20 Best Places to Go Shopping in Kyoto

Kyoto, with its array of shopping malls and department stores, offers a unique shopping experience where you can spend days discovering intriguing items. Just a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station, AEON Mall features international retailers, speciality shops and an amusement arcade. Takashimaya Kyoto includes international boutiques, men’s and women’s fashion, jewellery, cosmetics and culinary delights. In downtown Kyoto at  Daimaru, you can shop for international brands and high-end fashion and enjoy global eats from a great selection of restaurants.

The 6-floor Kyoto Avanti has incredible deals on clothes, books and anime products. Kawaramachi OPA has trendy fashion accessories, while Kyoto Tower Sando is popular for its large food court. Beneath Kyoto Station, Porta offers a variety of dining options, clothes, cosmetics and souvenirs.

Nishiki Market is a must-visit destination for out-of-town visitors because it’s a real eye opener when it comes to local daily life. Many locals nickname it 'the kitchen of Kyoto'. It’s where you can find many local delicatessens such as saké, tofu, fish, Japanese pickles, vegetables, seaweed, traditional sweets, cooked food, kitchenware, knives and more.

The market features more than 100 vending stalls and most shops are old establishments that have been run by the same family for generation after generation. Products for sale are said to be of better quality than those at average supermarkets in town and prices are accordingly a little higher.

The famous Nishijin Textile Centre is the pride of Kyoto. With its long history of surviving many setbacks, including wars, the centre has a reputation of being a 'tough guy' and has a good name all over the country. At Nishijin, you’ll have the chance to try on kimonos and experience weaving by traditional methods. There's also a kimono fashion show several times a day. Call the centre for more information beforehand as certain activities need advance booking.

Before leaving the centre, don’t forget to check out the shop which features a good variety of beautiful items such as kimonos, obi, ties, gold brocade, fabrics, woven small goods and household goods.

When exploring Kimono shops in Central Kyoto, a must-visit area is the bustling downtown intersection of Shijo Dori Street and Kawaramachi Dori Street. This popular spot attracts visitors from far and wide, seeking traditional Japanese goods. Here, there are many shops that specialise in kimonos and clothing accessories.

In addition to clothing, keep an eye out for unique items such as red lanterns, tea-ceremony utensils and lacquerware. Beyond shopping, these areas are also well known for lively bars, clubs and coffee shops.

Take home the scent of Kyoto with some aromatic incense from Kungyokudo. In Japan, kodo or 'the way of incense' is considered an austere art form; the smoke rising from the incense is said to show the way to heaven.

Kungyokudo imports materials from throughout Asia to craft these beautifully fragrant tokens of Kyoto. You will find this boutique store next to the Nishi Hongan-ji temple. The company has been trading from the same location since its inception in 1594.

Antiques Grand Fair at Pulse Plaza is the largest antiques fair in Japan and takes place 3 times a year. It's a grand affair, attracting over 300 dealers from across the globe to sell their exquisite and unique antique items.

As admission is free, it is almost as good as visiting a museum for the wealth of historically significant items on display. Even if you don’t have the cash to purchase anything, it's well worth a visit for the experience of being in a room with so many significant antiques. Pulse Plaza is in Takeda, around 10 minutes south of Kyoto station. There's a free shuttle bus from Takeda station on the Karasuma line.

Pick up a token of business prosperity at Fukunoya gift store after a visit to the Inari Fushimi Shrine, where the god of good business resides. Fukunoya sells a colourful selection of traditional Japanese altar ornaments and good luck charms which make great souvenirs for work colleagues or loved ones back at home.

Among the store's assortment, the most popular items for foreign visitors are key rings and cute maneki-neko, or beckoning cats, believed to bring good luck and fortune.

Morita Washi, a renowned supplier of fine handmade paper, highlights the importance of paper in Japanese culture. Paper is an essential element in traditional Japanese doors, windows, fans, lamps and umbrellas. Morita Washi's top-quality paper products are highly sought-after in many parts of the world, and their extensive selection promises hours of fascinated browsing.

Craftspeople, calligraphers, artists and even scrap-bookers will find themselves captivated by the vast array of colours, textures and grains available, and especially the gorgeous chiyogami, decorated paper.

Housed in a vintage building that dates back to 1823, Miyawaki Baisen-an presents a gorgeous array of fans and is probably the most famous fan shop in Kyoto. A cultural icon as much as a practical tool, these decorative fans are lacquered, painted, folded or scented into an amazing number of shapes, designs and sizes.

A visit to this boutique is a sensory delight, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in traditional Japanese aesthetics. It's the perfect place to browse and select a special, tangible reminder of trip to Kyoto.

Ippodo Tea Shop is a Kyoto institution, a nearly 300-year-old tea shop famous for its top-quality teas. Far more than just merchants, they are directly involved in the procurement and blending of carefully selected tea leaves.

