🛍️ 5 Best Places to Go Shopping in Kyoto (2025 Guide)

From tradition to trendsetter —  shops with style in Kyoto

Kyoto might be famous for its temples and gardens, but it’s also a hidden gem when it comes to shopping. From handcrafted souvenirs and elegant ceramics to minimalist fashion and indie designer pieces, Kyoto blends traditional craft with modern cool in the most unexpected ways.

Here are the 5 best places to go shopping in Kyoto — for every taste and budget.

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1. 🏮 Teramachi & Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades

Kyoto’s classic shopping streets

These two parallel covered arcades — just north of Shijo Street — are a must-visit for first-time visitors. Expect a fun mix of local shops, vintage finds, snack stalls, quirky souvenirs, and global brands. You’ll find everything from incense and manga to sneakers and yukata.

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2. 🛍️ Nishiki Market + Nishiki-koji Street

For food lovers and kitchenware collectors

Nishiki Market is more than just a place to eat — it’s also a shopping hotspot for Kyoto-made goods like hand-crafted chopsticks, ceramic tea cups, local miso, pickles, and even wasabi salt. Along the side streets, you’ll find shops selling Japanese knives, matcha tools, and foodie gifts.

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3. 🧵 Kyoto Handicraft Center

Where tradition meets artistry

This is the place to go for authentic, high-quality Japanese crafts. From lacquerware and woodblock prints to textiles, fans, and jewelry, everything here is made by skilled artisans. You can even join a workshop (like painting a Kyo-doll or learning calligraphy).

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4. 🛒 Takashimaya Kyoto & Fujii Daimaru

Department stores with Kyoto flair

Located at the heart of downtown Kyoto, these iconic department stores are great for fashion, beauty, homeware, and gourmet food. The basement food floors (depachika) are a dream — full of Kyoto sweets, fresh sushi, and gift-ready treats.

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5. 🧥 Kyoto Station & Porta Underground Mall

Surprising variety, all in one place

Kyoto Station is more than a transport hub — it’s also a sleek shopping center with boutiques, bookstores, and souvenir shops. Porta, the underground mall connected to the station, offers fashion, cosmetics, snacks, and more in a weatherproof setting.

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✨ Bonus Tips for Kyoto Shopping

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🏯 Final Thoughts

Shopping in Kyoto isn’t just about buying things — it’s about discovering beauty in everyday objects, learning from tradition, and taking a piece of the city’s spirit home with you. Whether you’re after a hand-carved fan or a matcha lip balm, Kyoto has something quietly extraordinary waiting on a shelf.