I can’t believe it, but the Tourist Information Center in Kyoto (inside the building where you can go up to Kyoto Tower) has closed on Jan. 31, 2004.
Just when the Japanese government is promoting its Yokoso Japan! campaign to entice more foreigners to visit Japan, they do this!!
Kyoto is one of the most tourist-infested places in Japan, and that TIC in Kyoto was always busy and a great place to find out about festivals and places to photograph.
I am totally dumbfounded. Their excuse is that there is a tourist info counter in Kyoto Station. Yes, but they are for the Kyoto-area only, not the entire country of Japan like the JNTO TIC in Kyoto.
Update: Some years later, a new Tourist Information Center opened in the new Kyoto Station building.