While students suggested a variety of places, the winner was clear: nothing beats a school library! This was followed by empty classrooms at a close second, and empty labs also ranked highly, though technically in fourth place, so it’s safe to say Kyoto international students are pretty fond of studying on campus.

The students we surveyed explained that the on-campus libraries are just the best suited for their needs, with books they need for research, desks, and a quiet environment.

“My school library offers the perfect environment for studying,” a student explained. “It’s quiet, so I can easily focus, and all of the books and documents I need for my studies are there, so I can get all the information I need. Plus, when I see other students around me studying, it makes me want to study more myself.” Unlike some other public study spots, there are some caveats, they added: “We do have to remember a few things if we study there, though. First of all, it’s a quiet place, so we do have to keep our voices down. You need to make sure your phone is on vibrate, and if you need to use it, you have to take it outside. You’ll also want to make sure to check the library rules, hours, and any other information on how to use it.”

While students were enthusiastic about being able to easily access books and documents, charge their devices freely, and have a temperature-controlled place to study during Kyoto’s steamy summers and chilly winters, the library’s popularity might have just one downside, as another student offered this advice: “Seats tend to fill up quickly around finals, so it’s best to get there early in the morning!”

Aside from study spots on school premises, international students reported Kyoto cafés as another favorite study spot. They were the third most popular choice after school libraries and empty classrooms, and Kyoto has plenty to choose from.

While the library or an empty classroom might be silent enough to let you study, some students prefer working in the slightly more social atmosphere of a café. A student explained, “There are lots of other people studying, and cafés sometimes have outlets, so I can easily work on my computer there… Still, it’s not great to stay in a café for a very long time, so if I’m going to be there [studying] for a while, I try to put in a second order.”

Several other students described a special connection to the staff at cafés or similar establishments around the city. One student favored a small café with local Kyoto flavor, Kinta Dog Café, near Kinkaku-ji Temple: “The owner is kind and isn’t bothered if I spend a long time studying at the café. There’s a shiba dog named Kinta there, who I can pet when I’m taking a break, and that really helps me de-stress. The owner likes students, and sometimes asks me about my studies.”

Another student told us about their preferred chain restaurants instead, but even there, they found a connection to their own pocket of Kyoto life: “There’s a Saizeriya [(a low-cost Italian chain restaurant] near my school, so I often go there to eat lunch and stay on to do some studying. Saizeriya’s really affordable, and the food’s good, too. Plus, most of the staff are students from my school, and they have great customer service, so it’s easy for students to study there.” One more tip the student shared? “I like to study in Komeda Coffee when I don’t have class, because there’s free bread if you get there before 11 a.m, and that motivates me to get up and go study!”

Kyoto is full of both chain and mom-and-pop cafés, but when it comes to their studies, most students said they like to use shops like Starbucks, McDonalds, and Komeda Coffee, which are more likely to have wifi and electrical outlets, as well as more seating space and longer opening hours: “When the library closes, I often head to McDonalds and other fast food restaurants. They’re open 24 hours, so I can take my time studying there as late as I need to.”

Some cafés, like the Kyoto Karasuma-Rokkaku Starbucks pictured above, are really unique to Kyoto!

Just be aware that expectations about where and how long you can study may vary. One student suggested doing some research beforehand, saying, “Some Kyoto cafés[, especially those in the Kawaramachi area, far from the universities,] can be small and full of customers, so it’s not very considerate to study there for a long time. I think it’s a good idea to check out the vibe and if there are any rules before you go somewhere to study.”