Kyoto Handicraft Center

Kyoto Handicraft Center

Kyoto Handicraft Center
4
Speciality & Gift ShopsLessons & Workshops
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Kyoto's largest souvenir and craft store, Kyoto Handicraft Center sells lacquerware, sake cups, kimono, pottery, pearls, dolls, cosmetics, and more in two buildings. It also offers craft-making workshops.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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The area

Address
Neighborhood: City Center
No district of Kyoto is quite as representative of its blended nature as the City Center. By day, the covered shopping arcades along Kawaramachi and Shijo Street bring deal hunters and fashionistas out in droves to peruse the clothing, accessories, gifts, and home goods offerings. When it grows dark, the City Center is a hip spot for nightlife, alive with bars and clubs. A trendy culinary scene and an abundance of local watering holes give the Center its youthful vibrancy. In contrast, the quieter areas of the City Center seem a world away, shielded from noise by the foliage of the public gardens and zen spaces surrounding the area's shrines, castles, and the Imperial Palace. These ancient and sacred spots are seamlessly folded into the scenery, providing a respite from the energy of the city, but close enough to put you directly back onto the pulse of the city when you're ready.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles241 reviews
Excellent
104
Very good
70
Average
38
Poor
14
Terrible
15

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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LynneS
Chacmuchuch, Mexico12 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
Really expensive!! Selection was ok - a lot of art pieces, but also some tat that was way overpriced. If you are looking for art prints and lacquerware, this place is fine (though overpriced even for that). But if you are looking for nice affordable souvenirs or any of the textiles goods, the gift shop at the Nishijin Textile Center is much better and cheaper, and the Atsy Street souvenir shops in Kyoto Station, near the Kintetsu Line escalator are even cheaper and also really nice. The stuff at Nishijin was a little more unusual and unique than Kyoto Stn stuff, but also a little more expensive.
Written April 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear ArmByChoice san, Thank you very much for your feedback. We apologize if our prices didn't meet your expectations. We appreciate your input and will take it into account as we learn more about the price range and product variations available at the Nishijin Textile Center and the souvenir shops at Kyoto Station. Your suggestions are valuable to us, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best regards, Kyoto Handicraft Center
Written June 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Global42359290233
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
During a group meal, I ordered a beer and paid with a 1,000 yen note, but was given 250 yen in change in the form of 25 10 yen coins. I couldn't believe my eyes! I had heard that food in Kyoto was expensive, but I didn't think it would be this bad. When I go to Kyoto, I'll buy bento boxes from a convenience store!
Google
Written April 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NewStar31
Kingston upon Thames, UK12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
I visited the store when I was in Kyoto a little while ago. It was an absolute delight to visit and I bought some things when I was there.

However when I returned home to the UK I realise there were other things I should’ve bought too. So I contacted them by email and bought some items online which they shipped over to me in the UK. From start to finish the customer service was excellent and I cannot praise them highly enough. The items I bought are also absolutely lovely. Thank you so much to everyone at the store, particularly Maiko who dealt with the online purchase and shipping.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear NewStar31 San, Thank you very much for taking your precious time to share your recent experience at Kyoto Handicraft Center. We are happy to hear that you have enjoyed shopping at our center and our online shopping. Maiko also happy to hear the items arrived safety. Hope it will be a good memory of Japan trip. We are looking forward to see you in the future!! Once again, thank you very much!! Arigato: ) Sincerely yours, Kyoto Handicraft Center
Written October 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jan
Bucks County, PA223 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Solo
If you're looking for unique art pieces to buy in Kyoto, this is your best bet. They offer high quality, hand-made wood block prints, and many other crafts and houseware items, clothes, glasses, etc. If you want a gift or souvenir that is more high quality than the items you find in the shopping arcades, make the trip here. The prices are higher, but so is the quality.
Written October 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FarAway30489
austin1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A definite place to be. Before making a purchase, I advise peeping all the floors for your viewing pleasure. A few things cost a pretty penny, but well worth it. The stamp collections on the third floor are quite exquisite.
Written May 22, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nechik
Kyoto, Japan111 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013 • Business
This is a well known souvenir shop for foreigners.
I once visited this place for the request of our guest.
I felt that the goods were designed for foreigners.
The guest bought several items, which Japanese people would never buy, but he seemed very satisfied.
If you want to buy what foreigners feel like Japanese, maybe this place is OK.
If you are looking for the traditional Japanese items, this is not the place.
Written November 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DrChristophe
Singapore147 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Family
We visited the Kyoto Handicraft centre for this one purpose.
The ability to make your own DAMASCENE craft. Although it required booking in advance, we arrived there about 3 and they were able to accomodate our party of 5.
The making of damascene is a dying craft, inlaying precious metals onto a steel plate which can be inlaid in a wooden box or in our case, made a one-of-a kind cellphone charm!
They bring you through the entire damascene making process and it is quite simple once you get the hang of it. All materials are provided and the finished product is shipped to your overseas address once they have done the final treatments.

You can also do woodblock printing as well. Forget buying pricey souvenirs from this place unless you really want to, do some traditional crafts instead, and you will remember Kyoto each time you see your art piece!
Written December 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rantati7
Helsinki, Finland2,396 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Friends
This place ranks high on TA for truly odd reasons. First, the place is in rather remote location. There are two buildings - one with wood block prints and blunt katanas on the bottom floor (there nothing else in this building) and in the building next door 3 floors with other trinkets - postcards, cotton handkerchiefs (used for wrapping) - practically the same as everywhere.

There is nothing you would not find in any department store or Tokyu Hands - excerpt that the quality in department stores seems better than what they sell here. People are taken here on bus loads - maybe the high ranking is explained by reviewers who have not seen or been to a any of those massive department stores anywhere in Japan.

I was looking for some ink paintings or wood block prints but the prices were ridiculous and none of what they had seemed particularly good. If you are after knick-knacks you'll find same and better in the small stalls and shops around temples and shrines - try Gion area or the city centre.

Compared to 'handicraft centres' around the world - this is really ridiculous. I would have expected modern Japanese design items, good quality art prints and pottery - instead if kitsch dolls and postcards.

Written March 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

deancorso19
Miami, FL12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Couples
We went in May and one of the stores that we had to visit in Kyoto Japan was The Handicraft Store .. This is real Authentic Japanese Crafts .. The employees are extremely nice and helpful ..
We bought a amazing Samurai Sword Set .. Beautiful set .. it's a decorative set but a real Samurai sword set .. Authentic material .. This store has everything imaginable Japanese ..
I recommend to all who goes to Kyoto to visit this store if you want to bring back a worthwhile gift or momento of Japan .. Beautiful Pieces ..
GO VISIT THIS STORE !!!!!!
Written November 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wendy M
Greater Perth, Australia26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016
We found this to be the best place we visited in Kyoto or Tokyo for gift shopping. They had a wide range of quality products at reasonable prices. We hesitated before buying things because it was our first stop in a month-long trip, but very glad we did. We bought nearly all of our gifts here - most of which we never came across anywhere else.
Written November 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Kyoto Handicraft Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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