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Sightseeing in Kyoto:
A Survey of Overseas Visitor Responses
木村篤人（Stephen Richmond ゼミ）

1. Sightseeing- A History

European countries and invited specialists about
various fields to teach their ideas. In fact, it was at
this time that Japanese government got to calling

1-1 Definition of Sightseeing
Interestingly, there is no single common definition
for the word sightseeing in the world as yet. Therepeople arriving from foreign countries“foreigntourists.”The term kankō began to spread aroundthe country since this time.

are various opinions about what sightseeing is, but inJapan it is basically defined as‘going somewhere andcome back voluntarily.’Therefore it might be said

1-3 The Origins of Sightseeing
Watson（2016）notes that‘the tourism businessthat sightseeing is a form of travel. Travel is said

is thought to have started at least 2000 years ago,

to be the act of leaving land you got used to living

when wealthy citizens of ancient Rome began totemporary. Travel can be divided into by“travel for

travel to the countryside and the coast for pleasure.

ones life,”“a compulsory trip”and“voluntary trip.”

A tourist industry soon grew up round this need, but

Sightseeing is most generally applied to the latterit ended along with the Roman Empire.’It is difficult

definition.

to imagine that tourism business started from such along time ago.

1-2 History of the term

During the medieval era, however, tourism again

The etymology of the Japanese word forappeared thanks to a growing interest in pilgrimages.

sightseeing kankō comes from the Chinese character

From records such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales,

word kankōnohikari . It literally means‘to see a

it is evident that many pilgrims were keen to relax

country’s light.’Thus, it means that sightseeing isand enjoy themselves as well as visit a holy shrine. Ina person travelling to other countries and see andfact, it is from the Old English word hāligdæg（holylearn their good points. A mission took the ship today）that the word“holiday”derives. I discovered

conclude a treaty with United States of America in

the origin of the word“holiday”for the first time,

the last stage of Edo era. This ship was named theso this made me interested in the origin of English“Kankoumaru .”This is the origin of the word beingwords.

used to mean“sightseeing”in Japan.

Watson states that‘because of two other factors:

Until the Edo era, Japan was closed to inboundhealth and culture, hundreds of years later, thoseand outbound foreign countries, but this changed

who could afford to encourage the start of more

completely. This is a result of Commodore Matthew

widespread and regular tourism began to visit

Perry’
s request that the Japanese government open

the spa and seaside towns of eighteenth century

the country to trade and visitation from foreign

Europe to benefit from the spring waters andcountries.

fresh air. Straightforward leisure tourism took hold

During the Meiji era, many foreigners got to comewhen industrialization across Europe gave rise toto Japan to make a trip. The reason for this is thatan affluent middle class with an increasing amountJapanese government worked on America andof free time. Entrepreneurs started to build tourist

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Sightseeing in Kyoto: A Survey of Overseas Visitor Responses

hotels with an infrastructure of roads, carriages

were forced to make trips to pay their taxes to aand ferries. Tourism began to take shape as ancity.

international industry.

Moreover, it seems that at this time being able

The industry was popular and steadily successful

to travel by free will spread among the ruling class,from the early nineteenth century. Later, in the

who would often go seeing such as the cherry

1960s, reasonably-priced commercial aircraft were

blossoms and to hot springs resorts. This is real

able to carry passengers to and from any airport inexamples of travelling for leisure.

the world.

Sightseeing as a pastime of the common people

Tourism is now a huge economic boost to many

started from the middle of the Heian Period aboutdeveloped countries. In 2006, the internationalfrom 901 to 1068. The origins of sightseeing in Japan,

tourism receipts for the three most popularlike in Europe, came from faith. The oldest examples

destinations - France, Spain and the United States –of pilgrimage is the worshipping at Mt. Kumano

came to a total $179.7 billion. The number of visitors

which lies in the range from the southeast part of

who contributed this sum was 188.7 million. With

Wakayama prefecture. The area is known for its

figures such as these, many countries around thesteep mountain paths. However, in the Muromachi

globe work hard to encourage travelers to visit

Period, the center of faith changed to the Grandthem. Japan is beginning to gradually find its place

Shrine at Ise, which is located in Ise city of Mie

as a global tourism destination, and Kyoto, as one ofPrefecture. The reason behind is this access the path

Japan’s tourist highlights, is already seeing the effectsof Ise Shrine is flatter than one of Mt. Kumano.

of this growth.

