Kyoto station is attached to an enormous building which provides shops and restaurants, as well as a hotel and cultural center. The Cube Shopping Mall occupies the ground floor and two basement floors. In its spacious confines are shops offering a wide variety of unique souvenirs and specialty desserts from Kyoto, trendy fashion items, and interesting knickknacks. On the west side of the station building is the JR Kyoto Isetan Department Store packed with famous fashion and cosmetic retailers. The exciting atmosphere here is always crowded with local shoppers and tourists.
The building offers a number of great places to eat; The Japanese Cuisine Street on the second floor, the Cube on Gourmet Street at the 11th floor, and Kyoto Ramen Street on the 10th floor. The Ramen Street, offering a collection of the most famous ramen shops in the nation, requires a little waiting in line at lunch time.
The Complex’s design was inspired by the classic city grid plan in the time of Heian Kyo (ancient Kyoto City). The Kyoto Station Building also offers several squares and lounging spots, including the greenery Sky Garden, the romantic outdoor Karasuma Square with a beautiful view of Kyoto City, and the unique Sky Way bridge walk at 45 meters high. The Great Stairs with 171 steps are beautifully lit with 15,000 LED lights, presenting different illumination scenes each season.
Highlights
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A station building with a department store, shopping mall, and food floors.
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Great lounging spots throughout the building including squares and a rooftop.
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The impressive Graphical Illumination Plus on the Great Stairs, lit differently for each season.
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