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Latest Kyoto hotel reviews
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What to buy: This is New Year's Mochi. Mochi is rice flour made into sticky paste and it's a favorite Japanese food to eat around New Year's time. You can buy it decorated all fancy...and display it until it is time to cook and eat it. I think they fry it, or boil it with soup... but I was given this in December as a gift, and I still haven't cooked it and now it's April. I'm not much of a cook...but it looked cool displayed on my shelf! Might make a good souvenir / gift to bring home.
What to pay: US$5-10
Written Apr 6, 2005
There are so many different fishes and fish-made foods available in Kyoto and all of Japan that it's staggering. Do taste the differences while visiting this amazing country!
What to buy: You can easily shop around supermarkets and find fish meals for couple of hundred yens. (approx $4-6)
What to pay: JPY 500 - JPY 1000 for a basic ready meal (in supermarket)
Written Jul 27, 2004
Address: Can be found everywhere.. obviously =)
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Usually sold at the temples, these good luck charms for different situations can be good souvenirs for your friends and relatives and even yourself. There are charms for studies, pregnancy, safe-driving, work life luck, etc.
What to pay: 400 Yen onwards depending on the size and design of the charm.
Updated May 31, 2004
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Glico is a local brand and is famous for its "Pocky". In Kyoto, you will find all types of Pocky and Glico manufactures 1 particular one for Kyoto. There are many different flavours sold too. These boxes of Pocky can serve as good local souvenirs to be brought home too.
What to pay: Prices range from 95 Yen to 1050 Yen depending on which one you buy.
Written May 21, 2004
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The store itself is unremarkable in terms of shopping, but the tiered escalators are definitely worth checking out. If you go out to the courtyard outside the 11th floor, you can get a good view of the city.
There is a grocery store in the basement that cuts the prices of many fresh food items about an hour or so before closing so you can get some excellent deals. It also has a good place to pick up a bento box or other food on the run fixings.
What to pay: 50yen and up depending on what you are buying.
Updated Apr 14, 2004
Address: JR Kyoto Station
Website: www.wjr-isetan.co.jp
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This is a wonderful shop that sells all kinds of Japanese souvenir goods: chopsticks, face paper, dolls, handkerchiefs, pottery, stationary, wallets, etc. Besides the usual goods, they also sell some very beautiful Japanese handbags.
Open daily 10am-6pm.
Written Feb 2, 2004
Address: Along the Path of Philosophy
Phone: 075-771-5541
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Yojiya, founded in 1904, is a famous Kyoto cosmetic company selling facial products. Their most popular item is their oil blotting face tissues (Aburatorigami). They also sell lipstick blotting paper, facial brushes, soap, mirrors, cleansing poweder, facial sponges, & more.
Written Jan 26, 2004
Address: Various locations around Kyoto
Website: www.yojiya.com or www.yojiya.co.jp
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There are many flea markets in Kyoto every month but the one at Toji Temple is the largest. It is only held on the 21st of the month, every month, from 7am-5pm. You can find everything here: kimonos, pottery, toys, antiques, household goods, furniture, etc.
The flea market at Chionji Temple on the 15th of every month is more of a handicrafts market. Most of the vendors sell their own wares, ranging from bags to jewelry to pottery to homemade banana bread muffins.
Bargaining is ok at flea markets.
Updated Jan 26, 2004
Address: Toji Temple, Minami-ku. Chionji, near Ginkakuji.
Phone: 075-691-3325 (Toji)
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After visiting many of Kyoto's temples and shrines, a great souvenir to bring back from each is their temple/shrine talisman. Each place have talisman for various reason - easy childbirth, good exam results, good health, etc. They are cute, colorful and practical, and also cheap.
What to pay: A few hundred yens or couple of US$, depending on size of the talismans.
Updated Jan 23, 2004
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Take a stroll down the main street in Gion and feast your eyes to traditional gifts, mouth-watering food and perhaps a geisha or two?
The main strip of Gion is a very popular street, no matter what time of day or night it is (providing the shops are open of course!).
What to buy: Foreigners find it a great place to buy souvenirs and 'traditional' Japanese gifts. I found some beautiful fans with detailed pictures of tigers and dragons for my younger cousins - they loved them!
You've also got a great assortment of Japanese and western-style restaurants. It seems Italian food is the main craze at the moment - and it's no wonder why - the food is very very good! There are also bakeries, cake shops and funky food bars for the younger crowd.
And don't forget to keep your eyes peeled in case you catch a glimpse of a real-life geisha or maiko (geisha in-training)!!! I saw a maiko girl once near Kyoto train station but before I had time to get my camera out, she'd disappeared down a side-alley!
What to pay: Gion is about average in money-wise. Of course in the boutique stores you'll pay double the price for goods, but in most souvenir shops and restaurants you'll be paying average, for eg:
souvenir fan = 2,000 yen
japanese-style small comb = 2,000 yen
carbonara pasta = 1,000 yen
bagel = 200 yen
(and don't forget to add tax!)
Updated Sep 15, 2003
Address: Gion
Website: http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/index.html
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Reviews and photos of Kyoto attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Kyoto sightseeing.
Take a stroll down the main street in Gion and feast your eyes to traditional gifts, mouth-watering food and perhaps a geisha or two?The main strip of Gion is a...
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