Garbage and toilets
Two practical habits make walking around Kyoto easier: carry a small bag for your rubbish, and check where the toilets are before you set out. This guide covers taking rubbish with you and sorting it, Kyoto City's tourist toilets — where they are and when they are open — and how to use a public toilet.
What to do when there is no bin
Carry a small bag for your rubbish. Kyoto City and the Kyoto City Tourism Association ask visitors to take their rubbish with them: leave what you bought at the shop where you bought it, and carry the rest back to where you are staying. Do not force rubbish into a full bin, and never put household or shop rubbish into a street bin.
Littering can be fined
Littering is banned throughout Kyoto City. Along the Kamo River, the stretch between Kamo-ohashi Bridge and Gojo-ohashi Bridge is a reinforced enforcement zone, where littering can draw a fine of up to 30,000 yen. The riverbank once had bins, but they were removed after being stuffed with household rubbish; visitors are now asked to carry out what they bring in.
Rubbish where you stay: sort it the lodging's way
If you stay in a machiya or guesthouse, sort your rubbish the way your lodging asks and leave it where it says. Kyoto collects household waste in designated paid bags; anything in another bag is not collected. Burnable waste goes out twice a week, and cans, bottles, PET bottles and plastics once a week each. Ask your host about bags and collection days when you check in.
Toilets around temples and sights: tourist toilets
Kyoto City certifies 59 'tourist toilets': privately owned toilets opened to residents and visitors, open at least eight hours a day with toilet paper provided and regular cleaning. Around temples and shrines you will find them at Chion-in (8:00–20:00), Nanzen-ji, Kifune Shrine and Daikaku-ji (open all day), Kamigamo Shrine (8:00–18:00) and To-ji (5:00–17:00).
Public toilets around Kiyomizu, Gion and Arashiyama
The city provides toilets around the sightseeing areas. Around Kiyomizu-dera and Gion, look for them inside Kiyomizu-dera, at the Kiyomizu-zaka car park, in Kodai-ji Park, below the Gion stone steps, in Maruyama Park and at Gion Shirakawa. In Arashiyama they are in front of JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, at the car park, in front of Tenryu-ji's south gate and in Nakanoshima Park. Check the location; hours follow the notice on site.
How to use the toilet: read the sticker
Toilet habits differ from some other countries: sit to use the toilet, and flush used toilet paper down the toilet — never put it in the bin. Kyoto City posts illustrated four-language stickers in public and tourist toilets explaining how to use them; read the sticker on the wall first and follow the pictures.
Sources：京都市観光協会 京都観光モラル 環境配慮（公式） ↗京都市観光協会 京都観光モラル 行動基準（観光客向け）（公式） ↗京都市 観光トイレ制度（公式） ↗京都市 外国人観光客向けトイレの使い方啓発ステッカー（公式） ↗京都市 トイレの使い方啓発ステッカー（洋式トイレ版）（公式） ↗京都市 ごみ出しのルール（公式） ↗京都市 祇園・清水周辺における公衆トイレ等のご案内（公式） ↗京都市 嵐山地域における公衆トイレ等のご案内（公式） ↗京都府 鴨川におけるゴミ対策について（公式） ↗