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These two covered shopping arcades are the most popular shopping streets in all of Kyoto, and they’re often crammed with kids out on school excursions.
Right in the middle of downtown Kyoto, these two streets form the heart of Kyoto’s main shopping district. The eastern street, known as Shinkyogoku, is filled with tacky souvenirs of almost every description – need a shirt reading “Ichi-ban” (Number One)? This is the place to go.
The western street, known as Teramachi, is an altogether more refined place, with a variety of art galleries, bookshops, and clothing shops. In addition, you’ll find several shops selling religious goods like incense, Buddha images, prayer beads and the like. These shops are a holdover from the 16th century, when the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved many of the city’s temples to Teramachi Street in an effort to control the clergy (the name of the street, Teramachi, literally means “temple town.”
Nishiki Market branches off Teramachi about 100 meters north of Shijo Street and an exploration of the two market streets, perhaps combined with a trip to one of the nearby department store food floors, is a great way to spend a rainy day in Kyoto.
#Kyoto #Japan #AmbientWalking
AloJapan.com