A Kyoto Tour for Shoppers, Foodies, & Fans of Japanese Culture Old and New

Kyoto is a city where centuries-old shrines and temples stand beside sleek shopping malls, and this one-day itinerary blends the fun of modern Kyoto with a few of its most intriguing ancient attractions. Discover fragrant Kyoto street food, historic shrines, anime shops around Kyoto Station and Shijo-Kawaramachi, and peaceful places to rest your tired feet at the end of a long day! Whether you’re visiting for the history, the food, or a little retail therapy, this quick Kyoto guide is designed to help you make the most of every hour in Japan’s ancient capital.

Start Your Trip at Kyoto Station

You’ve finally arrived in Kyoto, but where to first? This region of Japan may be known for its traditional culture and ancient attractions, but major train stations in Japan are always magnets for new development. While you’re at Kyoto Station, it’s the perfect chance to enjoy some of Kyoto’s modern attractions!

Kyoto Tower

Just north of the station, beyond the bus terminal, Kyoto Tower pokes out of a broad base, stretching 131 meters (430 ft) into the air. The tower itself may not be particularly famous, but that just means shorter waits before heading up to the observation deck 100 meters above street level, and once you make it to the top, you’ll see just what everyone’s been missing out on.

Kyoto is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage sites, national treasures, and cultural properties, and many of these are visible from high in the sky. Catch unique views of the Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangendo Temples before you head back down to earth to see more of the city!

Nidec Kyoto Tower (ニデック京都タワー)
721-1 Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Admission:  adults 900 yen, children 200~700 yen
Official Website (en)

KYOTO AVANTI

Directly outside Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit (opposite the Kyoto Tower exit), you’ll find KYOTO AVANTI, a 6-floor commercial facility that offers a little of whatever you’re looking for during your first hours in Kyoto, from food and shopping to niche Japanese culture. Accessible at street level and connected directly to Kyoto Station via the basement level, it’s easy to get to, rain or shine.

The mall’s shopping options include practical drugstores, shoe shops, and a handful of apparel brands selling Japanese fashion, but for many foreign visitors, KYOTO AVANTI’s 6th floor is calling. The entire floor is dedicated to Japanese cultural pursuits, starting with shops like Animate and Lashingbang that offer manga, anime, figures, and other anime merchandise. Trading card fans can browse Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at C-labo, and claw machine experts can fish their favorite characters at Gamemate. There’s even an exhibition space, the Space Galleria KYOTO, where you can check out exhibits focused on popular anime, comics, games, books, artists, and other franchises. Events vary throughout the year, so it’s worth a look whenever you visit.

Plus, KYOTO AVANTI’s first floor has the Touken Ranbu Yorozuyahonpo specialty shop, and down on B1 you’ll find the “POP@P CAFÉ/Animate Cafe Gratte,” which serves drinks and cookies printed with popular anime characters, and sells anime collab merchandise.

If you’re already hungry for a bite to eat, KYOTO AVANTI’s basement restaurant area Avachika also has a fun retro atmosphere, and a wide variety of places to eat and drink before heading to your next Kyoto destination!

KYOTO AVANTI (京都アバンティ)
31 Higashikujo Nishisannocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto
Hours:
　Shops: 10:00 – 21:00 | 4F Shimamura 10:00 – 20:00 | 2F Don Quijote 9:00 – 24:00
　B1F Restaurants: 11:00 – 22:00 | hours may vary
Official Website (en)

A Kyoto Street Food Tour at Nishiki Market

Hopefully you left some room in your stomach after exploring the Kyoto Station area, because our next stop is a snacking destination! Just hop on the Karasuma subway line at Kyoto Station and get off at Shijo, which is just a few minutes on foot from one of Kyoto’s best spots for foodies.

Nishiki Market has been a center of Kyoto commerce for over 400 years, and legends say that the market actually has a history that stretches back close to 1,000 years, into Japan’s Heian period. These days, it’s packed with merchants offering up barrels of traditional Japanese pickles or jars of furikake, seafood stalls piled high with raw fish and grilling fresh octopus, tiny shops stocked with traditional Japanese kitchenwares, and dozens of other sellers that provide fresh groceries for locals or prepared Kyoto delicacies for lines of hungry patrons. Visit to try a taste of Kyoto street food, whether you’re on the hunt for a novel treat you won’t find anywhere else, or the kind of tasty snack you remember everyone grabbing after class in your favorite school-days manga.

Hanayori Kiyoe

For a flavor experience that’s somewhere between “every Japanese person’s favorite childhood snack” and “fine dining,” we recommend including Hanayori Kiyoe when putting together your own Nishiki Market food tour. The shop’s warm and inviting facade is a sign of the piping-hot eats served inside, because Hanayori Kiyoe specializes in crispy, golden-brown, fried croquettes.

