Downtown Shopping Walk (Self Guided), Kyoto

With a huge number and variety of shops and lots of cafés and restaurants, downtown Kyoto is the best shopping destination in the city. There are traditional craft shops, fashion stores, large department stores and retailers selling souvenirs. Bring your shopping bags and your money and thrill to the possibilities.

Shijo Street offers the most prestigious and stylish shopping experiences with its numerous department stores and global brand names. For more everyday items, go to the Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades, covered pedestrianized streets that run parallel to each other.

For a more refined and less hectic shopping experience, tour the art galleries, clothing shops and bookstores of Teramachi. Spend some time in Shinkyogoku, the second oldest shopping arcade in the city, known for its plethora of tacky souvenirs. Another reason to visit is for the temples and shrine situated along the strip.

For food, Nishiki Market cannot be beaten. This large traditional food market is known as "Kyoto's Kitchen" and it is easy to see why. There are stalls laden with fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, meats, herbs and spices. Many of the stalls specialize in a particular type of food and most of the produce is grown, produced or caught locally. Just wondering between the stalls and hearing the animated cries of vendors is an experience in itself.