More common people were able to travel for

Unfortunately, it is this scramble to grab a sharesightseeing during the Edo Period, because theof the tourist industry that is sometimes damaging

domestic fighting had ended and the common people

environments which cannot sustain large number ofcould spend their free time safely. It became easier tovisitors. There are also concerns about the pollution

travel thanks to infrastructure maintenance such as

generated by the ever-rising volume of tourist

five highways called“Gokaido ”and posting stations

flights, cruise ships and road traffic. On top of thesecalled“Shukuba .”problems are increasing fuel costs. However, he is

However, in the Edo era, there were some barriers

positive about the future, stating that the tourism

between regions, so common people couldn’t passindustry will no doubt adapt to new demands andwithout special permission. Issuing a traffic draft

circumstances.

was basically required to be admitted. However,

1-4 History of Sightseeing in Japanregional boundaries, so it was difficult to make thetravellers needed a lot of money to travel across
As noted above, there are several reasons forpilgrimage to Ise Shrine.

human travel, and the history of travel in JapanThus, it was worked out one idea, which wasseems to cover most of them. The first reason formaking a group with some people to saving travel

travel is purely to maintain one’s own lifestyle.

expenses when visiting a shrine. This is called kou ,People lived simple lives, and were seeking provisions

and was the first group travel in Japan. In addition toand places to live through moving. Anotherthis, this idea was created by people called oshi . They

reason for travel was the“ordered trip”appeared

are the people responsible for publicizing Ise Shrineby the Yamato Imperial Court. The relationshipand they looked for people each regions to gather

between controlling person and controlled person ismembers of group. This early version of tourism led

established. The rulers began taking official trips toto the popularity of the Ise Shrine pilgrimage. Tourist

the outer territories. On the other hand, the ruledgroup discounts and the hotel reservation system

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were worked out then. This can be thought of as theThey found how convenient or easy things andorigin of travel agencies in Japan, and how the basis

inconvenient or difficult ones. Are there any servicesof tourism within Japan was created.

they think Kyoto should adopt? These questions are

However, some people were still unable to travel,

what I would like to pursue in this study.

such as shopboys, servants and the second sons

I would like to try to find answers to these thisof a farmhouse, because they were not permitted

questions by conducting a simple questionnaireby their shopkeeper or the head of a family. Thus,

with many foreign visitors. Furthermore, I would

they sometimes visited the shrine in secret. This

like to discuss their responses, and make as manywas called nukemairi , coming from the meaningsuggestions as I possibly can to Kyoto City with“steal a watching and visit the shrine.”Some ofregards to foreign inbound tourists.

these pilgrims were discovered at the gates, but thegovernment official was good enough to overlook

2-1 Respondent Profiles: Nationality, Age, Sex

them by saying“I want to go visiting the Ise Shrine.
I have only this feeling.”
Strangely enough, this nukemairi has come into
popularity three times in sixty years, the first timein 1650. This happening was called okagemairi andthe year is known as okagedoshi . In the Edo era, infact, visiting shrines came to be a pretext. It seems
that common people wanted to enjoy themselves bysightseeing or eating rare things apart from daily
life. In the Meiji era, the maintenance of bridges andrailways advanced and many inns and hotels werebuilt.
Since people were able to now freely travel about

Figure 1. Respondents by nationality

the land, people come to enjoy sightseeing in a stylesimilar to today without any pretext. This tradition
connects with current-day customs of travel.

Twelve of the 32 respondents were fromAsia, while nine were from Australia. The Asian
respondents consist of Japan, China, Malaysia, the1-5 Background, Motivation and Purpose of thisStudy

Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Five of the 32
respondents were from Europe, while three wereAccording to the news data on TV, every year,from North America. The Europe respondents

the number of foreign visitors arriving in Japan isconsist of UK, France, and Finland. Two of the 32

increasing. I feel this especially strongly in Kyoto,respondents were both from South America andwhere I spent my college days. When I walk aroundfrom Africa. The North America respondents wereKyoto, I have noticed the growth in their numbers.

from USA, while the South America respondents

I always think something when see foreign visitors.

were from Brazil. The Africa respondents consisted

The following are the questions leading to my study’of travellers from Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

s motivation.
What are their images of Kyoto? They have how
gap before they visit Kyoto and after they visited.
I wonder how different sightseeing book Japanesewrote from the places foreign visitors actually visited.

