Best Shopping Areas and Streets in Kyoto

After arriving at Kyoto Station you will be overwhelmed by the shopping facilities like the huge Isetan department store. Start your retail journey at the Porta Underground Shopping Mall and enjoy a huge variety of fashion brands, electronics, cafes, restaurants, and traditional souvenir shops. Nearby shopping complexes can be found underneath the Kyoto Tower and The Cube and Porta (north exit of Kyoto Station). Both are underground shopping streets.

Kawaramachi is one of the most popular shopping districts in the heart of Kyoto along the Kamogawa River. Huge department stores like Marui and Takashimaya waiting for you along the main street called Shijo Street (Shijo-dori). The Pontocho Alley, one of my favorite streets in the city, is also located here. The Edo-time atmosphere along this narrow alley is just outstandingly beautiful with many old traditional wooden buildings, tea houses, shops, bars, and restaurants.

Welcome to the food heaven of downtown Kyoto just north of Shijo Street. The market with a history of over 400 years offers in more than 100 shops everything a food lover can wish for. It is the largest traditional food market in the city. Explore the small and narrow alleys full of fresh seafood, traditional sweets, and much much more. If you are here for the first time you should try out fresh sashimi, matcha sweets, and tofu skin (yuba).

Hanamikoji Street is located within the historic Gion District in Kyoto. Everything in this area is well-preserved and offers a unique Edo-time atmosphere. Enjoy the beautiful traditional wooden merchant buildings, ochaya (teahouses) and explore many unique craft shops offering the perfect souvenir for you. Hanamikoji is one of the most famous streets in the city and once you walk here you will know why.

The Kyoto Handicraft Center is located north of the Heian Shrine (Heian-jingu). It offers on 2 floors items for every budget like yukata, lacquerware, washi (traditional Japanese paper), ceramics, folding fans, swords, and much more. It is a very popular spot for tourists looking for the best souvenirs.

The well-preserved Higashiyama District in the eastern part of Kyoto's city center is full of amazing sightseeing spots. There are two popular and crowded shopping streets called Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Enjoy the traditional tea houses, wooden storefronts, and restaurants. Come here in the early morning to absorb the atmosphere before the first tourists arrive.

Every month there are three very popular flea markets in Kyoto. Kobo-ichi Flea Market at Toji Temple, Tenjin-san Flea Market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and Tezukuri Ichi Flea Market at Chionji Temple.