Buying Souvenirs in Kyoto

Right from my first visit to Japan, I was surprised and delighted by the quantity and variety of souvenirs you can buy in Japan. Practically in any commercial area you can find something interesting, but the truth is that a souvenir has a lot more charm if it was bought in a beautiful area...

Since Kyoto is the place with the highest tourist density in Japan, the wealth of souvenirs available here is astonishing... And my favorite area for souvenir shopping in Kyoto is in Higashiyama, on the streets leading up to the Kiyomizudera Temple, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Not only because this is one of the best traditional areas in Japan, with wooden buildings and traditional merchant shops, but as you can see from this photo, it is also filled with happy visitors...