Kyoto Takashimaya S.C.

Perched on the southwest corner of the bustling Shijo Kawaramachi intersection in Kyoto, this large-scale retailer keeps a long and bold history since its infancy as the “Takashimaya” vintage clothing cotton merchant that founded in the local year of Tempo 2 (1831). The brand moved to Kawaramachi-Takatsuji as the first privately-owned, reinforced concrete commercial building during the Meiji era in 1912, and has since then moved to its current spot as a market center in 1946.

Spanning eight floors from the basement to the seventh floor, the department store brings together a diverse selection of quality goods ranging from fashion, interior design, books, jewelry, sports equipment, cosmetics, to food products. The retailer made news again in October 2023 after launching an all new specialty store zone named T8 (T-Eight). Themed around "Art & Culture," the new area houses the third direct-operated Nintendo KYOTO official store in Japan, Tsutaya Books with an adjoining "SHARE LOUNGE" for relaxed solo visits, and Mandarake Kyoto Store, among a total of 51 different brands.

Foodies will be glad to know that an extensive lineup of famous eateries await inside like "Mimiko" known for curry udon, the esteemed sukiyaki restaurant "Mishimatei”, and the café "Salon de Muge" managed by the renowned "Kikunoi," allowing visitors to savor the flavors of Kyoto's prestigious names.