Kyoto has so many souvenirs that spending 30 minutes paralysed in Kyoto Station is a rite of passage. This guide picks twelve, sorted into sweets to share, things that keep well for yourself, and crafts, with prices and the best place to buy each. At the end: how to get everything at Kyoto Station in 30 minutes.
TOC
Sweets to share
- Nama yatsuhashi (Otabe, Shogoin) — triangles of soft cinnamon dough around red bean paste. About ¥700 for 10; keeps 7–10 days. Sold everywhere, from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-zaka.
- Ajari-mochi (Mangetsu) — chewy skin around coarse red bean paste. About ¥150 each, ¥1,500 for 10. Keeps only 5 days, but it is the sweet locals recommend first. Kyoto Station Isetan, Daimaru, or the main shop at Hyakumanben.
- Matcha sweets (Itoh Kyuemon, Tsujiri, Marukyu Koyamaen) — matcha chocolate, financiers, ganache. ¥1,000–2,000; keeps 2 weeks or more.
- Kyo Baum — a matcha and soy-milk baumkuchen. About ¥1,300. Kiyomizu-zaka and Kyoto Station.
- Pickles (Nishiri, Daiyasu) — senmaizuke turnip in autumn and winter, shibazuke all year. ¥500–1,000. Refrigerated ones need a cool bag. Taste before buying at Nishiki Market.
Things that keep
- Matcha powder (Ippodo, Marukyu Koyamaen) — a 30–40 g tin for thin tea, ¥1,500–3,000. Six months unopened.
- Shichimi and sansho pepper (Shichimiya Honpo, Hararyokaku’s Kuro Shichimi) — small jars ¥500–900. Shichimiya on Kiyomizu-zaka blends it to order.
- Chirimen sansho — tiny dried sardines with sansho pepper, for rice. ¥600–1,200.
- Sake from Fushimi (Gekkeikan, Kizakura, Matsumoto) — 300 ml bottles from ¥800. At the breweries or the sake section of Kyoto Station.
Crafts
- Yojiya blotting paper — the maiko-face logo. About ¥400 a booklet. Gion main shop and Kyoto Station.
- Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu canvas bags — sold only at the shop in front of Chion-in. Totes from ¥8,000. You cannot buy them anywhere else.
- Tenugui cloths and gamaguchi purses (Eirakuya, SOU·SOU) — tenugui ¥1,000–1,500, purses from ¥1,500. Shijo-dori and Shinkyogoku.
Where to buy
| Place | Good for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station (Isetan basement, Porta, inside the Shinkansen gates) | 1–7, 10 | almost everything; the Shinkansen shops have less choice |
| Nishiki Market | 5, 8 | taste before you buy; refrigerated items last |
| Kiyomizu-zaka and Ninenzaka | 1, 4, 7, 10 | while sightseeing; same prices as the station |
| Gion and Shijo-dori | 10, 12 | Yojiya main shop, SOU·SOU |
| In front of Chion-in | 11 | Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu |
| Fushimi | 9 | brewery shops |
Kyoto Station in 30 minutes
- Isetan basement 1 (Karasuma side): ajari-mochi, yatsuhashi, matcha sweets and pickles in one place
- Porta underground mall: Kyo Baum and Yojiya
- Shops inside the Shinkansen gates: last-minute yatsuhashi only
Buy refrigerated pickles and ajari-mochi right before you leave; station shops will give you an ice pack for the train.
[Affiliate slot: Kyoto wagashi-making and matcha experiences — Klook / KKday]
Taking them home
- Nama yatsuhashi and ajari-mochi do not keep; buy them on your last day.
- Flying home: sake cannot go in hand luggage; pack it in checked bags.
- Matcha and shichimi are light and unbreakable, fine to buy on day one.
See also 15 things to do in Kyoto — the 3-day itinerary leaves souvenir time on day 3.
Official information: Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · Kyoto Station Building · Nishiki Market
Comments