The former Iwasaki House Garden | Review by Holly

Whenever I visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, my main reason is always the Tenjin-san Market held on the 25th of each month. If you like kimono, vintage clothing, or kimono accessories, I really recommend checking it out. Kyoto has quite a few antique markets, but based on the several times I've visited, this one has an especially large number of kimono-related stalls. There is a very complete selection, from kimono, haori, and obi to obijime and all kinds of kimono accessories. Some undergarments and consumable items are even sold new, and the prices are much lower than in stores. For anyone who is genuinely interested in kimono, this is a great place to hunt for treasures.

The Tenjin-san Market itself is huge. Besides kimono, there are antiques, old tools, tableware, miscellaneous goods, plants, and all kinds of snacks. The food stalls are mainly concentrated near the main entrance. There aren't many of them, but they're enough to fill your stomach, and trying something new isn't really that important. The food is basically just there to help you recharge, because it's very easy to lose track of time while browsing here. If your main goal is to buy kimono, I recommend coming early because the good items really do get picked over quickly.

Although most transactions at the market are cash only, during my later visits I noticed that some stalls had started accepting credit cards. I usually skip the stalls that accept cards, since they mainly sell antiques and probably only offer card payments because the transaction amounts can be quite high. Still, if you find something you really like, paying by card is quite convenient, since it's hard to carry that much cash around.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine itself is also well worth visiting. I've been here many times, and each visit feels a little different. If you come in February, you can enjoy the plum blossoms in addition to browsing the Tenjin-san Market. If you happen to visit on the 25th, you can also attend the Plum Blossom Festival. In addition to the festival, there is the Baikasai Nodate Grand Tea Ceremony, an outdoor tea ceremony served by geiko and maiko from Kyoto's Kamishichiken district amid the blooming plum trees. During the Setsubun Festival in early February, geiko and maiko from the Kamishichiken Kabukai also perform a dedication of traditional Japanese dance at the Kagura Hall. If you want to experience Kyoto's traditional performing arts, each of these events has its own distinctive appeal.

I also visited once in April. The cherry blossom season was already almost over, so I didn't have high expectations, but I was very lucky and happened to see a shower of falling cherry blossoms. It was incredibly romantic and ended up becoming one of my strongest memories of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. From Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, you can continue on to Hirano Shrine, which is also one of Kyoto's well-known cherry blossom viewing spots. The two places fit very naturally into the same outing.

I recommend visiting Tsukiji Outer Market together with Tsukiji Hongwanji, since the two are very close to each other. You can visit Hongwanji first and then walk over to the outer market. Tsukiji Hongwanji itself is quite distinctive, so you can look at the architecture first and then head to the market to eat. It makes for a very smooth itinerary.

If you're visiting Tsukiji, I recommend not arriving too late. When I got there a little after 9:00, I could already clearly feel large numbers of tourists pouring in, and the market was quite lively. In particular, quite a few people were pulling luggage around with them. I personally don't really recommend doing that, because the market aisles aren't very wide to begin with, and once it gets crowded, large pieces of luggage really take up a lot of space.

Because I didn't stay very long this time, I wasn't able to fully explore all the food in the market. I just picked a few tamagoyaki shops to try. Once again, it proved that my stomach prefers Kanto-style tamagoyaki, and I had a very enjoyable time eating my way through them.

Although seafood is the first thing many people think of when visiting Tsukiji, once you actually walk into the outer market, you'll find so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming. In addition to fresh fish, sushi, and seafood bowls, there are also tamagoyaki, dried goods, fruits and vegetables, meat, and more. Although the main market has moved to Toyosu, even a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, and the location is convenient, so there are still many shops operating here. If it's your first visit, I actually recommend looking up several places you genuinely want to try beforehand. There are simply too many choices, and with the crowds, it's easy to see one place you want to try and then another, until you end up not knowing what to eat at all.

Also keep in mind that Tsukiji isn't simply a tourist food street. It's a district of specialty shops that developed out of a working market, so it's better not to eat while walking.

The main reason to visit Kappabashi Dougu Street, rather than low prices, is the complete and diverse selection of products. You can find everything from knives, cookware, tableware, and baking tools to food models, packaging materials, uniforms, store supplies, and even large commercial kitchen equipment. Simply put, if it's related to the food and beverage industry, you can find almost everything you need here, from the dining area to the kitchen. Even if you're just a tourist, it's easy to find tableware or kitchen supplies you normally wouldn't pay much attention to, which is actually pretty interesting.

If you need tax-free shopping, you can also look for the “Smart Refund Kappabashi Tax-Free Counter” on Dougu Street. Since not every store can process tax exemptions directly, you can get relevant information here to help plan your shopping budget. It also offers luggage and merchandise storage, delivery, foreign currency exchange, and other services, making it very convenient for international visitors.

Another small reminder that's easy to overlook is the restrooms. Kappabashi isn't a department store-style shopping mall, and very few stores allow visitors to use their restrooms. It's best to check the locations of nearby public restrooms before you start shopping instead of waiting until you're halfway through.

If you start at the Niimi Tableware Store, which has a giant chef statue on its roof, I personally think the first part of the street is better suited for regular tourists to browse at a leisurely pace. As you go farther, you'll find more commercial-grade, professional cooking equipment. If you only want to buy tableware, knives, baking supplies, or food models, you really don't have to force yourself to walk the entire street.

One more thing: I really don't recommend coming on a Sunday. Although every store has different closing days, I personally felt that more than half the stores were closed on Sunday. Unless you really can't fit it into your schedule otherwise, it's best to avoid Sundays and national holidays. It would be a shame to make a special trip here only to find that many stores are closed.