Kyoto has great shopping opportunities from Japanese arts and souvenirs to clothing and handcrafts.  You won’t find anything like it anywhere else. 

Variety of Shopping

In Kyoto you can find the shops that sell small trinkets mass produced in the country and then you can go across the street and find another shop that sells high quality traditional items.  Find chop sticks, fans, key rings, stuffed animals, along with beautiful parasols and carved dolls. 

Temple Gift Shops

A unique item to take home is one of the colorful wooden votive tablets that are usually sold at temples.  On the back of each tablet is an image of that particular temple.  Visitors write prayers on the tablets and hang them up inside the temple.  Be sure to purchase 2 as they are very inexpensive and you can hang 1 in the temple and take the other home with you. 

Kiyomizudera

You can find kimonos and samurai swords in the shopping areas near Kiyomizudera and some can cost as much as $30,000 USD.  If your tastes are a little less expensive don’t forget to pick up the incense that Kyoto is famous for.  It is much more affordable. 

Shijo Street

Shijo Street is well known for department stores, specialty stores and arcades.  Only pedestrians are allowed in arcades and it is very easy to walk around and shop.  There are also restaurants in this area to rest and have a bite to eat when you get tired of shopping. 

Gifts for Children

If you have children you will have no trouble finding inexpensive to highly expensive toys to bring home.  There are several shops that sell cute little stuffed animals that are unique to the area and dolls that are very beautiful and delicate. 

Nishiki Market

Make sure you go to Nishiki Market where there are hundreds of little shops that have been owned by families for centuries.  You can find pickles, Japanese candy, sushi, meats, and anything else you can think of.  If you don’t have the facilities to take food back with you it is still very interesting to see what is available there.

If you are shopping in small shops be sure not to touch the displayed items if you don’t want to buy them.  Touching gives the owner the idea that you want to buy and they will snatch it up and wrap it up expecting payment.  Some shop owners will do this if you are just looking at an item. 

Kyoto will provide you with an interesting and unique shopping experience.