I came back to Kyoto after just a year but my god, things have changed so much since somehow. I came here just AFTER golden week and Gion~Sannenzaka and Nishiki is full of people. The combination of local middle schoolers and tourists makes a perfect storm.
First, I want to say sorry to the Chinese tourists for assuming they are the problem because internet just loves to jump the gun and blame them first. But it was actually old European tourists(I was hearing a lot of french but it must be just a coincidence) who are causing the mass havoc. They were trying to enter people’s homes and sometimes literally trying to jump the fence.
When in doubt, don’t fucking touch it. That is the rule #1 when you are visiting any country. I
Younger generation who comes to Japan are usually educated enough about the rules and they behave well despite the language barrier. It’s the old people who are brash and just kinda rude.
I know it’s really cringe to shit on tourists when I‘m a tourist myself eld but my god… it’s always the few bad ones which ruin everything. Kyoto is the definition of “this is why we can’t have nice things”.
P.s. Nishiki Market is entering Tsukiji Market price. I swear the prices got so much more expensive.
by RawhideJohnston