Whereas the Kyoto Handicraft Center (below) is good for souvenirs and inexpensive gifts for the folks back home, this crafts center is the kind of place to which you head to buy a wedding gift or something really special for yourself. Featuring beautifully designed contemporary crafts by local and famous artisans, the Kyoto Craft Center devotes its two floors to a wide range of products, including jewelry, scarves, pottery, glass, fans, damascene, baskets, and much more. As the products are continually changing, there's always something new. Open Thursday to Tuesday 11am to 7pm.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Japan, 9th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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