Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama Walk
Spots on This Course
Course Guide
This course goes from south to north: starting at Kiyomizu-dera (famous for its wooden stage), through Sannen-zaka (Sannei-zaka), Ninen-zaka, Kodai-ji, Yasui Konpiragu, and on to Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in, and Shoren-in. The must-sees are Kiyomizu-dera and Chion-in. I wouldn't really recommend doing this route from north to south. Higashioji-dori gets extremely congested around Kiyomizu-dera, and if you try to take a bus back north, it can take ages no matter where you're trying to go next.
Kiyomizu-dera has been drawing worshippers since the Heian period, and it shows — as a tourist destination, it's polished to perfection. Beyond the famous wooden stage, you can experience the Tainai-meguri, where you walk through pitch darkness. Cherry blossoms in spring, autumn foliage — they've even planted new trees to make sure every season looks great. It's a spot that really does have something for everyone.
From Kiyomizu-dera, take the atmospheric Sannen-zaka, head north, and you'll pass Kodai-ji. Go straight along Matsubara-dori, past Yasaka-no-to Pagoda (another Kyoto icon), cross Higashioji-dori, and you're in the Rokudo Chinno-ji and Yasui Konpiragu area, and then Kennin-ji. Yasui Konpiragu is famous for its stone monument for cutting bad ties and forming good ones.
From Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, the area is well-developed as one of Kyoto's most representative tourist zones, but it's also deeply mystical. Rokudo Chinno-ji has a well said to connect to the underworld, there's a shop selling 'ghost candy' (Yureame) — candy supposedly bought by a ghost — and Yasui Konpiragu is a power spot for severing and forming bonds. It's an area brimming with both sacred and profane energy. Maruyama Park next to Yasaka Shrine is especially worth visiting in cherry blossom season. It's nice during the day, but the darkness of night combined with the almost unsettling presence of the cherry blossoms creates a truly unique atmosphere.
A lot of people end their walk around this area, but Chion-in's massive main gate and stone steps are really impressive, and the Shirakawa canal lined with willow trees is quite lovely too — so if you can, I'd encourage you to keep walking north.
Detour: Once you've made it to Chion-in, Shoren-in and Heian Jingu are just a short walk away. And in cherry blossom season, the evening cherry blossoms along Shirakawa-dori north of Shijo-dori are also beautiful.
Kiyomizu-dera has been drawing worshippers since the Heian period, and it shows — as a tourist destination, it's polished to perfection. Beyond the famous wooden stage, you can experience the Tainai-meguri, where you walk through pitch darkness. Cherry blossoms in spring, autumn foliage — they've even planted new trees to make sure every season looks great. It's a spot that really does have something for everyone.
From Kiyomizu-dera, take the atmospheric Sannen-zaka, head north, and you'll pass Kodai-ji. Go straight along Matsubara-dori, past Yasaka-no-to Pagoda (another Kyoto icon), cross Higashioji-dori, and you're in the Rokudo Chinno-ji and Yasui Konpiragu area, and then Kennin-ji. Yasui Konpiragu is famous for its stone monument for cutting bad ties and forming good ones.
From Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, the area is well-developed as one of Kyoto's most representative tourist zones, but it's also deeply mystical. Rokudo Chinno-ji has a well said to connect to the underworld, there's a shop selling 'ghost candy' (Yureame) — candy supposedly bought by a ghost — and Yasui Konpiragu is a power spot for severing and forming bonds. It's an area brimming with both sacred and profane energy. Maruyama Park next to Yasaka Shrine is especially worth visiting in cherry blossom season. It's nice during the day, but the darkness of night combined with the almost unsettling presence of the cherry blossoms creates a truly unique atmosphere.
A lot of people end their walk around this area, but Chion-in's massive main gate and stone steps are really impressive, and the Shirakawa canal lined with willow trees is quite lovely too — so if you can, I'd encourage you to keep walking north.
Detour: Once you've made it to Chion-in, Shoren-in and Heian Jingu are just a short walk away. And in cherry blossom season, the evening cherry blossoms along Shirakawa-dori north of Shijo-dori are also beautiful.