I would assume Kyoto is just like any city. However, my buddy did say he was amazed by the cleanliness of the city, so I think your picture is slightly exaggerating what Kyoto actually looks like.
Yeah, that's Sannenzaka slope near Kiyomizudera. The reason your buddy took the picture and I can tell exactly where it came from is because that's just about the only place in Kyoto that looks like that. (Plus a few flatter bits around Gion/Pontocho that have been tarted up for tourists.)
Been travelling for half of my lifetime here.
Kyoto, and most places in Japan are hella clean.
One that shocked me the most was Manhattan and how dirty it was.
https://tokyokawaiietc.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/kyoto-sce...
I would assume Kyoto is just like any city. However, my buddy did say he was amazed by the cleanliness of the city, so I think your picture is slightly exaggerating what Kyoto actually looks like.