For visitors taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto, you will not miss this place, the JR Kyoto station! It has so much to offer, restaurants, cafes, departmental stores, theatre, boutique stores etc within the station and can keep you occupied for hours!
What I want to review is the "Great Staircase"! This staircase is 10th storey tall which you can choose to walk up (or take the escalator at the side). It was awesome, spectacular and nice and from the top floor and look down, the people passing by looked like miniatures!
And at the top floor, it's an observatory, where you can have a good bird eye's view of the city of Kyoto and of course, you will not miss the city's landmark, the Kyoto Tower!
And there's also the skybridge where you can walk around and enjoy the view of the station building too!
It's a great place to spend a day here, regardless rain or shine out there!