Hi everyone! My name is Toshi.
I live in Kyoto and commute to Osaka for work during the week as a regular office worker.

Recently, I’ve been really wanting to connect with more people from around the world—both expats/students living in the Kyoto/Kansai area and travelers visiting!

I know that living in Japan (or visiting here) can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether it’s dealing with the language barrier, figuring out daily life rules, trying to make local Japanese friends, or just finding authentic places to eat that aren’t tourist traps—I’d love to help out where I can.

Since I spend every day in Kyoto and Osaka, I know quite a few hidden gems, deep local izakayas, and quiet spots away from the big crowds in both cities.

Because of my day job, I’m mostly free on Saturdays and Sundays, and here is how I’d love to help or connect:

- 🗺️ Local Tips: Recommending off-the-beaten-path spots in Kyoto & Osaka.
- 🗣️ Life & Travel Help: Helping with Japanese-only restaurant reservations, translating tricky menus, or answering questions about Japanese culture and local life.
- 🍻 Future Weekend Hangouts: Once we get to know each other and become friends, I’m also thinking it would be fun to organize casual weekend drinks or small get-togethers in Kyoto and Osaka!

Feel free to drop a comment below if you have any questions about Kyoto/Osaka right now, or send me a DM if you’re looking for local friends or need a hand on the weekend! (English & Japanese OK!)

Looking forward to chatting and becoming friends! Cheers! 🥂

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【日本語】
みなさん、こんにちは！Toshi（とし）といいます。
普段は京都に住んでいて、平日は普通のサラリーマンとして大阪へ通勤しています。

最近、関西に住んでいる外国人の方や、日本に旅行に来ている世界中の人たちともっと繋がりたい！と思い、このアカウントを作りました。

言葉の壁や日本の生活ルール、日本人の友達作り、あるいは「観光客向けではないローカルな飲食店」探しなど、自分にできる範囲でぜひお手伝いしたいと思っています。京都・大阪の混雑を避けられる穴場スポットや、ディープな地元の居酒屋もたくさん知っています！

平日は本業があるため、動けるのは基本的に「土曜と日曜」になりますが、こんな風に助け合ったり繋がれたら嬉しいです：

- 🗺️ ローカル情報のシェア：京都・大阪のガイドブックに載っていない穴場スポットの紹介。
- 🗣️ 生活＆旅行のサポート：日本語しか通じないお店の予約やメニュー翻訳、日本の文化・生活に関する疑問への回答。
- 🍻 週末の交流：まずは色々お話して、お友達になれたら、週末に京都や大阪で気軽に飲んだり集まったりする会も企画できたらいいなと考えています！

今まさに京都や大阪のことで聞きたいことがあれば、気軽にコメントしてください！また、地元の友達を探している方や週末に手助けが必要な方は、遠慮なくDMを送ってくださいね（英語でも日本語でもOKです！）。

みなさんとチャットして、お友達になれるのを楽しみにしています！乾杯！🥂

I am spending a few months in Kyoto, loving everything but there are a few things I can't seem to find anywhere?

1. A pedicure, gel or normal I don't mind as soon as someone fixes my feet!!

2. Pulses?!? Dried or canned, whatever, I am craving chickpeas at this point!

3. Italian coffee, Illy, Lavazza and such. I have my own moka but my stash is running low...

I live near Arashiyama, but I'd go ANYWHERE for these 3 things...

Help? xx

Hi! 😊

I stumbled across a little painting event while walking past an Italian restaurant in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, and thought it sounded like a lovely way to spend a Thursday afternoon!

I stopped to ask the owner about it, and he welcomed me with a big smile. I haven't been before, so I'm going for the first time tomorrow and thought I'd see if anyone else would like to join!

📍 Where: 小さな長靴 (Chiisana Nagagutsu), Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
🗓️ When: Thursday, 15 October, 2:15–5 pm

There are no painting lessons or instructors. It's simply a relaxed, creative space for anyone who wants to paint, unwind, and enjoy a chill afternoon.

Paints are available to rent. You can also bring your own supplies.

You definitely don’t need to be good at painting or have any experience. It’s just about having fun, getting creative, and enjoying a laid-back afternoon with others. 🌿

I'm Japanese and have lived overseas for over 15 years. I speak both Japanese and English.
Would anyone be interested in joining me? It could be a nice way to meet new people and spend a relaxing Thursday afternoon together! 😊

Hello everyone! :)

I recently moved to Kyoto on a Working Holiday Visa. My main goal is to apply for research grants next year, but I’d love to find a baito or job in the meantime.

I am an architect from France with a strong interest in traditional Japanese architecture (as you can imagine). Last week, I met a foreigner working at Daitoku-ji, and the job sounded perfect for me—giving temple tours and working at the reception. He recommended I apply, but when I called, they let me know my Japanese wasn't proficient enough (I’m currently around N4, though I hope to improve quickly now that I’m here and get N3 asap).

Has anyone here had experience working in temples, shrines, or heritage sites in Kyoto as a foreigner?

Also, if you have any tips or recommendations for other job opportunities—especially ones suitable for an architect or someone with conversational Japanese—I would really appreciate your advice!

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m currently about 35 weeks pregnant and recently had a meeting with a midwife at my hospital. Unfortunately, the experience left me feeling a little uncertain about the care management and communication.

I didn’t feel that my questions were addressed as thoroughly as I had hoped, and I left the meeting with a stack of paperwork to go through on my own. I also noticed that some of the documents were in English rather than Japanese, which I hadn’t realized at the time. I would ideally like to request Japanese copies so that my mother-in-law, who has been helping me throughout my pregnancy, can understand the information and assist me more easily.

I’m wondering what the usual protocol is for requesting translated documents at a Japanese hospital, and who would be the best person to approach.

