that bell! - Kyoto
    Quit ringing that bell!
    by BorderHopper
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    At Shinto shrines you can place a small donation in a box that sits below a long rope which leads to a bell. You should pul on the rope to ring the bell which is supposed to wake the gods. Bow twice, clap loudly twice, bow again twice, then step back.....and ther eyou have it. As you can see below my little son got it all wrong. He didn't quite like the tolling of the bell and instead of waking the gods it got McKinley all worked up.

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    Gardens: Sakura
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  • Updated By Pixiekatten on November 23, 2006
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  • Sakura - Kyoto - Kyoto
    Sakura - Kyoto
    by Pixiekatten,
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    Cherry blossoms (sakura) are called the symbol of Japanese culture, and have been composed in many tankas (Japanese poems) from old times. From March to April, when the news of cherry blossoms flowering is received from south, people travel from all over Japan to see cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are in bloom in a short period, only 5 days. Kyoto has many good sights for sakura viewing, for example:

    - Kyoto Imperial Palace Park -
    Kyoto Imperial Palace can be reached in about 10 minutes from Kyoto Station by the Karasuma Subway Line. Get off at Marutamachi or Imadegawa Station.

    - Kiyomizu-dera Temple -
    Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station in about 15 minutes by bus. Take bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka, from where it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.

    - Heian-jingu Shrine -
    From JR Kyoto Station take City Bus 5 to "Kyoto Kaikan Bijitusu-kan Mae".
    10 min walk from "Higashi-yama" Tozai line subway stop.

    - Maruyama Park -
    Maruyama Park can be reached by bus from Kyoto Station in about 20 minutes. Take number 100 and 206 and get off at Gion bus stop. The park is just behind Yasaka Shrine.

    - Along Kamogawa -


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    Gardens: Love of Nature
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  • By giampiero6 on October 13, 2003
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  • A quiet spot near the Ryoan-ji - Kyoto
    A quiet spot near the Ryoan-ji
    by giampiero6
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    The Japanese have a very highly evolved, articulated, and ritualized love of nature. Simplicity and naturalness are highly prized. You won't really find highly logical european gardens or english gardens here, but rather great pains are taken for natural and simple settings. In Kyoto, I found that the garden settings were some of the best parts of enjoying the various temples. If you go, make sure to leave some time for the gardens/grounds as well as the temples.


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    Gardens: Manicured Temple Grounds
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  • By giampiero6 on October 13, 2003
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  • Ladies Sweeping the Moss - Kyoto
    Ladies Sweeping the Moss
    by giampiero6
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    The temple grounds are quite beautiful and well kept. I was particularly fond of the delicate and fresh greenery...moss, maples, pines. You'll see women placidly sweeping the moss to keep leaves off of it. Being from a dry mediterranean climate in LA, the greenery was stunning and very peaceful. I admired the attentive, care that was lavished on natural details.


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    Prayer and Luck: Kaz Misses Love at Kiyomizu Temple
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  • By giampiero6 on October 13, 2003
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  • Kaz Narrowly Misses True Love - Kyoto
    Kaz Narrowly Misses True
    Love
    by giampiero6
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    Towards the top of the temple complex, there is a fun little 'game' that will determine your fate in love. Two stones are placed about 25 yards apart. You have to start at one and closing your eyes, try to walk into the other stone at the end. NO CHEATING. If you walk right to the other stone without looking, you'll have luck, otherwise, time to hit the internet personals. For the record Kaz barely missed, but I walked straight to the stone....I'm not sure if the stones are right! It's fun.


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