Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? Contact us. We reply within two business days (Japanese: within one business day, Japan time).
Getting started
Can I try Kyoto before I buy it?
Yes. On Kyoto's Theme Store page choose Try theme. Kyoto is added to your theme library unpublished, and you can set it up with your own products for as long as you like. You only pay when you publish it.
Why doesn't my store look like the demo after I install Kyoto?
The layout, color schemes and fonts are the same as the demo, but Shopify doesn't copy the demo's photos, products, collections or blog posts into your store. Until you choose your own, sections show drawn placeholders. Fill each section with your own images and products, see Getting started.
How many presets does Kyoto have?
One, called Kyoto. You can change every color, font and layout setting, so one preset is a starting point rather than a limit.
Where do I find which version of Kyoto I have?
In Online Store > Themes, the version number is shown under the theme name.
Can I use Kyoto on more than one store?
A theme purchase covers one store. To use Kyoto on another store, buy it for that store. Moving a paid theme between stores you own is handled by Shopify Support.
Fonts and Japanese
Which fonts does Kyoto use for Japanese text?
The Kyoto preset uses Shippori Mincho for headings and Zen Kaku Gothic New for body text, both from Shopify's font library. You can choose other Japanese fonts from the library, or set Japanese font source to System fonts to use each device's own Japanese fonts (fastest). See Theme settings.
Why do my Japanese headings look different on another phone?
With System fonts, or for a moment while library fonts load, each device uses its own Japanese fonts, and iPhone, Android and Windows have different ones. Choose Font library if you want the same fonts on every device.
Can I upload my own font?
The theme editor offers the fonts in Shopify's font library, which includes Japanese fonts. Uploading a font file needs code changes, which are outside our support.
Can I set Japanese text vertically?
Yes. The Text block and the Rich text section have Text direction (Vertical, or Vertical on desktop only). With Card style set to No border, name column, product names on cards are set vertically on Japanese and Chinese pages.
Does search work in Japanese?
Yes. Shopify's predictive search doesn't support Japanese, Chinese or Korean, so on those pages Kyoto shows live results from the regular search as the shopper types. See Search.
Images
What image sizes should I use?
Large originals: 2400 px wide or more for heroes, 2000 x 2000 px or larger for product photos, and the same shape for every product. Shopify sends each device a smaller copy. See Getting started.
How do I make cut-out .png images?
Use any background removal tool (many photo editors and Shopify's own image editor in the admin can remove backgrounds), export as .png with a transparent background, and keep the long side around 1600 px. Upload it in the section's image setting, or to the product metafield custom.cutout for the product shelf. See Cut-out images.
My product photos have a gray or colored background. Will the color fields work?
The blend works best with white backgrounds: the white takes the field's color and the shadow stays. For other backgrounds, set Photos to Normal in the Media stage block, or turn off Photos on pale color fields in the Grid look block, so photos show as they are.
Why are my pictures cropped?
Most image areas have a ratio setting (for example Card image ratio in Theme settings > Product cards, or Media aspect ratio in a section). Choose Adapt to image to show the whole picture in its own shape, or set Card image fit to Contain.
Can I show a different picture on phones?
Yes. Hero, Slideshow, Scrolling media, Image and several other sections and blocks have a Mobile image setting.
Products
How do I add a size chart?
Create a page with your size chart in Online Store > Pages. On the product page, add a Pop-up block, choose that page and set Show next to option to Size. The link then sits right next to the size choices.
How do I show a product's Japanese name, maker and material?
Add the Museum label block to the product page. Type the values in the block, or create the product metafields custom.title_ja, custom.made_in, custom.maker and custom.material so every product shows its own. See Museum label.
How do I make the size ruler show real measurements?
Set Size option names (for example Size) and Unit (for example cm) in the Size ruler block. Then give each size a number: either in Numbers per value (Small: 6), in the variant metafield custom.height, or by naming the values with a number first ("6 cm"). See Size ruler.
How do I show color swatches?
Set colors or images for your option values in the Shopify admin (on the product's variants). Kyoto shows them as swatches on product cards, in the variant picker and in filters. Choose the shape and size in Theme settings > Inputs and variants.
