Wi-Fi and Travel Information in Kyoto, Japan: Your Ultimate Guide

If you are planning to visit Kyoto Prefecture, be sure to check the Wi-Fi availability. If there is free Wi-Fi available, you are good to go.
In addition to free public Wi-Fi available in Kyoto and local sightseeing information, we also want to introduce our recommended Wi-Fi rental service, WiFiBOX.

[Rent Now] Wi-Fi rental for use in Kyoto and throughout Japan with surprisingly simple booking, pickup, and return. From 440 yen per day

Free Public Wi-Fi Available in Kyoto

You can use "KYOTO Wi-Fi" in Kyoto City. KYOTO Wi-Fi is a Wi-Fi service provided by businesses, in cooperation with Kyoto City.

It can be used for free in all 11 wards of Kyoto City for 24 hours at various locations such as subways, public facilities, fast food restaurants, etc. (Wi-Fi in city bus stops are not available from 1 to 5 AM.). Let's check the details of KYOTO Wi-Fi's SSID and how to log in.

KYOTO Wi-Fi's SSID

In order to connect to Wi-Fi, you must select an SSID (network name). The SSID for KYOTO Wi-Fi is as follows.

• KYOTO Wi-Fi

When you get to Kyoto City, select the above SSID on the Wi-Fi setting screen of your device.

How to Log in to KYOTO Wi-Fi

The methods of logging into KYOTO Wi-Fi differ depending on whether you use a social media account or an e-mail address. First, start your browser after selecting the SSID, then follow the steps below, respectively.

Process for Logging in Using Social Media Account

The process for logging in using a social media account is as follows.

1. Read the Terms of Use and choose "Log in with Facebook," "Log in with Twitter", "Log in with Google," or "Log in with Yahoo!"
2. Enter the login ID and password for your social media account.
3. After the authentication process is completed, you can use the KYOTO Wi-Fi.

Process for Logging in Using E-mail Address

The process for logging in using an email address is as follows.

1. Read the Terms of Use and select "Log in using email."
2. Enter your own email address to register
3. You will receive an email with a link, so check your email and click on the link.
4. Once this registration is completed, you can use KYOTO Wi-Fi. (You need to re-register after one month).

KYOTO Wi-Fi is conveniently available at various sightseeing spots, but not outside of Kyoto City. If you plan to visit the entire Kyoto Prefecture, consider using "Japan. Free Wi-Fi KYOTO".

"Japan. Free Wi-Fi KYOTO" is a Wi-Fi service provided by network operators in cooperation with Kyoto Prefecture. You can use Wi-Fi for free by selecting SSID "Japan._Free_Wi-Fi_KYOTO" on the Wi-Fi setting screen and completing the necessary procedures.

However, both KYOTO Wi-Fi and Japan Free Wi-Fi KYOTO do not encrypt communications, so your messages could be intercepted. You should avoid using public Wi-Fi when exchanging important information through messaging applications.

References: Kyoto Tourist Association "KYOTO Wi-Fi"

Other Free Wi-Fi Available in Kyoto

In Kyoto Prefecture, free Wi-Fi other than "Kyoto Free Wi-Fi" may be available at convenience stores, cafes, hotels, and train stations. However, as with public Wi-Fi, it is important to note that when using free Wi-Fi, there are risks of eavesdropping attacks, snooping, device hijacking, etc.
From here, we will introduce other free Wi-Fi available in Kyoto.

Cafes

Free Wi-Fi is available at various cafes in Kyoto. For example, free Wi-Fi is available at nearly 40 Starbucks stores in the prefecture. You can connect to Wi-Fi by selecting the SSID "at_STARBUCKS_Wi2".

Free Wi-Fi is also available at around 20 Doutor Coffee stores and Komeda Coffee stores in the prefecture (as of January 2023). Select the SSID "DOUTOR_FREE_Wi-Fi" for Doutor Coffee and "Komeda_Wi-Fi" for Komeda Coffee Shop to connect to Wi-Fi.

Hotels

Free Wi-Fi is also available at hotels in Kyoto. For example, at Hotel Okura Kyoto, which is directly connected to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line, you can use not only free Wi-Fi but also wired LAN in the hotel lobby and guest rooms.
Other hotels in Kyoto Prefecture are also likely to have free Wi-Fi available, so you should check the Wi-Fi availability at the front desk or ask the hotel staff before you check in.

