Kyoto Handicraft Center

A great place to go for woodcut prints, English books on all things Japan and Japanese souvenirs. It’s a little out of the way but was worth the visit for reasonably priced art prints to take home.

The Kyoto Handicraft Center in Kyoto city is a great place to find a really cool Japanese souvenir for those hard to find friends and family or maybe just for yourself! They have handmade items here that I didn’t see anywhere else on our two week trip. My wife and I came to the center on a tour to see a tea ceremony by a tea master in one of their multipurpose rooms. It was a lovely experience and we learned how to make, drink and host a proper tea ceremony. After that lovely experience, we checked out their wonderful store with their handcrafted items, books, swords, etc. They sell a wide selection of Japanese swords made by one of only two people who make katanas in Kyoto. They have replicas as well as more expensive (real) swords. There were also some really interesting miniature helmets, nice robes, as well as many other interesting things. I bought a sword set and they shipped it to me in Canada. I just received it today and I was very happy with their shipping service! Definitely worth checking out, as it’s a souvenir that I will cherish for many years!

I bought some souvenir there. The quality of stuff there was very good and everything was fairly priced. Wish I had more luggage space. Definitely going back next time. The staff were very nice and helpful and fluent in English. 🫶

I did the "meet Maiko" experience. Fantastic, very informative, beautiful dance with a Maiko, plus I got the chance to ask some questions and take a photo with her. There was a fantastic translator there too. Great experience! You get to have a discount voucher to use at the shop too. Very nice, authentic Kyoto goodies.

Nice place for slightly expensive souvenirs. If you haven't got much time and want to bulk shop for gifts, this is the place. Low range items are in 1k - 10k yen. Expensive stuff, of course, your bank account is the limit. If you are just starting your trip or still going to travel more, I'll suggest buying things locally at that place. Especially edibles or utensils, not many options here.

This was a beautiful store filled with lots of traditional Japanese artwork. The store offered items like kimonos, hanging scrolls, prints, blades, and stunning biombo screens. I loved the interior and all of the pieces. As to be expected, many items were a little pricey, but I did find some elegant screens for a great price. I was even able to get a recreation of Ogata Korin’s Red and White Plum Blossoms! I was also lucky enough to participate in a Japanese tea ceremony. We made interesting matcha tea with the help of an experienced master. Overall, I truly enjoyed visiting this spot while in Kyoto!

Very nice and helpful staff. Big selection of beautiful decorative ornaments, paintings and trinkets. The staff was eager to tell us about the history behind all the works, and gave us recommendations and information for further studying. A must-go for anyone looking out for handicraft works and decorations in Kyoto.

Came here for the Meet Maiko experience booked in get your guide and it was an amazing one. The place itself has unique and beautiful art. So many options. Very high quality too.