Porta Underground Shopping Mall

Kyoto Porta is a shopping, dining, and service complex directly connected with Kyoto Station. Its underground areas spread beneath the station’s north side and connect with Kyoto Subway Station, while other Porta shopping and dining areas can be found on the 1st, 2nd, and 11th floors of the station building. Here you can find fashion, cosmetics, character goods, Kyoto souvenirs, cafes, restaurants, daily services, and shops selling useful travel items.

Kyoto Porta Underground Shopping Mall

Porta is best understood by floor and area. B1F has east and west areas, with restaurants, cafes, books, drugstores, souvenirs, fashion, cosmetics, and services. The B2F south area has a strong focus on fashion, accessories, cosmetics, character goods, and lifestyle shops. The 1st and 2nd floors are useful for Kyoto souvenirs and prepared foods, and the 11th floor is home to Porta Sky Dining.

Porta Dining is the best place to begin if you are looking for restaurants, cafes, bakeries, or a quick meal around the station. Kyoto Porta’s dining options are spread through the B1F east and west areas, the B2F south area, the 2nd floor, and the 11th-floor Porta Sky Dining area, so it is worth checking the floor before heading there. In this article we will focus on Porta’s shops and practical services. For restaurant options please refer to our article Porta Dining.

Souvenirs and Food

Souvenir shops in Kyoto Porta

Porta is very handy for last-minute Kyoto gifts, because its souvenir shops are close to the railway gates, the subway, and the bus station. On B1F East, the Kyoukonomi souvenir area gathers Kyoto sweets, tea, pickles, and other small gifts. On the 1st floor, Omiyage Koji Kyo Komachi has a wide range of classic Kyoto souvenirs such as yatsuhashi, matcha sweets, baked sweets, and pickles. On the 2nd floor, Kyo Meika-Meisaidokoro Miyako is useful for bento, prepared foods, sake, pickles, and famous Kyoto confections.

Tea, Sweets, and Kyoto Specialties

Fukujuen has been selling green tea from the tea fields of Uji since 1790, so when you drink their tea you are tasting a real piece of local heritage. Green tea is a light, refreshing drink and makes an excellent souvenir, especially if you want something easy to pack.

Fukujuen Tea

Kyoto Porta also has many famous sweet shops selling yatsuhashi, matcha sweets, senbei crackers, baumkuchen, cakes, and other easy-to-carry gifts. Look for names such as Shogoin Yatsuhashi Sohonten, Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi, Kyoto Meika Otabe, Kyoto Veneto, Kyo Baum, Tsujiri, Kogetsu, and other Kyoto confectionery makers in the 1st-floor and 2nd-floor souvenir zones.

For savory souvenirs, Kyoto pickles are a classic choice. Nishiri, Daiyasu, Doi Shibazuke Honpo, Mori, and other pickle shops sell colorful pickled vegetables that travel well and go perfectly with rice.

A colorful display of Nishiri pickles

You can also find Kyoto-style goods and traditional accessories. Kanoya Kitakishi is one good example, with cloth items and small Japanese gifts that are easy to slip into a suitcase.

Dolls and masks at Kanoya Kitakishi

For food to eat on the train or back at your hotel, the 2nd-floor prepared-food area has bento, sushi, fried foods, Kyoto-style side dishes, and sake. Around Porta you will also find familiar names such as 551HORAI, Grandir, Vie de France Reve de Paris, Kaldi Coffee Farm, and other shops that are useful when you want a snack, bread, coffee, imported groceries, or something simple for the journey.

Fashion, Lifestyle, and Cosmetics

The B2F south area and B1F west area are the main places to browse for fashion, cosmetics, accessories, lifestyle goods, and character goods. B2F South has a mix of fashion and beauty shops such as Cath Kidston, Albion Dresser, Lush, KBF, Charles & Keith, Oriental Traffic, Sanrio, Disney Store, and other boutiques. This area is especially good if you want cosmetics, bags, shoes, accessories, or casual fashion before getting on a train.

On B1F West, you will find more fashion, household goods, cosmetics, shoes, eyewear, and accessories. SHIPS, ete, Aimer, PLAZA, ORBIS, 3COINS, Muji, Zoff, Diana, and United Arrows Green Label Relaxing Women are among the names you may see in this part of Porta.

Ladieswear at SHIPS

PLAZA

PLAZA is a gift and lifestyle shop selling imported miscellaneous products from around the world, such as toys, stationery, cosmetics, sweets, and everyday items for the home. Have a look around and see what you can find.

Miscellaneous import goods at PLAZA

Muji

Muji is a Japanese brand of worldwide fame, selling everyday household and consumer goods of practical use and simple minimalist design. It is a good place to pick up travel accessories, stationery, clothing basics, toiletries, and simple gifts.

Everyday goods for home and work at Muji

3COINS

3COINS is a general goods store with small household items, travel accessories, stationery, pouches, kitchen goods, and seasonal products at bargain prices. The stock changes often, so it is a good place for an inexpensive browse.

ORBIS

ORBIS sells skincare products and cosmetics with a simple, clean image. This is a useful stop if you want Japanese cosmetics or basic skincare items while passing through the station.

Restaurants and Cafes

For a proper meal, see our separate guide to Porta Dining. Porta’s restaurant and cafe choices include casual cafes, bakeries, sushi, ramen, udon, tonkatsu, Italian food, Korean food, Chinese food, bars, Kyoto cuisine, and 11th-floor restaurants with a more open station-building setting.

If you only need coffee, bread, or something quick, look around the B1F cafe areas and the station-side shops. Some cafes, bookstores, and drugstores open earlier or close later than the main retail shops, which makes them useful before an early departure or after the main shopping areas have closed.

Services

Porta is also useful for practical errands. Porta Information can help with questions about the mall, customer paging, and Porta Club Card registration. Lost-property inquiries for items lost inside Porta are handled through the mall’s disaster-prevention and security center. Nursing rooms, ATMs, coin lockers, payment services, and a free Wi-Fi spot at Yorimichi Square in B1F West are also available.

For repairs and personal services, look for shops such as Onaoshi Concierge Big Mama for clothing repairs, Hakuyosha for cleaning, Zoff for eyewear, Raffine Plus and Natural Garden for relaxation treatments, and Atelier Haruka / Manicure House for hair, makeup, and nails.

Onaoshi Concierge Big Mama

Big Mama is the place to get your clothes mended or your shoes repaired. They can also fix bags and other accessories.

Clothing and shoe repair at Big Mama

Natural Garden

Natural Garden is a relaxation salon for body or foot massages, which can be very welcome after a long day of sightseeing.

Massage therapy at Natural Garden

Opening Hours

Typical hours vary by floor and business type. On B1F East and B1F West, retail and service shops are generally open 11:00 – 20:30, souvenir shops in Kyoukonomi are open 9:00 – 20:30, and Porta Dining is open 11:00 – 22:00.

B2F South retail and service shops are generally open 10:00 – 20:00. B1F cafes, bookstores, and drugstores have longer category hours: cafes 7:00 – 23:00, bookstores 9:00 – 21:00, and drugstores 7:00 – 22:00.

On the 1st floor, souvenir shops are listed as 8:30 – 20:00, except Omiyage Kaido, which is listed as 7:30 – 22:00. On the 2nd floor, souvenir shops are listed as 8:30 – 21:00, except Omiyage Kaido, which is listed as 7:30 – 22:00. Porta Sky Dining on the 11th floor is open 11:00 – 22:00. Some individual stores keep different hours, so check the official shop page before making a special trip.