Shinmonzen-dori

Shinmonzen-dori Review

Shinmonzen-dori holds the key to shopping for art and antiques in Kyoto. It's an unpretentious little street of two-story wooden buildings between Higashi-oji-dori and Hanami-koji-dori, just north of Gion. What gives the street away as a treasure trove are the large credit-card signs jutting out from the shops. There are no fewer than 17 shops specializing in scrolls, netsuke (small carved figures to attach to Japanese clothing), lacquerware, bronze, wood-block prints, paintings, and antiques. Shop with confidence, because shopkeepers are trustworthy and goods are authentic. Pick up a copy of the pamphlet Shinmonzen Street Shopping Guide from your hotel or from the Kyoto Tourist Information Center.