Let’s be honest – when you’re in Kyoto, you want to find things that are uniquely Kyoto. Beautiful, high-quality items with real craftsmanship behind them. But open any guidebook and it’s all temples, shrines, and the same famous spots everyone visits. And sure, there are shops everywhere, but where do you actually go to find the good stuff?
I’ve curated this list for exactly that reason—places where even just browsing feels like a treat. You’ll discover contemporary design shops showcasing everything from cutting-edge textiles to carefully selected art, alongside stores specialising in kyo-dogu (京道具) – literally “Kyoto tools.” This term encompasses the practical, beautifully crafted everyday objects Kyoto has been producing for centuries: kitchen knives, grilling nets, lacquerware, folding fans, and countless other items rooted in traditional craft.
Whether you’re hunting for the perfect souvenir, upgrading your kitchen tools, or simply want to spend an afternoon appreciating Japanese design and craftsmanship, these shops offer that sweet spot between browsing inspiration and finding something genuinely special to take home.
Everyday Tools & Crafted Goods
1. Koko Antique Tools (古道具店 呱々)
Tucked away at the end of a narrow alley near Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and the Philosopher’s Path, this tiny shop specialises in vintage Japanese daily tools and household items with a discerning eye for quality and patina. The name “呱々” (koko) evokes the sound of a baby’s cry – suggesting the beginning of life and the everyday objects that accompany us through it. You’ll find beautifully aged items like wooden bowls, ceramic vessels, woven baskets, and traditional kitchen tools that have been lovingly used and still have plenty of life left in them.
What makes Koko special is the curation. Everything here has been selected for its beauty, functionality, and the stories it carries. If you’re visiting Ginkaku-ji, definitely stop by.
Pro tip: The Philosopher’s Path is a lovely canal-side walking route connecting Ginkaku-ji to Nanzenji Temple, with seasonal nature views and cafes dotted along the way – one of my favourite spots in Kyoto for a peaceful stroll between temple visits.
📍 Address: 82-11 Jodoji Nishidacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8417, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Eizan Electric Railway Mototanaka Station (Approx. 20 min walk) / Kyoto City Bus Ginkakuji-michi (Approx. 3 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
2. PINT
PINT is all about “modern folk tools” – everyday objects made using traditional Japanese craftsmanship but designed for how we actually live today. Founded with the philosophy that beautiful, functional tools should be accessible and used daily (not just admired), PINT collaborates with skilled artisans across Japan to create items like wooden bowls, bamboo baskets, cotton textiles, and simple, well-considered clothing.
The shop itself feels calm and intentional, with items displayed in a way that helps you imagine them in your own daily life. Everything here is made to last – the kind of quality that actually gets better with use and age. Note that the shop is open only in the afternoons and is run solo by the owner, so definitely check their website for operating days before visiting to avoid disappointment. (Shop Hours)
📍 Address: 301 Kitou Building, 221 Kamiikesucho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0855, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Keihan Honsen, Oto Line Jingu-Marutamachi Station (Approx. 10 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
3. Kura Daily Store (倉日用商店)
Kura Daily Store describes itself as a “contemporary general store” (現代の荒物屋), and that perfectly captures the spirit here. It’s part folk craft shop, part vintage store, part general goods emporium – carrying everything from traditional Japanese daily tools to professional-grade kitchen items to thoughtfully selected vintage pieces, all viewed through the lens of design and practical use. Beyond the housewares and folk crafts, you’ll also find clothing, preserved foods, and a curated book selection.
Walking through Kura feels like discovering a well-curated collection of “things that work.” There’s also an attached coffee stand and soda bar (take-away only) serving hand-drip coffee and regional sodas from across Japan – perfect for a refreshment break after browsing. You might find hand-forged knives alongside ceramic rice bowls, woven baskets next to modern cleaning tools. It’s the kind of place where you come in for one thing and leave with inspiration for rethinking your entire approach to daily living.
📍 Address: 4-55 Yonchome, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8112, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Kyoto Municipal Subway, Karasuma Line Marutamachi Station (Approx. 15 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
4. Kohchosai Kosuga (公長斎小菅)
Founded in 1898, Kohchosai Kosuga has been crafting bamboo products in Kyoto for over 120 years. What started as a small workshop specialising in tea ceremony tools has evolved into a brand that brings traditional bamboo craft into modern life. Their flagship store showcases the remarkable versatility of bamboo – from elegant tea whisks (chasen) and tea scoops to kitchen utensils, baskets, and even contemporary home accessories.
What’s fascinating about Kohchosai Kosuga is how they honour traditional techniques while actively innovating. They work with skilled craftspeople who’ve mastered centuries-old methods of splitting, shaving, and weaving bamboo, but they’re not stuck in the past—you’ll find sleek, minimal designs alongside classical forms. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, lightweight, and sustainable, and holding one of their beautifully crafted pieces helps you understand why this material has been central to Japanese life for so long. Perfect for functional art that brings natural elegance into your daily rituals.
📍 Address: 74 Nakajimacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8004, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Keihan Honsen, Oto Line Sanjo Station (Approx. 5 min walk) / Kyoto Municipal Subway, Tozai Line Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (Approx. 5 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
5. Mimaru Tools Shop (みまる道具店)
Located within Mimaru Hotel Suites Kyoto Shijo, this shop offers a unique concept – showcasing carefully selected Japanese daily tools and craft items that guests can actually use during their stay and then purchase to take home. It’s like a living showroom where you can test-drive beautiful everyday objects in a real-life setting before deciding if they’re right for you.
