This typically busy and large "depato" in central Kyoto was established in 1920. Its convenient location stakes it just north of the JR Kyoto Station, the Kyoto Tower and the helpful Tourist Information Center. Affiliated with the Kinki Nippon Railway, there is also another Kintetsu in Gifu city.
The large store has your usually variety of clothing, household goods, and an extensive food emporium! It is always fun to walk around and check out the wide range of exotic and unusual foods. You can get samples of Japanese tea, cookies, gyoza dumplings, Godiva chocolates and other snacks. If you are not really hungry, the food emporium is a good place for a quick and free nosh. There are plenty of extraordinarily friendly employees ready to assist you. They are not spaced every four feet apart, but sometimes it may seem that way to the western visitor.
Kintetsu has a decent central food court that is handy for folks on a somewhat limited budget. We were on our way from the main Kyoto Station to our hostel when we stopped in here for a bite to eat. I had a passable dish of curry chicken with steamed white rice at one of the food court restaurants. As you can imagine, the food is easy to order despite the language barrier, and your lunch is served efficiently at a cozy sit-down counter.
Kintetsu has a foreign currency exchange on the first floor, and an art gallery on the fifth floor.