neighbohoods of kyoto
Pontocho @ Elisha Terada, Unsplash
POPULAR NEIGHBORHOODS
The ancient capital has various neighborhoods to explore, filled with exciting things to see and experience. Below we have collected some popular areas of Kyoto that are worth a visit during your stay in the city!
Geisha in the Hanamikoji street, Gion @ Jie, Unsplash
Arashiyama
Transport yourself to a world of stunning scenery. Arashiyama is an iconic attraction for its illustrious bamboo groves and serene beauty. The area is most popular during spring for its lovely cherry blossoms and during fall for its vibrant warm colors, but nonetheless, the area is absolutely breathtaking all year round. Lose yourself in the variety of small shops and attractions, including the picturesque Togetsukyo Bridge and the impressive Tenryuji Temple.
Gion
Within the charming, traditional wooden architecture and polished stone pavements is the entertainment district of Gion. Time slips into ancient Japan as you walk the same path as the pilgrims who made their way to Gion Shrine, or what is now known as Yasaka Shrine. The lane is connected with Shijo Dori, where you will find well-preserved, historic tea houses which become the closed venue for Geiko (geisha) entertainment. Gion is the most well-known place to go for geiko entertainment in Japan; admire their grace and charm as you feast on the local cuisine. Some of the traditional houses along the pathways have now been renovated into antique shops, art galleries, and more.
Ine Area
This Venice-esque coastal town is known for its unique buildings, called funaya, built right along the shoreline. Though their construction was originally designed for the ease of docking fishing boats, some of these curious seaside structures have recently been refitted as inns for tourists to experience authentic Ine life. Sheltered within the Ine Bay, this small fishing town is the perfect peaceful oceanic retreat.
Higashiyama
The Higashiyama district is known for the various beautiful temples in the area, located within a walking distance from each other. The most popular temple is the Kiyomizu-dera, which sits on top of a hill giving spectacular views of the city. At Higashiyama you can explore the narrow streets that are lined with traditional Japanese wooden houses, and stop by the merchant shops selling souvenirs and local crafts of all kinds.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple area in Higashiyama @ Gio Almonte, Unsplash
Ine area coastline @ TOKI
Kawaramachi
Kawaramachi is the main street of Kyoto, which is said to combine both traditional Japan and modern Japan in one place. From the Kawaramachi Station, you can see the well-known intersection of Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Street, which runs parallel to the Kamogawa River. At the Kawaramachi shopping street, the visitors can find a great variety of all kinds of stores, such as boutiques and traditional kimono stores.
Teramachi
Teramachi shopping street offers the visitor a good variety of clothing stores, book shops, religious goods stores, and art galleries. The stores of Teramachi are a holdover from the 16th century when the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved many of the temples of Kyoto to Teramachi street to control the clergy. The name Teramachi means literally ‘temple town’.
Pontocho
Pontocho is a great location for those wanting to experience Kyoto’s nightlife - the area is lined with various restaurants and bars. To the west from Pontocho, you can find the Kiyamachi area, which is filled with bars that are popular especially among the university students. On the other side of the nearby Kamo River you can find Gion, which offers more bars and restaurants to explore on the north side of Shijo Dori street.
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