Ola! I’m Renata from Brazil. I have been in Kyoto for three years!

Kyoto, a popular travel destination in Japan, is ideal for shopping due to its wide array of department stores, underground malls, shopping centers, and local shopping districts.
In this article, we introduce five recommended photo spots and nice Japanese restaurants in Kyoto.

The Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Area

Shijo-dori Avenue, Kyoto
Also known as Kyoto’s “Fourth Avenue”, this busy thoroughfare slices through the city’s heart from east to west. Offering everything from upscale boutiques to quaint eateries to shops brimming with traditional Japanese handicrafts, there’s something to suit every taste.

The lengthy street has a pristine appearance, with wide sidewalks, elegant lamps, and informative signage. At its eastern terminus lies the charming Yasaka Shrine, marking the gateway to the famous Gion district. Originally a tad narrow, the street underwent expansion in 2015, making it more accessible and enjoyable for pedestrians. Flanked by awnings on both sides, it’s a delightful promenade regardless of the weather, attracting a steady stream of tourists from near and far.

The busiest stretch spans from Karasuma-dori in the west, known for its business and banking district, to Higashioji-dori in the east, serving as the entryway to the Yasaka Shrine. The area between Kawaramachi-dori and Karasuma-dori is particularly commercialized, hosting established department stores like Daimaru and Takashimaya, as well as boutique shopping havens like Fujii Daimaru and Marui. Here, you’ll find everything from fashion to traditional Kyoto garments, alongside tea shops, confectioneries, and souvenir stores.

Tip:
For a more relaxed and authentic experience, venture across the Kamo River to Shijo-dori’s eastern side, and enjoy an array of shops offering both traditional and modern Japanese goods, each with its own unique twist. While you’re at it, take time to also explore the charming side streets lined with buildings dating back to the 1960s.

You can take the photos like this!

Here’s restaurants you can eat the best Japanese around Shijo Street.

Kyoto Gion Teppanyaki Plancha Ken

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is a place you can’t leave out when visiting Kyoto. Long ago, it was called Kyoto’s Kitchen and is a popular food spot visited by many international visitors even today.
This is an area where you can not only enjoy Kyoto’s diverse food and cuisine, but also have fun just by watching the hustle and bustle at the market stalls.

Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. The stores range from small narrow stalls to larger two story shops. Most specialize in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.

Some of the shops freely give out samples or sell sample dishes and skewers meant to be eaten then and there. There are also a few small restaurants and food stands selling ready-made food. A few are sit-down establishments, although some consist of no more than a couple of stools and a bar. They usually specialize in one type of food and are often attached to a store of the same specialty. Make sure to refrain from eating while walking as it is considered bad manners and a major nuisance by local shoppers.

The market has a history of several centuries, and many stores have been operated by the same families for generations. It all started as a fish wholesale district, with the first shop opening around 1310. A larger variety of shops moved in later, and the area changed from a wholesale market to retail. Today it remains an important market for Kyoto and is often packed with locals and tourists alike.

Nishiki Market
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Nakagyo, Nishidaimonjicho 609
Official Website: https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/ (Japanese)

The market is located between the Karasuma and Kawaramachi Stations of the Hankyu Kyoto Line. Thanks to the shopping street’s colorful roof, visitors can browse without an umbrella on rainy days.

– Three-minute walk from Shijo Station (Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line)
– Three-minute walk from Karasuma Station (Hankyu Kyoto Line)
– Four-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu Kyoto Line)
– Ten-minute walk from Shijo Station (Keihan Main Line)

Nishikimarket walking tour!

 

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Here’re restaurants around Nishiki Market.

ARCHI COFFEE

 

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Gion-Higashi & Ponto-Cho

Gion is the best-known entertainment quarter in Kyoto. Originally it prospered as the monzencho (*1) of Yasaka Shrine (formerly called Gion-sha). It gradually developed into a town full of restaurants, high-class ryotei (Japanese restaurants), and entertainment facilities.
The extent of what can be called the Gion area is quite large. On the eastern end there is Yasaka Shrine and if you go 500 meters in the completely opposite direction, you’ll come across Kamo River on the western end.
The north and south range is also about 500 meters. On the southern end is Kenninji Temple and the northern end spreads out to around Shinbashidori Avenue.

Kyoto’s Gion has been the foremost entertainment district in Japan since ancient days. By day it bustles with visitors but at night these streets look completely different. Let’s visit Gion at night. The Gion area of Kyoto is the foremost place to get a taste of Japan. With its streets lined with old wooden buildings, Gion is visited not only by domestic tourists but also by visitors from all over the world.

You can take photos like this around Ponto-cho and Gion.

Restaurants around Pontocho:

Pontocho Robin

Takase river

Rows of cherry blossoms can be fascinatingly elegant. Especially, at night and along a river. Kiyamachi Street along the Takase River in downtown Kyoto is one of the city’s most popular spots for cherry blossoms and for fine dining. When I walked down the street along the river, one pale pink petal fluttered lightly down. I looked up at the tree. The branches were waving in the breeze. People who walked under the cherry trees or dined along the river with friends or family were all enjoying this wonderful, magical night. And so was I.

The nearest railway stations are Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae on Subway Tozai Line, Sanjo Keihan or Gion Shijo on Keihan Line, and Kawara-machi on Hankyu Line.

You can take the photos like this around Takase river.

Restaurants around Takase river:

Kyoto Cuisine Irifune / Hotel Okura Kyoto

 

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Points to note when viewing

It’s tempting to get up close and personal with the beautiful autumn leaves to take photos, but please refrain from breaking branches or tearing off leaves . Just enjoy the sight of them. If you want to take photos with colored leaves, it’s a good idea to use leaves that have fallen to the ground.

Depending on the location, there are areas where entry is prohibited. In some places, photography is also prohibited. If more people start being selfish and thinking, “It’s okay to take a little photo,” entry to the surrounding areas may also be prohibited. Please enjoy yourself by following the local rules.

It’s a great spot for photogenic of autumn leaves, but please remember to be considerate of your surroundings when taking photos . Selfie sticks and tripods may be a nuisance to those around you. In some places, their use is prohibited. Please be mindful of your surroundings and use with caution.

A big problem in Japanese tourist destinations is littering by tourists. This isn’t limited to when viewing autumn leaves, but please be sure to take any trash you produce home with you.

Recommending Things To Do in Kyoto

Things to do in Kyoto: Hozugawa River Rafting

Things to do in Kyoto: Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Toei Kyoto Studio Park)

Who am I? About Renata:

Born in Rio, Brazil. I worked in the inbound tourism industry in Kyoto, writing a blog about travel in Japan.
Hobbies: travel, watching trains, visiting stylish cafes, sweets, collecting seal stamps, watching musicals, taking photos, and others – so many, in fact, that I find it weird myself.