Higashiyama
Kyoto Neighbourhood Guide
Traditional, hilly, temple-dense
Kyoto's best-preserved historic quarter, climbing the eastern hills from Kiyomizu-dera through the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka lanes' wooden shopfronts and tea houses toward Kodai-ji and Yasaka Shrine. Temple-dense, hilly, and best walked slowly.
Day Trips from Kyoto
Nara · Uji · Osaka · Kobe
Pick up at Kansai International Airport. Free cancellation on most cars.
Explore Higashiyama
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Tousuiro
A yudofu (simmered tofu hot pot) specialist in a traditional townhouse setting near Gion, serving Kyoto-style tofu kaiseki: course meals built around house-made tofu, seasonal vegetables, and delicate simmered and grilled dishes.
Omen
A local udon institution near Ginkaku-ji, built around one dish: thick handmade udon served with a warm dipping broth and a plate of seasonal vegetables and sesame to add yourself. Simple and unpretentious.
Kyoto National Museum
Kyoto's main museum of Japanese art and antiquities: ceramics, textiles, calligraphy, Buddhist sculpture and painting spanning over a thousand years, housed partly in a Meiji-era red-brick building and partly in a modern wing.
Kimono Rental & Higashiyama Photo Walk
Rent a kimono or yukata for the day from one of the many rental shops clustered near Kiyomizu-dera, then walk the Higashiyama lanes in it. Visitors in kimono are a common sight in the district, and it's one of the most photographed things to do in Kyoto.
Kiyomizu-dera
A UNESCO World Heritage wooden temple built out over the hillside on a stage of huge zelkova pillars, without a single nail. It is one of the classic views of Kyoto, especially in autumn foliage or cherry blossom season. The name means "pure water," from the Otowa waterfall below the main hall.