Stations

Wi-Fi provided by local governments and railroad companies may be available at stations in Kyoto City. For example, "KYOTO Wi-Fi" and JR West Japan's "JR WEST FREE Wi-Fi" are available at Kyoto Station.

Free Wi-Fi may also be available at stations located near tourist spots outside the city. At Amanohashidate Station, near Amanohashidate- which is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan- free Wi-Fi "DoSPOT" is available at the premises of the "Amanohashidate Tourist Association Office.

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If you are looking for a Wi-Fi rental in Kyoto, WiFiBOX is the best choice!

Although free Wi-Fi is available in many places in Kyoto, the connection speed may be slow or unstable depending on the locations and hours of the day. Some hotels may not offer free Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, a convenient Internet environment is essential to enjoy your travelin Kyoto. If internet connection is important to you , why not rent a Wi-Fi router?

For renting Wi-Fi, we highly recommend WiFiBOX. WiFiBOX is a Wi-Fi rental service where all the steps, from reservation to return of the device, can be completed contactless.

Let's take a look at how to rent a WiFiBOX.

How to Use and Set Up the Wi-Fi

Reservations for WiFiBOX are done on the website and can be completed as quickly as 2 minutes.
First, choose your travel destination, then select the period you wish to use the service, and your internet plan.

Add the items to your cart and tap "Checkout." The login screen will appear, and you will be asked to register as a new member. If you have an account, please log in.
After that, complete the payment procedure to complete your reservation. You may choose payment methods using a credit card or debit card.

Where to Pick Up and Return Wi-Fi Routers

While conventional international Wi-Fi routers are handed over at airport counters from the staff or by courier, all you have to do with WiFiBOX is to pull out the router from the designated "box." There is no face-to-face interaction involved at all.

You can pick up your router at a dedicated WiFiBOX rental machine, currently located at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Chubu International Airport, Fukuoka Airport, and Tokyo Station.
More WiFiBOX will be added, mainly at airports throughout Japan.

When picking up the router at the lending machine, simply scan the QR code with your phone, tap the "Receive" button, and pull the Wi-Fi router out from the slot.
Upon leaving Japan, return the router by simply plugging it into any empty slot at a WiFiBOX machine near you

The advantage of this service is that you only rent the Wi-Fi router itself, with no accessories, so it will not be bulky during your trip. Most of the smartphones are compatible with this service as long as they are not relatively old models.

QR Code" is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INC.

What Kind of City is Kyoto?

Kyoto is located in the center of the Japanese archipelago. It borders Mie Prefecture to the east, Hyogo Prefecture to the west, Osaka Prefecture to the south, and Fukui Prefecture to the north.

Kyoto has an area of approximately 4,613 square kilometers (ranked 31st largest prefecture in Japan) and a population of approximately 2.58 million (ranked 13th in Japan) as of 2020. Due to its long and narrow shape stretching from north to south, the climate is divided into the Sea of Japan type and the inland type, depending on the region.

Kyoto Prefecture is a region that attracts the attention of travelersnot only from Japan but also from around the world as a tourist city. In 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), Kyoto Prefecture had approximately 87.91 million tourist arrivals, the highest number ever recorded.

The city of Kyoto is decorated every year with four major festivals, including the "Kyoto Three Grand Festivals" which display the flames of prayer on the five mountains of Kyoto.

The three major festivals in Kyoto are the following.

• The Aoi Matsuri, where visitors can enjoy elegant parades of people dressed in Heian costume
• The Gion Matsuri, which is a luxurious and gorgeous festival
• The Jidai Matsuri, features a look back over a thousand years of history

Kyoto City consists of 11 wards: Kamigyo, Sakyo, Nakagyo, Higashiyama, Yamashina, Shimogyo, Minami, Ukyo, Nishikyo, and Fushimi. They are also often described in terms of five areas: Rakuchu, Rakuto, Rakusei, Rakunan, and Rakuhoku.

Reference： Kyoto Prefecture "Introduction to Kyoto Prefecture", Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "2020 Population Census: Summary of Basic Tabulation Results", Kyoto Prefecture, "Number of Visitors and Consumption of Tourism".

Places to Visit in Kyoto

In Kyoto,historical buildings line the streets. Within such place, We will introduce the following sightseeing spots as the highlights.

• Gion
• Kinkaku-ji
• Arashiyama
• Kyoto Tower
• Fushimi Inari Taisha

All of these tourist spots are located in Kyoto City.

