This is a popular spot, one of the few still with a pre-war townscape, lined with teahouses and townhouses. You can stroll around very comfortably on the stone-paved streets. There are also many places where you can dine or have tea and sweets in an old townhouse. In spring, the weeping cherries are a sight to behold.
戦前の町並みが残る数少ない場所として⼈気のスポットで、お茶屋や町家が⽴ち並び、⽯畳を歩きながらとても⼼地よく散歩することができる。また昔の町家をお⾷事処や⽢味処にしているところも多い。春はしだれ桜が⾒事に咲き誇る。
Both sides of this street which cars cannot access are so narrow that it is called Unagi no Nedoko (the place where eels sleep) and it is lined with many thin buildings that go far back. There used to be many townhouses, restaurants and eating houses called Okiya which were like offices for geisha and maiko but now the street is lined with Japanese-style pubs and bars housed in Kyoto townhouses.
⾞が通れないこの狭い道の両側には「うなぎのねどこ」とも呼ばれる間⼝が狭く、奥⾏の深い建物が並ぶ。「置き屋」と呼ばれる芸妓さんと舞妓さんのための事務所のような家や、料亭、⼩料理屋が多くあったが、今は京町屋を利⽤した居酒屋やバーが⽴ち並ぶ通りになっている。
This is a theatre that relays a wide range of culture to Japan and the world throughout the year from traditional classical theatre to new live entertainment with the concept of utilizing its value as the oldest theatre in Japan, Minamiza, to the maximum to pass on to future generations.
⽇本最古の歴史を持つ劇場・南座の価値を最⼤に活かして次代に継承することをコンセプトに「伝統的な古典芸能」から「新たなライブエンタテインメント」まで、年間を通して幅広い⽂化を国内外へ発信する劇場。
This bridge spans the Shirakawa River to the north of Gion. It is still lined up with crimson lattice teahouses and is a colourful reminder of the atmosphere of the geisha quarter, very popular as a location for TV series and commercials. The street south of Shinbashi-dori faces the Shirakawa River and your eyes will delight in the stone paving and row of willow trees.
祇園の北側に位置する⽩川に架かる橋。今なお紅殻格⼦のお茶屋が軒を連ね、花街情緒を⾊濃く残す界隈で、TV ドラマやCM のロケ場所としても⼈気が⾼い。新橋通の⼀筋南は、⽩川に⾯し、⽯畳や柳の並⽊が⽬を楽しませてくれる。
This shopping street flourished as part of the shrine town of Yasaka-jinja, located along Shijo-dori, one of the approaches to the shrine. It has over 100 shops including souvenir shops, restaurants and sweet shops and its whole 500m length is always bustling with shoppers.
⼋坂神社の⾨前町として栄え、その参道だった四条通り沿いにある商店街。お⼟産屋・⼯芸品・⾷事処・スイーツ店など様々なショップが100 店舗ほど⽴ち並んでおり、全⻑500ｍの通りはいつも⼈であふれる、にぎやかな通りとなっている。
Also called Gion-san, this shrine can be said to be a symbol of Gion and is well-known for the Gion Festival, one of Kyoto’s three largest festivals. Many gods are enshrined at Yasaka-jinja and it is famous for those related to marriage; you may see a wedding during your visit.
通称「祇園さん」とも呼ばれ、祇園の象徴の⼀つとも⾔え、京都の三⼤祭りの⼀つである祇園祭でもよく知られる。⼋坂神社には⼤変多くの神様が祀られており、なかでも縁結びのご利益は有名で、お参りに⾏くと結婚式を⾒られることがあるかも。
This is Kyoto’s oldest park and it is adjacent to many shrines. Higashiyama’s foremost spot for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. There is a famous big weeping cherry tree in the centre of the park which is also called the Sakura of Gion and it is illuminated.
京都最古の公園で、複数の神社に隣接している。東山屈指の桜と紅葉の名所。中でも公園中央にある大きな枝垂桜は名木で、祇園の桜という別名があり、ライトアップも行われる。
This is a comparatively quiet spot where you can relax and enjoy the lit-up autumn leaves. Lighting is high-quality and it is located fairly near Gion. On the 15th of each month there is a craft flea market with around 350 stalls in the grounds in front of the Goeido Hall.
