Kyoto Shoppers Itinerary
- Kyoto
- 29 Aug, 2025
If you like shopping, you’ll love Kyoto. It’s the best place in Japan to find traditional Japanese arts and crafts, and there are plenty of contemporary goods as well. This is a collection of the best shops and markets in the city.
Rather than giving a specific route and transport details, we have grouped the shops by area and the markets by date, so you can work them into your itinerary as you wish.
Shops
Downtown
- Nishiki Market: This is Kyoto’s finest food market, hands down. These days it’s really swamped with tourists, so try to go early in the day or late in the afternoon.
- Aritsugu: Located at the east end of Nishiki Market (above), this is Kyoto’s finest knife shop.
- Daimaru Depachika: The basement food floor of this department store is like Aladdin’s Cave.
- Morita Washi: This brilliant shop is best place on earth to see Japanese handmade paper (washi).
- Maruzen: This is best bookstore in Kyoto, with a good selection of English-language books and lots of other stuff on offer.
North of Downtown
- Zohiko: This is our favorite lacquerware shop in Kyoto. It’s very close to the following tea shop.
- Ippodo: If you like green tea, you must make a pilgrimage to this atmospheric old shop.
Markets
- 15th of Every Month: Chion-ji Temple Market: Known in Japanese as the Tezukuri-ichi (handmade market), this is a great place to find handmade crafts, some local organic food and some interesting people. It’s held at Chion-ji Temple, which is just east of the Imadegawa-Higashioji intersection.
- 21st of Every Month: Kobo-san Market: With a great selection of antiques, bric-a-brac, old kimono and curiosities, this market is a must-see if you’re in town on the 21st. It’s held at To-ji Temple.
- 25th of Every Month: Tenjin-san Market: Old kimono, bric-a-brac and antiques are among the many offerings at this fine flea market. If you’re in town on the 25th, don’t miss it. It’s held at Kitano-Tenman-gu Shrine.
For more ideas, check out our Kyoto Shopping page, our Best Kyoto Souvenirs page, and our Kyoto Arts and Antiques page.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For a quick overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide.
- Check if a visa is required for Japan
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
- Buy Japan Rail Tickets and Shinkansen Tickets Online.
- For tips on where to stay, see Where To Stay In Kyoto.
- See my Packing List For Japan.
- Purchase an eSim or SIM card for Japan.
- Compare flight prices on Skyscanner.
- Consider a Japan Rail Pass - see if it’s worth for you.
- Consider a travel insurance.