Daimaru Kyoto
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Karasuma Station · 1 min walk (Hankyu Kyoto Main Line)
- Hours
- B2F–2F: 10:00–20:00; 3F–7F: 10:00–19:00; 8F: 11:00–22:00 (closed Jan 1 & 2)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- July during the Gion Matsuri festival, when Shijo Street directly outside hosts the major yamahoko floats and the store stages official festival artifact exhibits.
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Daimaru Kyoto is a premier multi-story department store in the heart of the city, blending modern retail with rich local culture. It is highly worth visiting for its legendary basement food hall (depachika), which features a dazzling array of traditional Japanese sweets, bento boxes, and local Kyoto delicacies. Upstairs, you will find top-tier Japanese cosmetics, high-end fashion, and curated souvenirs, all delivered with impeccable Japanese hospitality.
What Japanese guides note
Locals refer to the store as Daimaru-san and frequently use its basement concourse to traverse between Karasuma and Shijo transit stations sheltered from inclement weather. Walking straight through the ground floor from Shijo Street to the north Nishiki Entrance provides an easy, direct shortcut into Nishiki Market. While upper shopping floors close by 19:00 or 20:00, the 8th-floor restaurant zone stays open until 22:00.
Details from local sources
- The store grounds occupy the historical site of the Edo-period Satsuma Domain Kyoto residence, commemorated by a 1933 stone marker on the east side along Higashinotoin Street. [source]
- The 8th-floor dining level includes Manga no Kabe, an open reading lounge with approximately 3,000 food-themed manga volumes that customers can read for free. [source]
- Exiting through the store's north Nishiki Entrance places pedestrians on Nishikikoji Street, one block from the western arcade entrance of Nishiki Market. [source]
- Cyclists can use indoor bicycle parking located on the second floor, accessible via a specialized bicycle elevator next to the store's Nishiki entrance. [source]
Insider Tip
Head straight to the basement depachika around 7:00 PM to grab high-quality sushi and bento boxes marked down for quick sale.
Frequently asked
How do I reach Daimaru Kyoto underground from the train station?
Passengers arriving at Hankyu Karasuma Station can exit via the East Gate directly into Daimaru's basement entrance via Exit 17. Visitors using the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line at Shijo Station can also walk through the connected underground passageway without stepping outside.
What are the tax refund fees and procedures at Daimaru Kyoto?
Foreign tourists staying under six months can complete consumption tax refunds on same-day purchases at the 8th-floor Tax Refund Counter. Daimaru retains a 1.55% service fee from the refunded tax, resulting in an effective refund rate of 8.45% for 10% tax items or 6.45% for 8% tax items.
Can international travelers receive a store shopping discount?
Foreign tourists who show a passport with temporary visitor status stamped within the last six months receive a 5% shopping discount voucher. This pass can be requested at the 8th-floor Tax Refund Counter, 1st-floor Service Counter, or floor cash registers, excluding food and select designer brands.
How can diners access the 8th-floor restaurants after retail floors close?
General shopping floors shut by 19:00 or 20:00, but restaurants on the 8th floor operate until 22:00. After 20:00, all other retail entrances lock, so dining guests must enter and exit using designated elevators located at the 1st-floor Shijo main entrance or Nishiki entrance.
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