Kyoto BAL (京都BAL), ShinPuhKan (新風館), MUJI Kyoto Yamashina (無印良品 京都山科), etc. For those who seek upscale products and store designs…
Kyoto BAL
Kyoto BAL, in a word, is chic. Hampton style-esque interior design, ultra chillout Hawaiian music, and distinctive cedar fragrance… Don’t forget to check out Kyoto’s biggest bookstore Maruzen Kyoto Honten on the B1 and B2 levels.
Kyoto BAL (京都BAL) | Address: 251 Yamazakicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8032, Japan
ShinPuhKan
ShinPuhKan is the artsiest. Renovated by Kengo Kuma (隈研吾) in 2020, it accommodates Asia’s first location of Ace Hotel. Stumptown Coffee Roasters at the hotel is considered one of the best cafes in Kyoto.
ShinPuhKan (新風館) | Address: 586-2 Banocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8185, Japan
GOOD NATURE STATION
GOOD NATURE STATION is like, an upscale MUJI (MUJI is Japan’s most famous home decor brand for minimalists).
GOOD NATURE STATION | Address: 318-6 Inaricho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒600-8022, Japan
COCON KARASUMA
Yet another Kengo Kuma building (it was the first of his in Kyoto). Besides, NODERIUM by ACTUS at COCON KARASUMA is one of the best plant shops in Kyoto. It’s almost a botanical garden.
COCON KARASUMA (古今烏丸) | Address: 620 Suiginyacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒600-8411, Japan
SUINA Muromachi
SUINA Muromachi is cozy, sophisticated, and insightful for locals who seek to stay intellectual in modern life. Pokémon Center Kyoto is on the second floor.
SUINA Muromachi (SUINA室町) | Address: 78 Kankobokocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto ,〒600-8491, Japan
LAQUE Shijo Karasuma
“A fashion building for high-quality adults (上質なオトナのためのファッションビル),” says LAQUE Shijo Karasuma on Google translate. I saw more women there.
LAQUE Shijo Karasuma (ラクエ 四条烏丸) | Address: 101 Kankobokocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒600-8009, Japan
Kyoto Yaoichi Honkan
Believe it or not, Kyoto Yaoichi Honkan is a greengrocer. They have a farm called Rokkaku Farm (六角農場) on the rooftop.
Kyoto Yaoichi Honkan (京都八百一本館) | Address: 220 Sanmonjicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8135, Japan
MUJI Kyoto Yamashina
MUJI Kyoto Yamashina is Kyoto’s biggest MUJI that has three floors. In Kyoto, some people go to a shopping mall just to check out a MUJI. So, MUJI Kyoto Yamashina must be heaven for them.
MUJI Kyoto Yamashina (無印良品 京都山科) | Address: 91 Takehanatakenokaidocho, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto, 〒607-8080, Japan
ROHM Theatre Kyoto
If you want to chill out at a Starbucks with a bookstore in Kyoto’s artiest neighborhood Okazaki, ROHM Theatre Kyoto is the place. And yes, it has a theater.
ROHM Theatre Kyoto (ロームシアター京都) | Address: 13 Okazaki Saishojicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒606-8342, Japan
Y gion
Y gion is a zakkyo biru (雑居ビル) for art lovers. Zakkyo biru means “a building with tenants” or “a quirkily dingy, crammed department store.”
Y gion | Address: 19 Benzaitencho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 〒605-0086, Japan