Of course, the shop’s reputation as a go-to spot in Nishiki Market doesn’t just come from the strong nostalgia that Japanese locals feel towards croquettes. Hanayori Kiyoe’s menu of fried treats is prepared in olive oil for an elevated experience, and filled with unique ingredients, too. Their Soymilk Skin & Cream Croquette uses savory “yuba” tofu skin (a Japanese delicacy), while their Chicken with Green Tea Croquette draws on traditional Kyoto ingredients for a totally unique flavor combination. If you prefer sweet treats, they offer croquette-shaped fried ice cream too!

Unlike many Nishiki Market businesses, Hanayori Kiyoe has a relatively spacious seating area, so customers can sit down and actually appreciate the fun flavors of their olive-oil-fried treats. Grab a seat and a croquette, and take a moment to watch the whirlwind of Nishiki Market rushing by.

Hanayori Kiyoe (花よりキヨエ)
399 Funayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
Official Website (jp)

Afternoon Shopping Around Shijo-Kawaramachi

After charging up with some tasty street food, it’s time to explore nearby, and check out Kyoto’s busiest commercial and entertainment district! The area around Kawaramachi-dori and Shijo-dori Streets is Kyoto’s most popular destination for shopping, dining, and casual exploration, with unique businesses lining the broad avenues and all the narrow alleys in between. Not only does this area include Nishiki Market, but it’s also home to historic covered shopping arcades, busy department stores, and a seemingly infinite grid of little streets that look straight out of a slice-of-life anime. This part of the city is the ideal place to shop for a special Kyoto memento for yourself, pick up some souvenirs for friends and family back home, or just look around on foot – to see where both locals and fellow travelers mingle.

Japan Culture & Character Shop Guf KYOTO

Looking for the best place to start your Japanese shopping spree? Just south of Shijo-dori Street, Guf Kyoto is a must-see for anyone who harbors a love for Japanese pop culture, with shelves of merchandise from popular franchises like ONE PIECE, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Jujutsu Kaisen, Haikyu!!, and Crayon Shin-chan. That’s not even mentioning the impressive stock of Pokémon and Studio Ghibli goods, and items featuring beloved characters from Sanrio, Monchhichi, and Godzilla.

Guf Kyoto’s varied lineup includes figures and stuffed toys, but what really sets the store apart is their apparel section, which includes a much wider selection of anime-themed wearables than you usually see in Japan. If you’re searching for a cool new Attack on Titan t-shirt, a slick embroidered jacket featuring Naruto in action, or a fresh pair of Pikachu underpants, this is the place to get it. They even have cosplay gear!

Despite being so conveniently located, Guf KYOTO is tucked away down a side street, which makes it the kind of shop that’s only frequented by those in the know. If you want to wear your love of anime on your sleeve (literally), it’s worth slipping through Kyoto’s narrow alleys to browse this selection.

Japan Culture & Character Shop Guf KYOTO (Japan Culture ＆ Character Shop Guf 京都店)
571 Nakanocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
Hours: 10:00 – 22:30
Official Website (jp)

Sabae Megane-kan Kyoto

Travelers on the hunt for practical Japanese souvenirs might want to visit the historic 400-year-old Teramachi-dori Shopping Street during their time exploring the Kawaramachi area and stop at Sabae Megane-kan’s Kyoto shop. This bright boutique specializes in Sabae eyewear made in Fukui Prefecture, a region famed for making high-quality glasses for over a century – including the world’s first titanium frames.

Sabae Megane-kan Kyoto is the only Made-in-Japan eyewear specialty store in the western region of Japan that’s run directly by the Fukui Optical Association, and the boutique stocks over 2,000 different styles in a wide range of prices – from affordable 16,000-yen frames to high-end designs. That includes artisan titanium glasses from Sugimoto Kei and other Fukui brands, as well as pairs made from genuine celluloid, sturdy acetate, and other high-quality materials. Inspired by Fukui history and traditions, Sabae Megane-kan is all about elegant Japanese design and top-notch craftsmanship.

Worried about how long it will take to get new glasses? Don’t be! Sabae Megane-kan Kyoto　offers shockingly quick turnaround times, and the shop can get your new eyewear ready in as little as 9 minutes! This unique Japanese souvenir could be ready in the time it takes you to grab a drink from the nearest “conbini” and get back to the shop.