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Sightseeing in Kyoto: A Survey of Overseas Visitor Responses

2-3 Images of Kyoto（before and after visiting）
2-4 Places visited（in Kyoto/in Japan）

Figure 2. Respondents by age

The vast majority of respondents were in their 20s
and 30s. The distribution between sexes was rather
even, with 52% female and 48% male respondents.
2-2 Reasons for visiting Kyoto

Figure 5. Places visited in Kyoto

The respondents visited various places aaside

The vast majority of respondents were in Kyoto

from except the choices provided, including Higashi

for sightseeing or leisure travel, with a small minority

Honganji Temple, Kodaiji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple,of students.

the Imperial Palace（Gosho）and Toji Temple.

Figure 3. Reasons for visiting Kyoto.

Figure 4. Images of Kyoto (before and after visiting)

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Figure 6. Places visited in JapanThe respondents visited various locationsin the rest of Japan aside from the choices

Figure 9. Inconvenient aspects of Kyoto

provided. They visited Nara, Hiroshima, Okinawa,Kumamoto, Nagasaki Prefecture. They also visited

2-7 Suggestions for improvement of Kyoto as

Narita city in Chiba Prefecture, Onomichi city intourist city

Hiroshima Prefecture, Atsugi city and Yokosuka
city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kobe city in Hyogo
Prefecture, Kanazawa city in Ishikawa Prefecture
and Takayama city in Gifu Prefecture.
2-5 Perceived differences between Kyoto and therest of Japan

Figure 10. Suggestions for improvement of Kyoto as a
tourist city.

The respondents suggest Kyoto should improve
tourist information in English, signs with English andFigure 7. Perceived differences between Kyoto andthe rest of Japan

more free Wi-Fi. Some of the respondents indicatedthat they were completely happy with their Kyoto
experience, responding with“Nothing”or“No, all ok.”

2-6 Convenient and inconvenient aspects of Kyoto
3. Observations and Discussion
Below are some of the responses to thequestionnaire. Firstly, looking at the question“What is your strongest image of Kyoto? Has itchanged since you visited?”I noticed that many of
the answers for before and after images of Kyoto
are similar. The image of traditional culture is thestrongest, both before and after visiting Kyoto. ThisFigure 8. Convenient aspects of Kyoto

hints that Kyoto has a strong image of traditional
culture.

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Sightseeing in Kyoto: A Survey of Overseas Visitor Responses

Some of the comments to his question are aslooking.”The respondents have opinions about otherfollows. For images of Kyoto before visiting, one

various things such as“more relaxing, not as rushed

respondent has image of being reserved, and mostly

as Tokyo,”“less busy than Tokyo,”“Kyoto is moreinteracting with women, and not men. Anothertraditional”and“the way people dress in Kyoto isrespondent has the image of Kyoto being still very

very classy.”

impressive and more discoveries every day. Another

Looking at the responses to the question“Whatrespondent noted that downtown and Gion are now

did you find convenient or easy in Kyoto?”it is clear

more modern.

that for foreigners, the most convenient or easiest

After visiting, some of the respondents gave someis public transportation. Also, tourist information isslightly different images. One respondent had thethe second most convenient, hinting that Kyoto has

image of more foreigners than twenty years ago.

done well to provide useful information in foreign

Another respondent has image of food, while yetlanguages. One respondent found bicycling the city

another respondent has an image of Kyoto as a greatconvenient. Another respondent found Kyoto to be

bike- friendly city.

easy for tourists.

Secondly, in regards to the question“Which shrines

In response to the question“What did you findor temples did you visit in Kyoto?”The result is theinconvenient or difficult in Kyoto?,”it is clear fromshrines or temples the most foreign visitors visited is

this survey that what the most foreign visitors are

Fushimi Inari. Following it, the second most visited isin trouble is language barrier. One respondent foundKiyomizu Temple.

walking the streets inconvenient when it is busy.

