Nishijin is the Brooklyn of Kyoto.
Nishijin named the Brooklyn of Kyoto
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Nishijin the Brooklyn of Kyoto.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Kyoto's verdict went to Nishijin ahead of Kawaramachi, Sakyo and Fushimi, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Nishijin the Brooklyn of Kyoto, and it was not a hard call. The looms are still working behind the wooden facades, the taprooms moved in next to the workshops instead of replacing them, and the streets smell like dye rather than a marketing plan. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Nishijin's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Kyoto verdict: brooklynof.com/kyoto
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/kyoto
Runner-up neighborhoods: Kawaramachi, Sakyo, Fushimi
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.