京都“外国人おもてなしタクシー”　語学力堪能で行き先相談も可能　“穴場”の紹介も【Jの追跡】【スーパーJチャンネル】(2026年4月25日)

At Kyoto Station, a long line of foreign tourists can be seen at the "Foreign-Friendly Taxi" stand. As the name suggests, these taxis are "foreigner-friendly." The drivers speak English and are happy to discuss destinations. Following them led us to hidden gems and unexpected culinary delights in Kyoto, such as cherry blossom viewing spots along the river and convenience store food. ■ A "Mobile Tourist Information Center" In the ancient capital of Kyoto, there's a special taxi service that foreign tourists rely on. The passengers were sisters from Nigeria. They said they were immediately impressed upon arriving in Japan. Sisters from Nigeria: "We saw elderly people working energetically at the Japanese airport. Isn't that wonderful?" Hidehito Kikunaga: "By the way, I'm 78 years old." Sisters from Nigeria: "What!?" Taxi driver Kikunaga is 78 years old. He's fluent in English because he used to work in the trade industry. Sisters from Nigeria: "How do you stay young?" Kikunaga: "I guess it's Japanese food." Sisters from Nigeria: "What kind of food is it?" This is a "Foreign-Friendly Taxi." As the name suggests, it's a taxi that's "foreigner-friendly." Currently, there are about 200 of them operating in Kyoto. Person from Spain: "What's that?" "That's a temple." "That's..." Kikunaga: "That's Higashi Honganji Temple. It's one of the largest temples in Kyoto." Person from Spain: "It's very beautiful." Kikunaga: "That's the gate. The main hall is beyond that." Person from Spain: "It's huge." "Foreign-Friendly Taxi" is, so to speak, a "mobile tourist information center." Kikunaga: "How long are you staying in Kyoto?" Person from Spain: "Three days. After that, I plan to go to Nara." Kikunaga: "If you're going to Nara, please take this." He handed them a guide map. Person from Spain: "(Q. How was the taxi?) It was great. We were able to talk a lot and I learned many things." "I even got information about fishing in Kyoto! I can't go this time, though. Thank you very much." Mr. Kikunaga: "You're welcome, please enjoy Kyoto." ■ Driver Recommends a Hidden Gem Currently, there's an astonishing sight at Kyoto Station. A long line of foreign tourists. It stretches for about 30 meters. Everyone is waiting for a "Foreign Friendly Taxi." The drivers speak English, and you can even inquire about chartering a taxi for 6400 yen per hour, so there's a constant stream of users. Person from America: "The driver was very knowledgeable, and I was able to consult with him about my travel destinations. It was a wonderful experience. American drivers don't say anything." On this day, a couple from America used Mr. Kikunaga's taxi, who is 78 years old. Kikunaga-san: "How long will you be in Kyoto?" Couple from America: "We're planning to stay for two and a half days." Kikunaga-san: "Do you have any plans after checking in?" Couple from America: "We have a reservation for a matcha factory tour. We haven't decided what to do until then." They arrived at the hotel. Then… Couple from America: "We'll be right back." Apparently, they're still taking a taxi. They say there's somewhere they want to go before the matcha factory tour. Couple from America: "We'd like to see the cherry blossoms. Do you have any recommendations?" Kikunaga-san: "The cherry blossom viewing spots at shrines and temples around here are very crowded, so how about a spot nearby? There's a beautiful place." Couple from America: "Is it a place only locals know about?" Kikunaga-san: "Yes. It's a so-called 'hidden gem' known only to people who live nearby." This is the true essence of a taxi driver who knows the local area inside and out. Kikunaga-san: "This is a recommended spot. Shall we stop?" American couple: "Yes, please." "It's wonderful." "It's so beautiful." This is Tenjingawa. A little-known hidden gem for cherry blossom viewing, with a nearly 2-kilometer-long row of Somei Yoshino cherry trees. Kikunaga-san: "There are quite a few large trees, and it's beautiful. There aren't too many people either. It's better than going to the temples in the city center." ■First experience with roasted sweet potatoes Here, the American couple discovered something that caught their eye. American couple: "Are you going to eat some?" "Of course." Apparently, during cherry blossom season, roasted sweet potato vendors pop up along this river. Their first experience with roasted sweet potatoes. A couple from America: "Yes, it's delicious. But it's hot." "It's good." "Right? We're really lucky to be here." "The weather's nice too." "We're tourists, but we don't really like crowds. Maybe we're being greedy." After this, the couple enjoyed a tour of a matcha factory. Wazuka Town is known as Kyoto's largest tea-producing area. With the global matcha boom, the number of foreign tourists is increasing. A person from France: "The view of the tea fields is exceptional. We don't have scenery like this in France." ■Even demanding foreigners ...