Kyoto Takashimaya S.C.
The City’s Iconic Department Store
Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. is a department store located at the intersection of Shijo-dori and Karawamachi avenues, in the city center of Kyoto in Japan. After great renovation works, the new T8 building opened in 2023 hosting well-known brands of Japanese pop’culture, such as the official Nintendo Kyoto shop and the second-hand chain Mandarake.
Kyoto Takashimaya Department Store is established since 1946 in the central shopping district of Shijo-Karamawachi. Its floors are themed to showcase a comprehensive selection of international fashion, of Japanese trends as well as the brand’s traditional craftsmanship.
Founded in Kyoto in 1831, Takashimaya first opens as a shop for second-hand clothes and fabrics. During the Meiji Era (1868 – 1912), it specializes in the making of Japanese kimonos and becomes one of the official suppliers of the Imperial Household Agency. International audience is introduced to its products for the 1rst time at a world fair, the 1900 Paris Exposition. In 1950, Takashimaya upgrades to become a department store and solidifies its activities on the high-end shopping range. The brand now owns 19 stores, including 4 in Asia and 4 in Tokyo, especially in Nihonbashi and Shinjuku districts.
Japanese pop’ culture hub in T8 building
In October 2023, Kyoto Takashimaya considerably expands its surface with the opening of a new wing named "T8 (Speciality stores)" built just next to the historical building. The store also changed its name to "Kyoto Takashimaya Shopping Center (S.C.)", in an attempt to attract new customers, both younger and international.
With a modern layout and decoration, the T8 building is home to shops specializing in Japanese arts and pop’ culture. This new glass tower is home to the official Kyoto Nintendo Store opened at the uppermost floor (7F), along with big names of cultural products retail such as Tsutaya Books (5 and 6F) and Mandarake (4F).
Several years of major construction works have allowed to connect the T8 building to the department store, in a way that is flawless for visitors, who can now easily explore the shops at their convenience, from a wing to another.
Fashion shops and classic stores
Kyoto Takashimaya gathers big names both Japanese and international in a floor distribution typical of a Japanese department store, that is to say:
- B1F, the basement floor, directly connected to the train station, is dedicated to delicatessen and food from Japan and the world, and is certainly worth the detour;
- The ground floor 1F is for cosmetics and perfumes;
- Floors 2F to 4F are for women and men’s fashion;
- 5F is for kimonos, watches, kids and sports wear;
- Floor 6F is dedicated to tableware and interior design and decoration;
- Floor 7F is shared between event venues, various counters and services, and the restaurants' area Kyo-Kairo Dining Garden.
Kyoto Takashimaya is the go-to place for window-shopping in the center of Kyoto: you’ll find rather high-end craft souvenirs that are made in Japan. It is also a convenient place to find a café or a restaurant, to choose by specialty dish or on a whim.
Pro tip: Kyoto Takashimaya offers a 5% discount card that can be used on top of the duty-free discounts available for foreign visitors. The card displaying Hello Kitty must be retrieved from the Tax Refund Counter located at the 7F of the department store, upon presentation of passport and before making any purchase.