It has Japan's second-largest station building (after Nagoya Station) and is one of the country's largest buildings, incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof.

Before and during World War II, the square was often used by imperial motorcades when Emperor Showa traveled between Kyoto and Tokyo.

Architecturally, it exhibits many characteristics of futurism, with a slightly irregular cubic façade of plate glass over a steel frame.

[1] During the mid-1990s, Kyoto was one of the least modern cities in Japan by virtue of its many cultural heritage sites, so locals were largely reluctant to accept such an ambitious structure.

However, the station's completion began a wave of new high-rise developments in Kyoto that culminated in the 20-story Kyocera Building.

[11] This bus stop is in front of Nippon Rent-A- Car Kyoto Station East Exit Office.