What are happening with retailers, restaurants and accommodation in Kyoto

Coronavirus hits the economy heavily globally and social distance is required to avoid spreading the virus.

Many shops, restaurants and bars have shorten their business hours or shut down their premises temporarily.

Worst cases were Japanese inns and accommodation having relied on Chinese tourists went bankrupt and had to shut down their businesses.

Several three to five-story accommodation buildings have been established recently around my apartment, and I have seen them closed temporarily. Bed sheets being placed on the lobby table can be seen at one of those premises.

Obviously they targeted inbound tourists. I was not surprised to see such situations.

I had been thinking about what to write for this blog and other platforms to keep me occupied, and then I started wondering what would happen with backpacker’s hostels.

In the last sixteen years, I have been staying at hostels to meet my budgets and because I love meeting new people.

Guests are sleeping on bunk beds in shared rooms for low costs. Strangers are sleeping closely in such premises. But in return, we can establish long-term friendships. I have done and enjoyed the company and keep in touch with great friends.

However with the coronavirus crisis, how can guests keep social distance in bedrooms, I am wondering.

Then I have decided to walk around to keep fit and to see what was going around.

Not surprising, I have seen many notices of shutting down restaurants and bars, and of shorting business hours. Even a butcher closes the shop at 4 pm.

Hiring kimono is popular amongst young Japanese and Asian tourists, and these shops are not exempted. I saw temporary closing notices when I was walking in between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple.

Closed noodle restaurant in the Gion District, Kyoto

Walking down from near the temple to Gion district, I have seen a closing notice of a Japanese inn. It's run by the same chain who owns one of the premises situated around my apartment.

I was not surprised with shutting the accommodation temporarily, but couldn’t believe them placing a noren (a curtain putting on the entrance’s top showing the business is open) even if they are closed.

Closed Japanese Inn at Gion, Kyoto

Then eventually, I got around Gion Shijo Station on the Keihan Railway.  With my knowledge of two backpaper’s hostels situated in the area, I started investigating.

Having seen only a few foreigners everyday in the recent days, seeing a sign of the accommodation fully booked at the first backpacker’s was not what I had expected. Why don’t they just inform potential guests that they are temporarily closed?

Are you sure you're fully booked?

Moving onto the next hostel located in the north of the same street, I saw a quiet adjoining bar and expected them closed too. But I haven’t seen any notice and instead a staff wanted advertisement is placed there.

Keep walking, I happened to get to another premise in the North East of the district. They only have information in Japanese placed at the entrance. And any sign of the closure wasn’t found around the accommodation.

Sensing having not got answers, curiously continued and I visited their websites as well as the one of the Japanese Inn.

None of them made any announcement of the temporarily clouser on their websites. Trying to figure out if they are still open or not, I went onto the booking sections.

The Japanese Inn and the second hostel (who has an adjoining bar) had no room available on their websites or online travel agency’s sites.

What Accommodation's websites respond to potential bookings - no room is available tonight

As seen in the news, some hotels are afraid of being avoided to stay after the coronavirus issues are getting steady, as potential guests would doubt staff members and guests would be infected. Then they just inform potential guests that they are fully booked.

I could understand, but integrity is needed, I think. Due to the situations, we would understand the circumstances and not blame the clouser. Honesty is more important to establish better relationships between customers and establishments.

Meanwhile independent chemists in town put notices of unavailability of masks, thermometres and disinfectant. These items have been short stocked and purchased quickly to customers when being put on shelves.

Independent chemist noticing no stocks on some goods

Also city buses are much less patronised these days and running slower. I can’t believe that the major public transport in the city was always running late with high patronised a couple months ago.

On the other hand, some restaurants and cafes attract customers by putting signs that they change the layout of tables in order to keep distances between customers, their staff members are wearing masks, disinfectants are placed and also they are cleaning tables regularly in order to keep hygiene and to reduce infection.

Izakaya appealing customers how they deal with coronavirus

That’s all me reporting what happens with retails and hospitality/tourism in Kyoto. I wish you all the best and stay safe!