Shopping and Souvenirs in Kyoto - What to Buy And Where

Shijo Street

Shijo-dori is the main street of Kyoto, always packed with locals and international tourists. There are tons of shops, mostly gathered between Kawaramachi-dori and Karasuma-dori. That is where you will find the famous department stores of Daimaru (with eight floors of cosmetics, jewelry, and fashion), Takashiyama, and Fujii Daimary.

On Shijo Street you will find everything, from food to clothing (especially kimono and yukata).

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is one of those places that you cannot miss. The market started as a fish wholesale district around 1310. Today it is one of the most important markets in Kyoto.

It is a five-block marketplace with hundreds and hundreds of shops and restaurants, selling goods produced locally. You will find literally everything to do with food, from cookware to ingredients, the market is also known as Kyoto's Kitchen.

Strolling around the Nishiki Market, you can try the free goodies offered by the many stalls you will find. You can also eat something at the many small restaurants selling ready-made food.

Kyoto Handicraft Center

Kyoto, the seat of the Imperial Court for over 1000 years, has set the quality standards for Japanese arts and crafts, and today is the most important center for traditional Japanese crafts.

You will find all the crafts there that you might want to bring back home, such as:

• Pottery, with kiyomizo pottery being the most popular one
• Kimonos in Kyoto, there are two methods of manufacturing, silk weaving and silk dyeing
• Japanese dolls
• Folding fans, you will find the highest quality fans of the country
• Lacquerware, frequently used in tea ceremonies.

Higashiyama District

Maybe you want to get out of the city andvisit a quieter shopping place. Then, don't look any further and go to the Higashiyama District. Located in the sloping eastern mountains of Kyoto, the district is a traditional neighborhood, with wooden houses, cobblestone pathways and traditional shops, a unique way to get a glimpse of the old Kyoto capital.

There are tons of old-fashioned shops where you can buy pottery, souvenirs and delicacies. Shopping there, is a truly memorable experience.

Shin Kyogoko Arcade

Shin Kyogoko Arcade is the shopping place for the youngsters. It offers a huge variety for reasonably priced trendy clothes. This is the second oldest shopping strip in Kyoto (the first being Asakusa Nakamise). And if you decide to shop til you drop, as they say, you will find plenty of restaurants where to grab a delicious bite.

Flea Markets

To those interested in unique, unusual objects, we strongly recommend visiting the Flea Market on the Toji Temple grounds. The market is open on the 21st of every month, from dawn till dusk, with dozens of vendors selling almost anything you can think of, both new and second-hand. Every Sunday, instead, you will find antique dealers, all located in specific areas.

Another flea market you should check out (held on the 25th of every month) is the Tenjin-san flea market. There are more than 1,000 shops surrounding the shrines, selling pottery, toys, second-hand goods, food, kimonos, and much more. Kimonos and antique goods are the most popular items of the market.

Yukata

Yukata is a casual summer kimono, usually made of light fabric, worn by both, men and women. Usually, when you visit a ryokan, you will be supplied with a yukata and we bet that it will be the most comfortable dress you have ever worn.

So, if you want to bring one back home, we suggest you check out the many department stores in Kyoto, especially the Daimaru and the Takashimaya department store, where you will find plenty of English-speaking shopping assistants.

Green tea

Green tea is a must-try in Japan, and a lot of people like to pack some, so as to let their loved ones try back home. If you think about it, it is the perfect gift: affordable, easy to carry and delicious and healthy.

The most famous green tea shop is Ippodo, in business since 1717. They let you try the different teas they have and pick up the one you like the most.

Washi

Washi , the traditional Japanese handmade paper  has been a product of Japan for more than 1300 years. It is thin and strong, and, of course, more expensive than standard paper. Like green tea, it is a unique, precious gift that is also easy to carry with you. All the shops will put the paper in cardboard tubes for safe transport.

Morita Washi is an institution of washi. You will find an incredible variety of paper and paper goods there, and you will spend hours browsing in their shop.

Lacquerware

The rest of the world has a long-lasting fascination with Japanese lacquerware, and rightfully so you just need to see high-quality lacquerware to understand its beauty and the amount of skills required to craft it. It is an expensive gift, a gift for that special person that you know, that can appreciate such a precious object.

Zohiko is arguably the best lacquerware shop in Kyoto. It is such a nice shop that it can be almost considered a museum, with extraordinary pieces of lacquerware that can cost several thousands of yen.

Woodblock prints

Woodblock prints are an exceptional piece of art to bring home, and you can do this for a very reasonable price, most places have them for about USD 30. They are perfect to frame and to hang on the wall in the nicest room of your house.

The Kyoto Handicraft Center is, of course, the place to go for some high-quality woodblock prints. Besides that, you can also attend a demonstration or take part in classes in block carving and printing.