Cycling Laque Shopping Mall Kyoto

ラクエ四条烏丸

Formerly a bank branch, the northwest corner of Shijo-Karasuma in downtown Kyoto was reborn as Laque.

Laque is a high-end urban mall.

Like department stores, there is eating in the basement.

The origin of the name comes from sources in both Japanese and French.

In Japanese, raku（洛）means "capital," which Kyoto was for more than a thousand years. The kanji is used to indicate geography today: for example, "rakunan" would be south Kyoto, "rakusei" west Kyoto, and so on.

In French, "laque" is lacquer, which of course is one Japan's best known traditional industries.

Access

Karasuma Subway Line, Shijo Station; Hankyu Line, Karasuma Station.
Exit 22 or 24

Hours

Open 11 am to 7 pm

Telephone: 075 213 1010

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Laque Kyoto

Young Kyoto Mothers Kawaramachi

京都若いママたち

Sunday is a major shopping day in Japan.

Many descend on central shopping areas and make a day of it.

For those who intend to get to the Shijo - Kawaramachi area in Kyoto via bicycle should park and walk from farther out. 

Cycling in this part of Kyoto is not allowed - either on the sidewalk or street.

Moreover, once in the maw of people and cars, it is difficult to extricate oneself.

Kyoto has one of the highest rates of population density in Japan, which is itself crowded. Of cities with more than 800,000 residents, only five cities have a residential density of more than 10,001 residents per square kilometer in their most crowded wards:

Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Kyoto

And on weekends, the sidewalks on Shijo Dori and parts of Kawaramachi are barely passable on foot.

On a recent Sunday, many young mothers were out with their children.

Clad in surgical mask, tight shorts, and black tops, they are ready for anything.

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