Sightseeing | Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

Explore the neighborhood with our staff recommendations

Our recommended attractions in the hotel vicinity include great restaurants you won’t find in any guide books, fantastic but unknown tourist spots, popular souvenir shops and more.

Pick up the best souvenirs

Yojiya Main Store

The long-time “face” of Kyoto souvenirs
Yojiya is a well-established cosmetics company renowned for its “aburatori-shi” (facial oil blotting paper). This traditional-looking store offering a variety of original beauty products blends in well with the retro atmosphere of Kayuu Koji Street, where it is located. There are a total of twelve Yojiya shops and two sales booths located throughout Kyoto City, including this main store, their spacious Gion branch, and the Sanjo shop that houses a cafe inside.

Access: Approx. 15 min. walk from the hotel
Opening Hours: 11:00～19:00
Closed: Irregular holidays (Closed for New Year holiday)
Website: http://www.yojiya.co.jp/

Delight in delicious dishes

Kyo Cuisine Kinobu

Discover new Kyoto dishes you’ve never seen before every time you visit this prestigious restaurant
Kinobu was established in 1935 after going independent from hotel-restaurant “Kifuji,” a distinguished purveyor to the imperial court. Diners can enjoy seasonal kaiseki ryori (full-course meals) cooked with fresh ingredients carefully chosen by the owner of the restaurant each morning, served with the utmost hospitality in a traditional Japanese room with tatami mat floor. Innovating tradition, the restaurant also offers varieties of wine to suit this delicious Kyo cuisine.

Access: Approx. 4 min. walk from the hotel
Opening Hours: 11:30～14:30、17:00～19:30
Closed: No regular holidays
Website: http://www.kinobu.co.jp

Head out shopping

Kyoto Nishiki Market

Market known as “Kyoto’s pantry” that runs 390 meters east to west
This market is home to approximately 130 shops selling items that feature in traditional Kyoto cuisine, such as yuba (tofu skin), pickles, confectionery, and seasonal ingredients. The marketplace is always bustling with both locals and tourists. Visitors can sit down and enjoy tasting their purchases at the convenient “Kyo-machiya Nishiki-agaru” eat-in space.

Access: Approx. 15 min. walk from the hotel
Opening Hours: Discover variety from shop to shop
Website: http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/

Encounter Japanese tradition

Kodai Yuzen Gallery and Kyo-Yuzen Dyeing Workshop

Try your hand at traditional yuzen dyeing with stencils
Kodai Yuzen Gallery offers a hands-on workshop for one or more participants where you can try authentic yuzen dyeing with stencils. In just 30 to 60 minutes, participants can dye a handkerchief, tumbler, sensu (folding fan), bag, furoshiki (wrapping cloth), or other item using a pattern and color of their choice. Advance reservation by phone, fax, e-mail or their official website is required. The workshop space also houses a gallery displaying hand-painted yuzen fabrics.

Access: Approx. 9 min. walk from the hotel
Opening Hours: 9:00～17:00（Last check-in 16:00）
Closed: No regular holidays (Closed for New Year holiday)
Website: http://www.kodaiyuzen.co.jp/

Visit Japanese confectionery shops

Kameya Yoshinaga

Traditional yet innovative Kyoto confectionery
Located on Shijo street, Kameya Yoshinaga was founded in 1803 after breaking away from the prestigious confectionery shop “Kameya Yoshiyasu.” While offering signature items such as “ubatama,” which has been a long-running hit since the shop was founded, there are also new kinds of Japanese sweets available, such as those made using “samegai water,” a natural water famous in Kyoto.

Access: Approx. 4 min. walk from the hotel
Opening Hours: 9:00～18:00
Closed: Open every day (except Jan. 1st and 2nd)
Website: http://kameya-yoshinaga.com/