秋には紅葉ライトアップのイベントが⾏われ、⽐較的混雑が少なくゆっくり楽しめるスポット。ライトアップのクオリティが⾼く、祇園からもほど近い。毎⽉15 ⽇御影堂の前の境内を中⼼に約350 店の⼿作りフリーマーケットが開催される。
A 1km street from Shijo-dori and Sanjo-dori to the north that travels southwards to Kenjinji Temple. You can sometimes see geisha and maiko on their way to teahouses in Hanamikoji Street. The street is lined with traditional crimson lattice fences and bathed in lantern light at night, making it even more dazzling as a typical geisha quarter.
四条通を中⼼に、北は三条通から南は建仁寺の前まで続く約1 ㎞の通り。花⾒⼩路通では、お茶屋に向かう芸妓さんや舞妓さんを⾒かけることもある。べんがら格⼦に⽝⽮来の街並みは、夜になると提灯に明かりが灯り、より花街ならではの艶やかさを増す。
One of the temple’s features is that it has an extremely high number of exhibits that are copies and that can therefore be photographed. Kenjinji Temple has three gardens, each with a different kind of beauty. Cho-ontei garden has beautiful moss in the summer and leaves in the autumn. You can enjoy Zen meditation and Sutra copying here.
ここ建仁寺は多くの展⽰物が複製のため撮影可能な箇所が⾮常に多いのが特徴。建仁寺には庭園が3 つあり、それぞれ美しさが異なる。苔の美しい潮⾳庭(ちょうおんてい)は、夏は緑の苔、秋は紅葉が美しい。禅体験・写経体験が楽しめる。
This is a beautiful stone-paved path of around 250m that leads from the west of Kodaiji Temple and Higashiyama’s Maruyama Park towards Kiyomizudera Temple. The electrical supply lines on this path have been buried to allow visitors to fully enjoy the atmosphere of old Kyoto. You can also experience the beautiful nature of the seasons such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
⾼台寺⻄側、東⼭の円⼭公園から清⽔寺⽅⾯へと抜ける全⻑約250 メートルの美しい⽯畳の道。ねねの道の電線は地中に敷かれ、古都京都の⾵情が存分に感じられるよう配慮がなされている。また、桜や紅葉など四季折々の美しい⾃然が楽しめる。
This temple was constructed for Nene (Kitanomandokoro), the legal wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to pray for the repose of his soul. You can enjoy the four seasons at Kodaiji; the cherry blossom in spring and the leaves in autumn are spectacular. During these periods, it is lit up with many spotlights at night to create a highly popular mysterious world.
豊⾂秀吉の正室、ねね(北政所)が秀吉の菩提を弔うために建⽴された寺院。⾼台寺は、四季折々楽しむことができ、特に春の桜や萩、秋の紅葉は⼤変⾒事。その時期は夜間のライトアップもされ、数あるライトアップスポットの中でも⾮常に⼈気が⾼く幻想的な世界が広がる。
Also known as Yasui no Konpira-san or Enkiri-jinja. The Enkiri/Enmusubi Power Stone is its symbol and if you pray and go through it, your bad luck will stop. Do it again the other way, you will have good luck.
通称「安井のこんぴらさん」ほか、「縁切り神社」の別称で知られる。縁切り縁結び碑が象徴とされており、願い事を念じながら表からくぐって悪縁を切り、再度願い事を念じながらくぐり戻ることで良縁を結ぶ。
This is a narrow lane accessed by exiting the south gate of Yasaka-jinja Shrine, walking south on Shimogawara Street and taking the 3rd (or 4th) left. You will see a lantern with the name of the street to indicate where it starts. Once you enter the narrow lane, you will see the stone paving and rows of townhouses; you can enjoy the historical Kyoto-style atmosphere. It is definitely worth a look since it is not well-known.