Sabae Megane-kan Kyoto (さばえめがね館 京都 四条河原町)
548-5 Nakanocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Hours: 12:00 – 19:00
Official Website (jp)

An Evening of Kyoto Sightseeing

Wondering what to do when the sun begins to set? Kyoto’s atmosphere comes to life after dark, lit by the glow of paper lanterns! If you’re in Kyoto to soak up a little bit of traditional Japan, now is the time to do it.

Gion

Just a few minutes on foot from the Kawaramachi-Shijo intersection, the Gion area is Kyoto’s most famous “geisha” district, although in this part of Japan these masters of traditional arts are usually referred to by the terms “maiko” or “geiko” instead. The area is still full of traditional restaurants and tea houses with banquet halls made for maiko to perform and entertain guests, although many of the businesses also have normal dining areas where you can get a table and try some authentic Kyoto cooking! Slip down the alleys off the main street, south down Hanami-koji Street or north towards Shirakawa Canal, and you’ll find classic Kyoto architecture and picturesque stone bridges, like something out of a movie. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a real maiko on her way to work! (But please don’t bother them or get in their way – these are real human beings just trying to do their jobs, not tourist attractions!)

During your evening visit to Gion you won’t want to miss Yasaka Shrine, which comes alight at night. Established well over 1,000 years ago, Yasaka Shrine is known for being at the heart of Kyoto’s famed Gion Festival each summer, but the rows of brilliant paper lanterns that hang from the shrine buildings make the grounds worth seeing throughout the year!

Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社)
625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Hours: grounds accessible 24/7
Official Website (en)

The Kamogawa Riverside

Head back from Gion, and you’ll find yourself crossing over one of Kyoto’s main waterways, the Kamogawa River. Home to giant salamanders and black kites, the river offers a refreshing resting spot in the middle of urban Kyoto, and the broad banks have become a gathering place for both locals and visiting travelers. It’s not uncommon to see groups plopped down in the grass or perched on the scattered cobbles, picnicking in the afternoon sun, or grabbing drinks from the convenience store to enjoy in the cool night air.

With the comforting sound of friendly chatter, the steady rush of the river in the background, and the view of Gion’s sparkling lights across the water, the stretch of Kamogawa River between the Sanjo and Shijo bridges is truly a great place to relax at the end of a long day – you might even get a chance to strike up a conversation with locals sitting nearby! If you’re still looking for a dinner spot, you can also head into Pontocho Alley, which runs parallel to the Kamogawa River. It’s another of Kyoto’s historic geisha districts, and many of the restaurants offer “kawadoko” dining, a Kyoto tradition of setting up wooden decks where diners can sit looking out over the river.

Stay the Night in Central Kyoto

Most sightseers really get their steps in during a full day of sightseeing in Japan, so when the end of the evening finally rolls around, searching for some distant hotel isn’t exactly ideal. For your Kyoto accommodations, we recommend looking for something central, within walking distance of lively shops and restaurants, sightseeing spots, as well as major train stations – somewhere like Kawaramachi-Sanjo.

CROSS HOTEL KYOTO

Just off of Kawaramachi-dori on Ryoma-dori, and steps away from Pontocho Alley, CROSS HOTEL KYOTO is in a fantastic location for travelers hoping to see the best of Kyoto. Despite being centrally located, however, the hotel’s elegant Kyoto styling offers peaceful spaces for guests to relax in, and a variety of different guest rooms with thoughtful conveniences like separate toilets and bathrooms – ideal for enjoying long baths.

Japanese hotels take breakfast seriously, and CROSS HOTEL KYOTO’s bright and sunny breakfast buffet is a thing to behold, with both Japanese and Western options, including a colorful selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, local eggs, baked goods, and sweet treats. Perhaps most impressive is the hearty meat offerings included even at breakfast, from bacon and sausages to local Kyoto chicken thighs.

The professional hotel staff are also a highlight, full of useful local advice to help you make your time in Kyoto everything you dreamed. The CROSS HOTEL KYOTO concierge staff even put together a series of handy sightseeing maps recommending lesser-known destinations all across Kyoto. Pick up a “Concierge Map,” chat with the expert concierge staff, and you’ll be all set to enjoy another day exploring Kyoto!

CROSS HOTEL KYOTO (クロスホテル京都)
71-1 Daikokucho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Official Website (jp)

Plan Your Perfect One-Day Itinerary for Kyoto

From the heights of Kyoto Tower to the quiet banks of the Kamogawa River, and all the shops and spots in between, this one-day tour of central Kyoto proves that the city’s magic lies in its contrasts. Every trip to Japan’s ancient capital is a chance to discover a new side to the city, which is why travelers have been returning to Kyoto again and again for hundreds of years. Start planning your trip to Kyoto today to experience it for yourself!

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