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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Interaction_Salt on 2025-01-05 11:12:02+00:00.
Hi everyone, thought to make this post to just caution everybody when and if you come to Kyoto, specifically the area around Shijo Kawaramachi. This is not representative of everybody in Kyoto or Japan, and should only be taken as something to be careful and look out for. This is my fourth time in Kyoto, and have never had such an experience so am sharing for everyone's learning.
Just 30 minutes ago, my friend and myself disembarked at Shijo-Kawaramachi bus stop infront of Suit Select. A man around 30-35 years old, with a ponytail and sparse beard approached us. He asked for money claiming he lost everything and wanted to travel back to Osaka. We didn't know how to respond so we tried to walk off, however he kept following. Admittedly, we tried to shake him off by acting we didn't understand English and responding in another language however that further angered him. This culminated in him getting aggressive and physically holding my friend by the collar. Only after I shouted "help" in Japanese and warned him that we will call the police did he go off.
We recognise that we could have handled it better, and should have not entertained him at all. However this is just a reminder for everyone to remember that if anybody approaches you on the street, do not make any contact or encounter, and just walk off. If you are in Kyoto or around Gion-machi area, do take note of this particular individual and heed this advice to ignore him. Additionally, could I ask if anybody had such experiences before? What else could we have done during or after that situation too? Thank you everyone!