Besides being able to shop for top-grade Japanese green tea such as matcha, gyokuro, sencha and bancha, visitors can select many interesting tea utensils such as bamboo whisks (chasen), bamboo tea ladles and traditional teapots. A trip to Ippodo would not be complete without visiting its impressive Kaboku tearoom, where guests learn to brew tea for themselves. This esteemed shop has expanded from its Kyoto main store and now has branches in Tokyo and New York.

Kuraya Hashimoto has been a family-owned business specialising in new, antique and decorative swords for over 50 years. The katana swords sold here have been painstakingly hand-crafted to make genuine replicas of the actual swords that were once brandished by samurai warriors.

The collection displayed in store at any one time contains a variety of authentic antiques and some more budget-friendly replicas. Flying home with a samurai sword might be a problem, but the owner, Mr Kuraya Hashimoto, is pleased to offer safe, secure shipment to most countries.

Kimura Oshido is a shop that specialises in traditional Japanese dolls, especially dolls from Kyoto, and their various accessories. To find the shop, just go to the magnificent Kiyomizu Temple. It’s just next door.

Each of the dolls have their own meaning. For example, hinaningyo dolls are placed in the house to pray that daughters will grow up joyfully. Baby dolls are for wishing the recipient to have many more healthy children. Lucky cat dolls are commonly known as a traditional Japanese symbol and each nuance means something different. Make sure you visit this shop to learn more about traditional Japanese dolls.

For more than 100 years, Jusan-ya has been crafting exquisite boxwood combs and hair accessories for Kyoto’s geiko and maiko. The wooden hair comb, known as kanzashi, is a vital part of a geisha’s impeccable ensemble. The use of these hair ornaments is deeply symbolic, offering geisha a subtle yet significant means to express their individuality.

Although you may not have the kimono to fulfil the look, these delicately crafted ornaments are a thoughtful and unique gift for any woman.

With a beautiful range of stunning oiled-paper umbrellas, Kasagen is a good place to pick up an authentic memento of Kyoto. All throughout the city’s famous Gion district, the majestic geisha protect their priceless kimono with these umbrellas, and they also provide portable shade from the sun.

In business for more than 140 years, Kasagen stands by the durability of its umbrellas offering a guarantee your products will last for years. Kasagen also makes umbrellas on behalf of the Imperial Household Agency, an incredibly high honour.

On the 21st of every month, Toji Temple hosts one of Japan’s oldest and biggest flea markets, known as Kobo-san. The market appeals to bargain hunters and collectors from all over the country, as it is a good place to buy authentic Japanese antique furniture and textiles, jewellery, art, kimonos and unique decorative household items.

It's best to get there early as the best items tend to sell quickly. The environment is relaxed and friendly, although you may resort to a lot of pointing and gesturing to communicate.

Tachikichi is a distinguished ceramics store that boasts a vast collection of modern and vintage ceramics, representing both Japanese and international artistry. Even if you don't end up buying anything, the visit is still worthwhile, just for the visual experience.

Highlights at Tachikichi include dinner sets and sake cups, with styles ranging from traditional to more modern designs, such as their anime series. The store has been a leader in the ceramics industry in Kyoto since 1752 so their expertise is assured.

Aizen Kobo, managed by the Utsuki family, is renowned for its hand-woven and hand-dyed indigo textiles, considered to be the finest in Kyoto, and possibly all of Japan. Upon stepping into this store, it feels as if you're entering a family home, reflecting generations of expertise in the weaving business.

The owner, Utsuki-san, is considered a master at his craft and his dyed textile is guaranteed never to fade. Utsuki-san will be happy to show you many samples of the dyed and woven goods including the articles of clothing designed by his wife Hisako.

If you plan to take some uniquely Japanese snacks back home with you, Tsuji Shibazuke Honpo and their range of tsukemono pickles should undoubtedly feature on your list. Tsuji Shibazuke Honpo uses only homegrown vegetables, pure salt and traditional pickling processes to create their outstanding tsukemono pickles, reputed to be among the best in Kyoto.

Their selection of pickled produce varies with the changing seasons, but you can typically find a delightful array of options such as pickled eggplant, ginger, cucumbers and red peppers.

Surprise your loved ones at home with a box of colourful Japanese sweets from Shioyoshiken. They have been in the Japanese confectionery business for more than a century, producing fine products to accompany traditional tea ceremonies.

The products on offer change according to the season, but revolve around authentic flavours like glutinous rice mochi, sweet beans and sugar. There's usually a sample plate available for you to try some of the sweets before buying. You can find this charming sweet shop by taking the Karasuma line to Imadegawa station.

Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu, a local Kyoto brand, is well-known for its range of handmade cotton bags that come in various styles and colours. Other popular items include aprons, hats, writing utensils, bags and letter organisers. The store also features a dedicated repair section, reflecting their commitment to product longevity.

The products from Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu are functional, everyday items and highly regarded by locals. In fact, several Kyoto hotels use these products. Find this boutique shop just south of Higashiyama subway station.