Street Scams in Kyoto, Japan
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Kyoto — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Taipei.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
12
Total in Kyoto
How it works
Individuals dressed as Buddhist monks position themselves near Kinkaku-ji or Kyoto Station, offering small prayer beads or amulets as gifts and then insisting on a donation. The items are low-quality trinkets and the collectors have no affiliation with any legitimate temple.
How it works
Souvenir shops near major temples sell items labelled as hand-made traditional Kyoto crafts — Nishijin-ori silk, Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, or hand-painted fans — that are actually machine-made imports sold at authentic artisan prices.
How it works
In Gion, men approach tourists after they photograph maikos or geisha and demand a photo fee on the geisha's behalf. This is not an official practice — geisha do not charge photo fees and these men are not their representatives.
See all scams in Kyoto
12 total warnings across all categories