⼋坂神社の南楼⾨から出て下河原通りを南に下がり、3 筋⽬(もしくは4 筋⽬)の左⼿にある細い路地。路地の⼊⼝の外灯に、⽯塀⼩路と書かれているのが⽬印。狭い路地に⼊ると、路⾯には⽯畳が敷き詰められ、両側には町屋が並び、昔ながらの京都らしい⾵情を楽しむことができる。メジャーに知られていないが必⾒の価値あり。
Nicknamed Yasaka no To, this five-storied pagoda in the centre of town is a local landmark. You can visit up to the second level of the pagoda and look out over the charming Higashiyama townscape (children under the age of 12 are not allowed).
街中にそびえ⽴つ五重の塔は通称「⼋坂の塔」と呼ばれ、周辺のランドマークとなっている。五重塔は⼆層⽬までは内部に⼊って⾒学することもでき(※中学⽣以下は不可)、⾵情ある東⼭の街並みが眺められる。
The nickname of Kongoji Temple is Yasaka Koshindo and it is a well-loved Tendai sect temple. The colourful beanbag-like objects that are displayed all around the grounds are Kukurizaru talismans which represent caution against acting as you please.
⾦剛寺は、⼋坂庚申堂の通称で親しまれている天台宗の寺院。境内のいたるところに掛けられた、カラフルでお⼿⽟のようなものは、「くくり猿」というお守りで、欲望のままに⾏動しないようにとの戒めを表している。
Nineizaka which continues to the north of Sanneizaka is also called Ninenzaka (Two-year Hill). There is a myth that if you trip and fall here, you will be dead within two years and that is thought to be the reason for the warnings about being careful on the stone slope.
産寧坂の北に続くのが⼆寧坂で「⼆年坂」とも呼ばれる。「ここでつまづき転ぶと2 年以内に死ぬ」という⾔い伝えは、「⽯段坂道は気を付けて」という警告が語り伝えられたものと思われる。
This is one of the approaches that lead to Kiyomizudera Temple; it is an elegant area, typical of Kyoto with stone-paved streets and houses with tiled roofs and burnt cedar panels. Both sides of the street are lined with shops selling Japanese trinkets, sweets and snacks, making the road to Kiyomizudera Temple all the more fun.
清⽔寺へ向かう参道の⼀つで、⽯畳の道や⽡屋根に焼き杉板の外壁を持つ家並みが続いており、京都らしい趣のある場所。両脇には、和雑貨や和菓⼦・軽⾷が楽しめる店が並んでおり清⽔寺までの道のりを楽しませている。
This is one of the few Buddhist temples in Kyoto with a history that pre-dates the relocation of the capital to Heiankyo. In spring, the whole of the grounds, right up to the platform, are covered with beautiful cherry blossoms. There are many different varieties and they are lit up in the evening from March to mid-April.
平安京遷都以前からの歴史を持つ、京都では数少ない寺院のひとつ。春になると、境内から清⽔の舞台に⾄るまで、美しい桜で埋め尽くされる。種類も多く、⼣⽅から夜のライトアップは3 ⽉上旬から4 ⽉半ばまで⾏われる。
The shrine has vast grounds and the Japanese garden has many sights worth seeing throughout the seasons. It is popular not only with Japanese people but also with tourists from overseas. The Jidai Festival held on 22nd October each year has a parade called the Moving Scrolls of History and Customs and around 2,000 people march led by whistles and drums over a distance of 2km.
広大な敷地を持ち、四季折々様々な風景が見どころの日本庭園は、日本人のみならず海外からの観光客にも人気。毎年10月22日に行われる時代祭では、「動く歴史風俗絵巻」と呼ばれているパレードがあり、笛や太鼓を先頭に約2000人が約2㎞をねり歩く。
There are many things worth seeing including the triple gate which is the temple’s symbol, the abbot’s chamber that represents the world view of Zen and the canal with its retro ambiance. The grounds are full of nature and are famous for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. Cherry blossoms are usually at their best from the beginning of April to the middle of the month.
南禅寺のシンボルである三門や、禅の世界観を表現した方丈、レトロな雰囲気が漂う水路閣など見どころがたっぷり。境内は自然にあふれ、桜や紅葉の名所になっており、桜は例年4月上旬から中旬にかけて見頃になる。
