Top Rated Shopping in Kyoto

Sistere can be found in the Japanese metropolitan city, Kyoto. Yu Kojima is the founder of the company. The store continues to explore with the concept of the future of beauty in Japan. And so the clothes sold here are more art than fashion. Sistere collaborates with and sells products of alternate and interesting brands like Kai, Cinzia Araia, Saya Hibino and Dr. Vranjes. The items include clothes and accessories for men and women.

Nishiki Ichiba (Nishiki Market) offers five blocks of narrow lanes flanked by traditional food stalls, shops and eateries. A wholesale market has existed here since the year 1310 and it has slowly morphed into a retail food market with strong cultural linkages. One of the oldest markets in Kyoto, it showcases every culinary wonder the city has to offer, be it whale meat, shellfish, pickles or sashimi. Some vendors have set up small shops here while other stores span two levels. Some even have attached bars or takeaway joints, which allow patrons to sample the foodstuffs before making bulk purchases. Stalls selling Japanese meat, sushi, cooked seafood and desserts are just some examples that add color to the market. Whether you are looking for grains and vegetables or a specialty sauce, you will find it here. Indeed, food culture cannot get more traditional than this!

This opulent, nine-story department store, located right in the center of the town, has all the features one would expect of a top-notch emporium. As one enters from the street, the elegant jewelry departments, including Tiffany's, attract the shopper. The store has a very good range of men's, women's and children's wear, the tie department having a particularly wide range. On the sixth floor, the art gallery is well worth a look for traditional ikebana(Japanese flower arranging) or Western art exhibitions.

Paper making in Japan has a much longer history than that of the West and fine Japanese hand-made paper or washi is much sort after worldwide by artists, calligraphers and writers and makes for an unusual and interesting gift. Decorated paper or chiyogami is fantastic for wrapping and the store has a huge selection which you are free to browse.

Unperturbed as the Guards outside Buckingham Palace in London, the beloved elevator attendants here in Daimaru Department Store (not to be confused with Fujii Daimaru to the east on Shijo Street) is one of the features not to be missed. This is the store with perhaps the greatest range of goods in Kyoto from artificial flowers to incense, maternity clothing, Buddhist altars and yukata robes. The ceramics department (5F) is interesting, as is the kitchen goods department on the same floor. The art gallery is also worth checking out.

Shijo-Dori can be found in the heart of the Japanese city of Kyoto. Shijo means fourth street, as it used to be in the ancient capital of Heian-kyō. The street runs from the Yasaka Shrine to the Matsunoo Shrine form east to the west. The area is extremely commercialized now, with several departmental stores, shopping areas and international fashion outlets like Louis Vuitton. If you know where to go, Shijo-Dori also has an area where one can find traditional wares.