The most common way to get around Kyoto City is by bus or subway, which runs north-south on the Karasuma Line and east-west on the Tozai Line. Some tourist spots may be easier to access by taxi or train.

Let's check out the highlights of each tourist spot.

Gion

Gion is the area around Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine) in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, across the Shijo Ohashi Bridge to the east. You can take a break at a teahouse or enjoy shopping at Japanese accessory and general merchandise stores.

Also, the Gion Festival is held every July in Gion and has a history of over a thousand years. Yasaka Shrine, where the festival is held, has long been known to people as "Gion-san."

Note that even in the Gion area, it may be more convenient to get off at a different station depending on the place you are visiting, so be sure to check in advance.

Reference： Kyoto City Tourism Association "What kind of festival is Gion Festival", Yasaka Shrine "About Yasaka Shrine", Yasaka Shrine "precinct map and access"

Kinkakuj-ji

Kinkakuji Temple, located in northern Kyoto City, is a temple that originated in Kitayama-den, the villa of the Saionji family that Ashikaga Yoshimitsu inherited from them in the year 1397. Its official name is Rokuonji, but as Kinkaku, which was built as a reliquary hall, became better known, people began to call it "Kinkaku-ji."

The second and third stories of the pavilion, which face out toward Kyo-ko-chi are covered with gold leaf, representing the pavilion architecture of the Muromachi period. However, it was burnt down by fire in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955.

You can visit the temple from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. throughout the year. When you are visiting, get off at "Kinkakuji-michi" on the Kyoto City Bus.

Reference： The Shokoku-ji school of the Rinzai Sect "About Kinkakuji Temple", The Schokoku-ji school of the Rinzai Sect "Access", Kyoto "World Heritage Site (World Cultural Heritage) Rokuonji (Kinkakuji), Kinkakuji (Rokuonji), Kyoto

Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a forest located on the right bank of the Oigawa River, which flows through the western part of Kyoto City and can be seen from the Togetsu-kyo Bridge upstream to the left. Arashiyama, a famous spot for its autumn leaves, has long been the subject of poetry.

To enjoy Arashiyama in all seasons, take the Sagano Trolley Train. You can take the JR San-In Line (Sagano Line) from JR Kyoto Station for about 17 minutes to Saga Arashiyama Station, where you can board a trolley train. Enjoying sightseeing in Arashiyama by trolley is fascinating because the average speed is about 25 km/h making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Also, when visiting Arashiyama, be sure to stop by the elegant-looking "Togetsu-kyo Bridge."

Reference： Forestry Agency "Arashiyama Scenic Forest", Sagano Kanko Railway "Access", Sagano Kanko Railway "About the trolley train"

Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower was established with the aim of becoming the center for industry, culture, and tourism, which will ultimately contribute to the growth of Kyoto City.

Standing at a height of 131 meters above the ground, it has become one of Kyoto's beloved landmarks. With an observation deck located 100 meters above ground-- which is the highest point in the city-- you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city's beautiful scenery.
Within the tower building, you can also find hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops; providing you with a wide range of attractions. Don't forget to take a photo with the tower's mascot character, "Tawawa-chan" at the photo spot to capture your memories!

Reference：Kyoto Tower

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the main shrine of the "Inari Shrine," which is very well-known among many people, and is said to have 30,000 shrines throughout Japan. It is worshipped as a god of prosperous business and bountiful harvests, and is one of the most popular shrines in Japan. One of the main attractions of the shrine is the "Senbon Torii" (thousands of torii gates), where countless torii gates line up without gaps, creating a stunning and unique view.

The area around Fushimi Inari Taisha is filled with sightseeing spots: shrines and temples, and also shopping streets where you can enjoy Kyoto's gourmet cuisine. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking around the area, since you will walk a lot!

ReferenceFushimi Inari Taisha

Internet and Wi-Fi situation in Kyoto

In Kyoto, public Wi-Fi services such as "KYOTO Wi-Fi" and "Japan. Free Wi-Fi KYOTO" are always available. Free Wi-Fi Internet access is also available at cafes, hotels, and train stations in Kyoto.

However, you should be aware that when using free Wi-Fi, there are risks such as eavesdropping attacks, snooping, and device hijacking. You may want to consider other means of exchanging important information.

WiFiBOX is a Wi-Fi rental service where everything from reservation to receiving and returning is completely contactless. If you have plans to go on a business trip or sightseeing in Kyoto, you might want to rent one!