Kyoto station is one my favourite stations in all of Japan. It has decent shopping and a few great restaurant floors with all sorts of yummy shops!
Taking a ride to the open rooftop of the station is worth it in itself. You get to the rooftop by a series of long escalators - giving you time to admire the interesting open-air architecture of the station. Once you reach the top, there is a very nice garden area, which is perfect for romantic dates or a free view of surrounding Kyoto. Definitely worth a visit if you are stopping by Kyoto station!
Never mind the amazing shops, the fabulous restaurant, the easy access to the other parts of Kyoto. The highlight of JR Kyoto Station is the roof. The roof is amazing.
To get a closer look at the roof, you can travel to the sky garden. It takes nine consecutive escalators to reach the top; a place called ‘Happy Terrace’. Here you can admire the views of Kyoto for free, and on the way back down the endless escalators, you can once again admire the roof.