Cart and checkout
How do I set up the "free shipping" progress?
Set up the free shipping rate in Settings > Shipping and delivery. Then enter the same amount in Theme settings > Cart > Free shipping minimum. See Free shipping progress.
How do I offer gift wrapping?
Create a gift wrap product with its own price, choose it in Theme settings > Cart > Gift wrap product, and turn on Show gift wrap in the cart's Gift options block. See Gift wrap and gift messages.
Can customers enter furigana or a delivery date at checkout?
A theme can't change Shopify's checkout. Kyoto can collect a requested delivery date and time, noshi and a gift message in the cart, before checkout; these are saved on the order. For checkout fields, use Shopify's checkout settings or a checkout app. See Noshi and delivery dates.
Apps
Does Kyoto work with apps?
Yes. App blocks fit into 27 sections, including the product page, the product grid, the cart, the footer and the Apps section that can hold an app anywhere, and app embeds work on every page (see Apps). Kyoto passes its page width, spacing and colors to app blocks placed in its sections. How an app looks inside its block is decided by the app.
Where do I put my reviews app?
Add the Reviews section under the product information and place the app's block in it. Ratings saved by the app in Shopify's standard review metafields also show on product cards (Show rating) and in the Rating block.
I removed an app, and something from it still shows
Kyoto only uses app blocks and app embeds, so if nobody edited the theme code, removing an app leaves no code in the theme. Check App embeds in the theme editor and any section where the app's block was placed. If the theme code was edited for the app, that code must be removed by whoever added it.
Languages
Which languages are included?
English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Italian, German and Spanish, for both the storefront and the theme editor. See Languages.
How do I change a word, such as the "Add to cart" button?
Go to Online Store > Themes, open the ... menu next to Kyoto, choose Edit default theme content, search for the text and type your own.
How do I translate my products and pages?
Use Shopify's free Translate & Adapt app (or another translation app). Kyoto's own words are already translated; your content is translated in the app.
Updates
How do I update Kyoto?
When a new version is available, Online Store > Themes shows an update notice next to Kyoto. Choose Update: Shopify adds the new version to your theme library as a copy and leaves your published theme untouched. Check the copy, then publish it. You never need a paid app or service to update.
Will I lose my settings when I update?
Shopify carries your theme settings and your theme editor work (sections, blocks, texts) into the new version. Changes made to the theme's code are not carried over and have to be made again. That is why we recommend the Custom liquid section or block for small code additions.
How often is Kyoto updated?
We release updates for bug fixes and improvements, and when Shopify introduces new requirements. Every update is listed in the Changelog.
Support
What does support include?
Help with Kyoto's settings and features, and fixes for bugs in the theme's own code. Code changes, app problems and the Shopify admin in general are outside our support. See the full list in Support.
Can you customize the theme for me?
We don't offer customization. For code changes, we recommend hiring a Shopify Partner, and always duplicating the theme first. We are happy to tell you whether a setting can get you close to what you want.
How fast do you reply, and can I write in Japanese?
We reply within two business days in English and within one business day, Japan time in Japanese. Support hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00 Japan time (JST), except Japanese public holidays.
Do you need my store password?
No, never. If we need to see your store, we send a collaborator request that you can approve or decline. Please don't send passwords by email or in the form.
Can I get a refund?
Theme purchases are handled by Shopify. Shopify's policy is that Theme Store purchases are final sale and non-refundable, with one exception: moving a paid theme between stores you own, which Shopify Support handles. We can't issue refunds ourselves. Try Kyoto in your store before you buy, and contact us if something doesn't work as described: we'd rather fix it.
Demo, accessibility and speed
The cart in the Theme Store demo loses my items in Safari. Is that a bug?
No. The demo shown inside the Theme Store page can lose the cart in Safari and other browsers that block third-party cookies. This happens with every theme. Open the demo store directly in a new tab to try the cart.
Is Kyoto accessible?
Kyoto is designed to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and we fix accessibility problems caused by the theme as bugs. Your content and apps also matter. See the Accessibility statement.
How do I make my store faster?
Choose System fonts for Japanese text, upload images at sensible sizes, keep background videos short, and remove apps you don't use. See Performance tips.