Kyoto Convention Bureau
Case Study — Social Programme
KyotoHandicraftCenter
Shoppers Delight Excursion
The KyotoHandicraftCenter houses several different shops selling traditional Kyoto crafts and goods directly north of Heian Shrine. It makes a popular stop on excursion tours and is a venue that many meeting participants return to during their stay in Kyoto. The shops supply a lot of the icons that people think of when they imagine Japan - from swords to kimonos! Since the Center welcomes guests from all over the globe, and because Japan is promoted differently throughout the world, it tries to stock a representative selection of goods to meet every taste – in fact everything from low-budget articles to pieces of fine art.
Since all stores are overseen by Kyoto enterprises, many items (including folding screens and paintings) are created by local artists. Furthermore shoppers gain a real understanding of what they are buying thanks to the knowledgeable staff and in-house workshops in which cloisonne and woodblock prints are created as you watch. People get a glimpse of traditional craftsmanship at work. This is not just a shopping center, but a place that caters to many different needs of Kyoto visitors.
The KyotoHandicraftCenter is focused completely on visitors from overseas. All staffs look forward to greeting you in your language. Excursion participants should take their passport because the center offers duty-free shopping; in fact it is the only duty-free store in Kansai with a complete selection on Japan-related merchandise. For yet more convenience it has a bureau de change and shops accept world currencies.
Visitors who want to get more involved can take part in classes on cloisonne making, woodblock printing, doll making, incense bag making, and doll painting - all in traditional Kyoto styles. These classes are a wonderful way to learn more about Kyoto crafts and create an original souvenir of your own!
The KyotoHandicraftCenter is located on Marutamachi Street, north of Heian Shrine in Kyoto. Its hours are 10am – 6pm year-round, closed January 1 - 3.
It is very easy for keen visitors to come back to the HandicraftCenter because there is a door-to-door taxi service from certain hotels.
http://www.kyotohandicraftcenter.com/index.html 
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