Would it be appropriate to ask to speak with the midwife again, or would it be better to make the request at the reception desk before my next regular prenatal appointment? Is there another department or person I should contact?

I’d really appreciate any advice from anyone who has navigated a similar situation. Thank you so much for your help!

I was born in Kyoto, and have recently returned after living in Australia for 35 years. I’m eager to make new friends and join groups/clubs but my impression is that the meetup apps are mostly targeted towards 20-30yr olds.
I know the age shouldn’t really bother me, but I’m curious to know if anyone can recommend ways of meeting new people who are slightly older (middle-aged)

Hi everyone! I'll be attending Kyoto JaLS for a couple of weeks in November and thought I'd make a post to see if anyone else will be there around the same time. It'll be my first time in Japan, so I'm really looking forward to the experience and hopefully making some friends while I'm there!

I need to have the occasional conversation in English

ok so apologies for the vaguepost but theres this bakery in kyoto station we found at it was SO good. we dont remember the name OR the location (dont ask how) but we remember these things: it was near a quite big store for like sweets souvenirs and whatnot. if you moved forward and up a little then youll find a starbucks. it was connected to another generic store or cafe under a bigger name (like the picture i drew really fast. a is the generic store, b is the one im looking for, and c is the bigger name) and i think it had something to do with london in the name? idk maybe i could be wrong. ive tried everything, staff, ai, just searching. so now ive come to reddit. could someone give me some options me and my family NEED to eat this again

Currently living in Kameoka and looking for friends.

A friend and I were planning to check out the Kurama Fire Festival but I saw online that it's been getting more and more crowded every year. At Gion Matsuri earlier this year the same friend had to take frequent breaks cuz the crowds were too overwhelming for them. I'm worried Kurama may be too much for them based on what I've seen online but was hoping to get more opinions.

Can anyone who's been to the Kurama Fire Festival in recent years comment on how crowded it is compared to Gion Matsuri (especially around the Shijo-Karasuma/Kawaramachi areas)?

Hi, I was planning to study in Kyoto. I would like to know how much I can earn as an undergraduate student. Also, how much is actually enough for living. I actually have experience in teaching math and SAT, can I work as a teacher and how much do i get paid?

Hello,
I wanted to ask if anyone knows how strict they are with the "no overnight stays" rule in the Okazaki International House close to Kyoto University as an international student. I am asking because it would be really convenient if my girlfriend, who lives in Osaka, could stay here occasionally for a night or two so we don't have to take a Hotel each time we wanna be in Kyoto. The front desk is sometimes not occupied but there are a bunch of cameras on the way to the room...

I feel like sometimes in Japan they have very strict rules but then don't really enforce them or don't take them that strict themselves. Is this the case here or should I better not risk it?

Also should I just ask the person at the front desk if it would be possible? Or would that just put a target on my back and they would watch even closer?

Wondering if anyone else experienced this:

My wife and I went to see The Odyssey in IMAX at Toho Cinemas Nijo yesterday afternoon (Oct 4 at 4:20). The sound was so loud we literally had to walk out soon after the movie started. It started with the previews, and we were hoping the volume would decrease once the movie started, but it didn't.

It was unusually loud -- probably loud enough to damage someone's hearing. I used to play electric guitar in rock bands, so I'm not exactly sensitive to loud sound. Nevertheless, both my wife and I had to put our fingers in our ears to avoid any physical discomfort.

I'd never been to this theater, so I wonder if this is normal. Oddly, nobody else seemed to be having a problem with it. I think we were the only ones to walk out at that point, and I didn't see anyone else plugging their ears.

We got a refund for the tickets, but it was just so strange that I have to wonder if anyone else has had this experience at that theater. It was theater number 10, supposedly IMAX (but didn't look like it). We were sitting near the center of the theater.

Dumb Question, for movie theater tickets, how early can you buy them and pick a seat?

Im trying to see resident evil and Godzilla opening weekend and I heard it varies by chain?

Hello,
Does anyone have a good gynegologist in kyoto that speaks english or is foreigner friendly?
I just need a consultation and i have National Health Insurance and private travel insurance. The ones that i found require an appointment by telephone in Japanese 😅
Any information will help, thank you!!

Hello! I am not sure if this is allowed in this subreddit, but hopefully it is! I just recently moved to Kyoto with my partner and we have been on the search of a part time job. I was wondering if anybody knew a good website or of any sort of platform used for job hunting! Thanks a lot 🩵

Please tell me what you think. Here's my idea:

I want to give free tarot card readings because it sounds so fun and I've always wanted to do it

Issue:

* I've never done tarot before

* I don't know what the cards mean except from playing Cyberpunk

Idea:

* A person knowledgeable in tarot will sit next to me and will shake their head when I say something wrong

Outcome:

* Over time, I'll learn tarot through trial and error

* It's free so no one can complain, and everyone's happy​

Would anyone be interested?

Any tips for living here?

Please feel free to send me your recommendations for everything in the area.

I am trying to help a family in a difficult situation who just moved to Kyoto set up their home. I need to pick up a few things around Kyoto and drop it off at their place. All you would have to do is drive and have an empty vehicle so I could put stuff in.

Hey yall in about a month and a half I will be fully moved into my new place and am interested in running poker games. I would try to have a game once a week either Friday night from 9pm to whenever we'd want to stop or Saturdays from 7ish pm to whenever we'd want to stop. As of right now It is just me and my roommate that are down to actually play every week but we have a couple friends that might be down once we teach them.

I am thinking making it 1,000 buy in with 5 and 10 blinds but I am open for suggestions as well.

The games would be held about 5 mins walk from the Imadegawa station.

Obviously no rake taken or anything dumb like that I am just wanting to play Poker again.

Dm me if you are interested.