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Teramachi dori

By Shibuya246 · · 1 min read · 11 comments

Teramachi doriPhoto dataCameraNikon D700Focal length50mmAperturef/4Shutter1/60sISO200Taken29 Feb 2012, 12:30

Teramachi dori is one of the older well known streets in Kyoto. Its current image is one of a covered mall stretching from Shijo dori up to Oike dori, and then open air from there up to the old Imperial Palace. It stretches further along to the river as well, but the recent well known area is basically from Shijo dori to the Palace. The undercover section has a mixture of modern clothing and traditional craft stores, whilst the section from Oike dori to the Palace has more of an artistic gallery and cafe ambience.

As the name indicates this was an area where many temples were located, and you can still see some famous ones like Honnonji Temple, Yatadera and Nishiki Tenmangu Temple, and this temple where I took a photo of the mail being delivered.

The walk up and down Teramachi dori is always pleasant and on a rainy day in Kyoto, in particular, passing time around the undercover mall areas while browsing in shops is a good way to enjoy part of the culture without getting wet.

As you walk down the undercover section, you will also cross Nishikikoji dori, known as the food kitchen of Kyoto. The long narrow arcade street will give you a great taste of Kyoto's food culture with stores handing out samples at frequent intervals.

Bentoandco.com also has their store just off Teramachi dori and is a great place to drop in and look at some traditional and also modern style bento boxes. I bought a bento box here recently.

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11 comments

Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.

  1. John Hartman

    Lived there for years and plan to move back as soon as possible. Teramachi is awesome.

  2. Pamela Honegger

    And I'm planning to come visit after you do.

  3. David Hooper

    Don't forget Shinyagoku.

  4. Shibuya Town

    Thanks. Yes, I have walked up and down this street a lot. Never get tired of it. Spent a bit of time in the Tullys there as well as other coffee shops further up towards the Palace.

  5. Shibuya Town

    David Hooper totally right. ShinKyogoku, the parallel arcade and yet quite a different atmosphere. I like how the street has a steep ramp climb at the end at Sanjo dori. Some good history about it here -> http://www.shinkyogoku.or.jp/history/history.htm

  6. David Hooper

    I saw The Last Samurai at Movix dring the prmier week. I also love Shakey's and Cafe Neutron when it was there. The street next to Teramachi has Very Berry Cafe. Have you been there?

  7. Shibuya Town

    Is this the one? http://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2602/A260202/26002691/ I haven't been here yet. I went to Cafe Biblioteq Hello on Nijo dori and Ippodo on Teramachi as well. So many great cafes to visit. I will go to Very Berry Cafe next time. Thanks

  8. Shibuya Town

    David Hooper I see that Sunshine Cafe is now in the place where Cafe Neutron was. I like Sunshine Cafe but had never visited Cafe Neutron when it was there

  9. David Hooper

    It was a great cafe/. They moved to high rent disrtrict and they are no longer cheap price cafe.

  10. David Hooper

    I have been to cafe biblioteq and had taco rice. if you like a nice italian with a french flair try cafe angelina. go to the end of the covered part ot teramachi cross the street and it is on the left next to the kyoto city hall. Sit outsiide and watch the people.

  11. David Hooper

    if you have a sweet tooth, try the french bead sundae at very berry cafe