Recommended Sightseeing Spots #1

Kawaramachi Shopping Street

Kawaramachi is the busiest shopping district in Kyoto. It corresponds to Ginza in Tokyo. JR Kyoto Station, where the Shinkansen bullet train stops, is not the center of Kyoto. If you want to enjoy Kyoto to the fullest, stay at a hotel as close to Kawaramachi as possible.

There are five major shopping streets in Kawaramachi. The three long north-south streets are Kawaramachi St., Shinkyogoku St., and Teramachi St.. The two streets stretching east to west are Shijo St. and Nishikikoji St.. The intersection of Shijo St. and Kawaramachi St. corresponds to the Ginza 4-chome intersection in Tokyo.
These shopping streets are filled with unique stores that cannot be found in Tokyo, and you can spend three to four hours just walking around window shopping. The streets are roofed, making them a good place to stroll on rainy days. I often enjoy shopping and having lunch here on weekends.

Here are my recommendations for stores in these shopping streets.

Snoopy Tea House, Nishiki, Kyoto

https://www.snoopychaya.jp/menu?category=nishiki
Nowadays, there are Snoopy goods stores all over Japan. Among them, this store has a wide selection. It is also nice to take a break at the Snoopy Teahouse on the second floor.

Japanese accessories/Kyogoku Iwai

https://www.shinkyogoku.or.jp/store_info/iwai.html
Lots of traditional Japanese goods and a great atmosphere in the store. Some items are reasonably priced and the staff is very friendly so you can ask them anything you want. I recommend you to buy a Sensu-fan or a Scented Bag as a souvenir.

Kyoto KatsuGyu Teramachi Kyogoku Store

https://www.kyoto-teramachi.or.jp/shop/e064_1/
A beef cutlet shop established in Kyoto. In Kyoto, the word "katsu" refers to beef cutlets, not pork cutlets. It is a chain restaurant, but the chefs are very attentive and the atmosphere is upscale. You can taste the medium-rare beef with various sauces. The beef cutlet is delicious, but the fried oysters at this restaurant are superb.

Myodai Tonkatsu KatsuKura Sanjo Honten

https://www.katsukura.jp/en/
This is pork cutlet. Passing through the long entrance and entering the restaurant, you will find a quiet and calm space as if it were a lie that you were in a shopping street. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great.
There are a variety of items on the menu, but don't hesitate to order the Sangen Pork Loin Katsu. It is a loin cutlet, not a filet. You will be satisfied with its deliciousness.

Kyoto Kyukyodo Honsen

https://kyukyodo.co.jp
Located at the northern end of Teramachi St., this store specializes in Japanese paper products. The store was renovated in 2020 and is bright and beautiful. The store looks like a museum with its many small articles and stationery made of washi paper. You can get a glimpse of the art culture that has been cultivated by the common people of Japan. Please take some as souvenirs.

Stationery store tag Teramachi Sanjo

https://www.takedajimuki.co.jp/index.php/menu1/tagshop2/
Occupying four floors of a small building, this is the largest stationery specialty store in the Kansai region. It is just an ordinary stationery store, but it is fun just to look at the various products. The three-dimensional structure of the store is also interesting. Japanese stationery is superb in both performance and design, and I think it is the best in the world.

Bento&co Kyoto Store

https://en.bentoandco.com
Japanese bento boxes are now a fad in New York City. This store specializes in bento boxes. Original bento boxes and lunch-related goods are crammed into the small store. For some reason, they also sell miniature Ghibli art, so you can enjoy looking at all sorts of things.

Takashimaya Kyoto Store, B1

https://www.takashimaya-global.com/en/stores/kyoto/
This is the food section on the first basement floor of Takashimaya Department Store, located at the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection. Kyoto is hot in summer, so come into the air-conditioned department store to cool off. The food section on the first basement floor features many of Kyoto's long-established Japanese confectionery shops, so you can find most of your souvenirs here. The deli and bakery are also well-stocked, so you can learn about 80% of Japanese food culture just by browsing here. I often buy side dishes for dinner here. There are many delicious-looking foods here, so if you find something you like, buy it and try it.

Curry, Marie D

https://hirowind.hatenablog.com/entry/2018/07/22/002218
This European-style curry shop is located on a narrow back street of Kawaramachi Opa. It is a small store but offers elegant and really tasty curry. They have been in this location for 30 years, and it is a hidden gem loved by the locals. I don't want to tell others about this place because I want to take good care of it.
Photography is not allowed. Please note that credit cards are not accepted.

Shinkyogoku Guide
https://www.shinkyogoku.or.jp/concierge/index.html

Teramachi Shopping Street Guide
https://www.kyoto-teramachi.or.jp/shop/

Nishiki Market Guide
https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/en_lp/

Kawaramachi Shopping Street Guide
https://www.kyoto-kawaramachi.or.jp/english/

Shijo Shopping Street Guide
https://kyoto-shijo.or.jp/shop_en/