Cash, eSIMs
and luggage
Carry ¥10,000–20,000 per person per day. Japan is far more cash-dependent than its reputation suggests, and Kyoto's temples are the most cash-dependent part of it — every temple gate, most small restaurants and a lot of Nishiki take cash only. 7-Eleven ATMs take foreign cards reliably and are open 24 hours. Install an eSIM before you fly, and book a staffed bag drop rather than trusting a coin locker.
Cash, eSIMs, luggage and insurance
Japan is far more cash-dependent than its reputation suggests, and Kyoto's temples are the most cash-dependent part of it. Carry ¥10,000–20,000 a day.
Cash. Every temple gate, most small restaurants, the Monkey Park and a lot of Nishiki take cash only. 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards reliably, are open 24 hours, and are on nearly every block — they are the default. Japan Post ATMs work too but keep shorter hours. Withdraw at the airport on arrival so you are not hunting at 7am on temple morning.
Connectivity. An eSIM is the least painful option: install before you fly, land connected, no counter queue, no physical SIM to lose. Expect roughly $5–20 for a week depending on data. Free wi-fi exists at stations and conbini and is not good enough to navigate a bus timetable on.
Luggage. Kyoto Station's coin lockers fill by 10:00 in high season — this is the most reliably reported logistics failure of a Kyoto trip. Book a staffed bag-drop point instead; there are more than ten in central Kyoto, they take suitcases of any size, and they run around ¥600 a bag a day. For city-to-city moves, takkyubin forwarding at ¥2,000–3,000 per bag next-day beats dragging a case through Shinkansen luggage rules.
Insurance. Japanese healthcare is excellent and expensive to a foreign visitor without cover. Nothing on this trip is high-risk, but the Kurama ridge hike, a rented bicycle and a slippery Kiyomizu slope in rain are all the sort of thing a policy exists for.
Kyoto money and luggage FAQ
How much cash do I need per day in Kyoto?
¥10,000–20,000 per person per day is the safe range, because temple gates, small restaurants and market stalls are cash-only. 7-Eleven ATMs take foreign cards, are open 24 hours and are everywhere. Trains, department stores and taxis all take cards and IC.
Where can I leave my luggage in Kyoto?
Book a staffed bag drop rather than trusting a coin locker — Kyoto Station's lockers are reliably full by 10:00 in high season. There are more than ten drop points in central Kyoto at around ¥600 a bag a day. Between cities, takkyubin forwarding is ¥2,000–3,000 per bag, next-day delivery.