KYOTO SHOPPING
Kyoto is the place
to go shopping for traditional Japanese arts and souvenirs. You would
not go to Kyoto shopping for the latest Japanese fashions.
Currently, Kyoto is
enjoying even more popularity than usual with Japanese tourists due to
the success of Japanese TV broadcaster NHK's series 'Shinsengumi!'
(新選組!), a historic drama following a group of samurai who kept peace
in the city in the 1860s. Consequently, among the most popular
souvenirs from the city at the moment are the distinctive blue and
white happi (shirts) worn by this group.
There is a nice selection of reassuringly non-tacky traditional
souvenir shops around Arashiyama station in Western Kyoto, selling
fans and traditional sweets. More tacky stores can be found in Gion
and the approach to Kiyomizu Temple, selling keyrings, cuddly toys,
and garish ornaments. Other traditional souvenirs from Kyoto include
parasols and carved wooden dolls.
A more unconventional but colorful (and relatively cheap) souvenir are
the wooden votive tablets produced by temples, which bear an image
relevant to the temple on the reverse. Visitors to the temples write
their prayers on the tablets, and hang them up within the temple.
Manga and anime enthusiasts should visit Teramachi Street, a covered
shopping street off the main Shijo-dori, which boasts a large manga
store on two floors, as well as a two-storey branch of Gamers (a chain
of anime stores), and a small two-storey anime and collectables store.
Gallery Gado 27 Miyashiki-cho Hirano, Kitaku (on Kinukake no Michi,
near Kinkakuji). 075-464-1655. Open everyday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Gallery Gado sells modern woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) with traditional
themes. The gallery also has catalogs of the work of artists who are
maintaining this art form. All prints are authentic woodblock prints;
postcard-sized prints are available for ¥800, medium-sized prints for
¥2000-3000, and large prints for a few ten thousand yen. [1] (http://www.gado.jp)
Splurge
In the shopping areas adjacent to Kiyomizudera (on the other side of
the Kamo River), it is possible to purchase samurai swords and top of
the line kimono. Do not be surprised if the prices for either item
exceed JPY 3,000,000 or more (USD 30,000).
Kyoto incense is also famous. It usually has a very delicate yet
fragrant bouquet. Fortunately, incense is much more agreeable in price
(ie, JPY 400-2,000).
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(Article
based on
Wikitravel article
by Wikitravel users Nzpcmad, Jose Ramos, John Grillo, Brian Kurkoski,
Howard Banwell, Mary and Yann Forget, Jpatokal, Huttite, Miknon and
MykReeve. Artilce used under
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0.)
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