Next, in responses the question“Besides Kyoto,Another respondent found no hand towels in somewhich Japanese cities have you visited?”Among

toilets inconvenient. Also, the other respondent foundthe participants interviewed, it seems that Osaka isthat booking tours because of the language barrier

the most famous and popular places to visit in Japanwas difficult. The other respondent found that Kyoto

for those visiting Kyoto. Tokyo seems to be just as

people are very calm, so at times they are difficult tofamous and popular as Osaka.

approach.

In response to the question“Did you notice any

Finally, in response to the question“Are there any

differences between Kyoto and the rest of Japan?”services you think Kyoto should adopt or improve?”

The answers to this question force us to consider

The choice the most foreign visitors chose is“foreign-Kyoto through foreign visitors’eyes. According

language speaking guides.”One respondent proposes

to their comments, the respondents have clearthat Kyoto should improve tourist information inopinions about Kyoto people, such as“more people

English. Another respondent suggests that Kyoto

in Kimono here,”“Kyoto people take more pride inshould improve signs with English. Yet otherculture,”“Maiko-han,”“people are also more laid-back,”

respondent suggests that the city of Kyoto should“Kyoto people are polite”and“Tokyo people areprovide more free Wi-Fi.

noisier than in Kyoto.”The respondents have opinions
about scenery in Kyoto such as“very old ways and4. Conclusionlook,”“temples with autumn leaves,”“more nature

I felt two things when I went to Kyoto City toscenes,”“more mountains, nature and pretty scenes”

interview foreign visitors. Firstly, I sensed thatand“not as many tall buildings.”The respondents

the number of foreign visitors coming to Japan

have opinions about food such as“food in Kyoto isincreasing compared with a few years ago. Secondly,

more focused on snacks,”“Osaka has takoyaki andI felt the number of young foreign visitors coming tookonomiyaki,”“Kyoto has a more sophisticated wayJapan increasing compared with a few years ago.

of serving food”and“the typical bento is more nice-

The image of Kyoto both before visiting and after

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visiting the most foreign visitors felt is traditional

streets inconvenient when it is busy. It is possible

culture. Also, the number of foreign visitors havingthat its cause is increasing the number of foreign

the history image of Kyoto increases comparedvisitors themselves. Another interesting opinion,“nowith visiting before. In regards to this, it is possible

hand towels in some toilets.”Most Japanese, myselfthat the foreign visitors felt Kyoto is more historicalincluded, would not think of this because they always

through their visiting of Kyoto’s many historicalcarry their own hand towel. I think it is bad for alocations.
The most foreign visitors visited Fushimi Inariperson’s health for everyone to use the same handtowel.

among all of Kyoto shrines or temples. I have

In conclusion, it is clear that Kyoto is increasingly

been to Fushimi Inari once and saw for myself thefamous and popular city for foreign visitors. Kyotogreat numbers of foreign visitors. So I could accept

has a wealth of places to visit, and tourism is booming

this research result. However, there were somein the city. However, there are several problems

destinations that I was surprised to hear from foreignthat need to be addressed, not least the troubles

visitors. They have visited number of places I havecreated by the language barrier. Kyoto should donever been to, such as Okinawa and Kumamoto

more to improve people’s foreign language level. IPrefecture, Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecturesuggest Kyoto should provide more opportunities

and Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture. As afor international exchange between Japanese people,Japanese, I’m keen to go to these places that seem toespecially Japanese people living in Kyoto, andhave appeal to foreign visitors.
It seems that for foreign tourists, the biggest

foreign people living or staying in Japan. I think it
is important to talk with real English speakers todifference between Kyoto and the rest of Japan

improve our English skill. If the standard of basic

is scenery. Some of the various comments fromcommunication improved, foreign visitors would findforeign visitors included”I think Kyoto has a lot

it even easier to come sightseeing to Kyoto than now.

of places to watch beautiful scenery coexistence

If Japanese especially Kyoto people could do so, thewith both shrines or temples and autumn leaves

number of foreign visitors will increase even more.

from the comment,“temples with autumn leaves.”
With regards food, I noticed the bento is attractive

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communicating with Japanese people. Some foreign
visitor have the idea that Kyotoites are“very calm
people so at times difficult to approach.”Most foreign
visitors I interviewed think that Kyoto should adopt
or improve foreign-language speaking guides.
Also, some of foreign visitors feel walking the