The selection focuses on well-designed, functional items from Japanese makers – think ceramic tableware, wooden kitchen tools, textiles, and various lifestyle goods that embody Japanese design principles of simplicity and intentionality. What makes Mimaru Tools Shop clever is removing the guesswork from buying – you get to experience how that rice bowl feels in your hands during breakfast, or how that kitchen knife performs, before committing. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, it’s worth visiting to see this thoughtful curation of contemporary Japanese craft and daily goods.
📍 Address: Within Mimaru Hotel Suites Kyoto Shijo, 717-1 Inabadocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8415, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line Shijo Station (Approx. 3 min walk) / Hankyu Kyoto Line Karasuma Station (Approx. 7 min walk)
🔗 Website
Design Shops & Select Stores in Kyoto
6. HOSOO Flagship Store
If you’re interested in textiles and traditional craftsmanship pushed into contemporary realms, HOSOO is an absolute must. This family-run company has been creating Nishijin textiles since 1688 – yes, over 300 years – but what they’re doing now is far from old-fashioned. HOSOO takes the intricate weaving techniques developed for kimono and obi and applies them to contemporary design.
Their textiles appear in luxury hotels, high-end fashion, and interior design projects worldwide. The flagship store spans multiple floors: ground floor for textile collections that can be customised for furniture and curtains; the HOSOO Lounge for seasonal sweets and tea served on traditional crafted tableware; HOSOO Gallery for rotating exhibitions exploring Japanese textile culture; and an exclusive members-only kimono salon. Look for the incredible metallic-threaded wall hangings and furniture samples—they show exactly how traditional techniques are driving the future of design.
📍 Address: 412 Kakimotochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8173, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line / Tōzai Line Karasuma Oike Station (Approx. 5 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
7. Utsuwa Haku
Shifting focus from general art to functional beauty, Utsuwa Haku is a select shop specialising in Japanese ceramics and tableware (utsuwa). Located in the quieter Kamigyo Ward, the shop curates pieces by contemporary Japanese potters, emphasising beautiful yet usable everyday objects.
Here, you can truly connect with the ethos of Japanese craftsmanship, finding vessels that enhance the act of eating and drinking. It’s the perfect place to discover a unique coffee cup or bowl that will bring a touch of Kyoto’s aesthetic sensibility to your own home.
📍 Address: 469 Kamitonodancho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0815, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Keihan Main Line Demachiyanagi Station (Approx. 15 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
8. 鳩居堂 (Kyukyodo)
This is one of those rare shops where just being inside feels like a cultural experience. Established in 1663 (over 350 years ago), Kyukyodo started as a pharmacy before becoming renowned for incense and Japanese stationery. From 1891 to 1945, they were the official stationer to the Imperial Household.
The Kyoto location is a treasure trove of beautifully crafted items: washi paper, elegant postcards and letter sets, calligraphy supplies, and their signature incense. The incense here is made using natural aromatic ingredients and traditional blending techniques. This is the perfect place to find high-quality paper goods or exquisite incense as a meaningful, lasting souvenir.
📍 Address: 520 Shimohonnōjimaechō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8091, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Kyoto Subway Tōzai Line Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (Approx. 3 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
9. ARTS&SCIENCE KYOTO
Founded by former stylist Sonya Park in 2003, Arts & Science has grown into a lifestyle brand with a philosophy of “tools for living that are truly good.” & SHOP focuses on a genderless, borderless concept – clothing and objects that transcend typical categories. You’ll find A&S original pieces alongside carefully selected items from Japanese and international makers.
The selection emphasises quality over quantity, with each piece chosen for its balance of beauty and function. Must-sees include their perfectly tailored linen shirts, thoughtful stationery, and timeless leather accessories. The shopping experience feels intentional, making the act of discovery part of the pleasure.
📍 Address: 482-3 Higashiikesuchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0922, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Kyoto Subway Tōzai Line Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (Approx. 5 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
10. D&DEPARTMENT KYOTO
This is such a unique concept – a design store located within the historic Bukkoji Temple grounds, created in collaboration with designer Kenmei Nagaoka. The store champions “long-life design” – products that have been made for decades and will continue to be relevant far into the future.
Walking through D&DEPARTMENT feels different from typical shopping. You’re surrounded by objects selected based on criteria like longevity, region, and timelessness. You’ll find everything from tea mugs and sake sets to textiles and speciality foods. There’s also d-Shokudo Kyoto, a cafe in a renovated 150-year-old tea house where you can enjoy meals made with seasonal Kyoto ingredients. What makes this place special is how it reframes shopping around sustainability and timelessness.
📍 Address: Bukkoji Temple Grounds, 397 Shinkai-chō, Takakura-dori Bukkoji-sagaru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8084, Japan
🚇 Nearest Station: Hankyu Kyoto Line Karasuma Station (Approx. 8 min walk)
🔗 Website | Instagram
Plan Your Shopping Route
To make your exploration easier, I’ve curated a custom Google Map with all the locations featured in this article. You can view them grouped by category (cafes vs. shops), so planning your own seamless Kyoto itinerary becomes effortless. Just open the map on your phone, and you’ll have every spot at your fingertips.
Whether you’re drawn to contemporary design spaces showcasing innovative textiles and art, hunting for traditional craft tools that have been perfected over centuries, or simply want to discover everyday objects made with exceptional care, Kyoto offers this incredible blend you won’t find anywhere else. Take your time wandering between shops, let yourself get a little lost in the side streets, and be open to discovering that perfect piece you didn’t know you were looking for. These aren’t just shops – they’re living expressions of how Kyoto honours its craft heritage while continuing to create and innovate. And honestly, that’s what makes shopping in this city so endlessly rewarding.
