As Japan’s former capital and home to the Imperial family for more than a thousand years, Kyoto is one of the country's most beautiful cities. It’s renowned for temples, gardens, machiya (traditional Kyoto houses), Japanese inns, and artisans producing high-quality crafts. A shopper’s paradise, Kyoto is filled with centuries-old specialty stores, covered pedestrian shopping arcades, department stores, souvenir shops, and malls and shopping centers stocked with international and Japanese brands. Here’s a rundown of the best neighborhoods for traditional to trendy shopping opportunities.

With its high concentration of hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and department stores, the area surrounding Kyoto Station bustles with commuters and travelers. The eye-catching, futuristic-looking Kyoto Station Building is itself a popular tourist destination with public spaces (including a rooftop plaza), restaurants, and loads of shopping opportunities including a department store. Underneath the station is the Porta shopping mall, while nearby are Kyoto Tower Sando with Japanese souvenirs and Aeon Mall offering clothing and daily necessities. Fuuka-Kimono specializes in washable traditional kimono, while at the other end of the spectrum is Kyoto Denim, famous for its jeans.