Higashiyama

4 years ago

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Settlement-Neighbourhood

A twisting district of cobbled roads and looming pagodas, Higashiyama is a pleasure to explore. A throwback to the feudal-era, the historic quarter houses tea houses alongside contemporary coffee shops and can easily fill an afternoon. The streets offer a taste of old Kyoto and are a popular spot for those looking to rent kimono or yukata for a stroll with plenty of photo-perfect backdrops to be found. Once serving pilgrims and now supported by tourism, the shops and restaurants of the area have everything from colourful sweets to traditional wooden toys - making it a great place to stock up on gifts for family and friends. Some of the highlights to seek out include the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets - they are two of the best preserved areas and strikingly photogenic. The Yasaka Pagoda and nearby Koshindo are two fo the most popular spots, with thousands of bright kukri-zaru (cloth monkeys) strung up in the grounds of the latter. Kodai-ji temple is home to some of the country’s most impressive zen gardens - one rock and one in the traditional tsukiyama style featuring a pond and borrowed scenery. One of Higashiyama’s seasonal highlights is Hanatoro - a lantern-filled event which takes place in March each year with illuminations and extended opening hours.