Shinkyōgoku Street

Much more recent than its neighbor Teramachi, Shinkyogoku was created in 1872, at the start of the Meiji era, during a challenging period for Kyoto. When the emperor moved the capital to Tokyo, the city lost much of its political importance and slipped into decline. In an effort to revive it, a former temple district was transformed into a street dedicated to shopping and entertainment. It was named “Shin Kyōgoku,” meaning “New Kyōgoku,” or quite simply the new central district, and it quickly became the heart of local leisure and nightlife. Theaters, performance halls, and some of the city’s earliest cinemas attracted large crowds, and for many years Kyoto was closely linked to the world of film. From the 70s onward, as movie theaters gradually closed, the street shifted toward retail and souvenirs, while keeping its lively, down-to-earth feel. Today, more than one hundred and seventy shops line this covered pedestrian arcade, offering clothing, accessories, pop culture goods, traditional sweets, and plenty of affordable souvenirs. As you walk along, you can also look out for the “seven mysteries of Shinkyogoku,” small curiosities hidden along the street and in nearby temples: a strangely sloping stretch of pavement, a plum tree said never to bloom, old stone markers once used to help reunite lost children with their families, and a large Jizō statue that is almost always hidden from view. Running parallel to the calmer, more elegant Teramachi, Shinkyogoku shows you the most energetic and accessible side of central Kyoto.