An expert overview to help you experience the best of Higashiyama, including Chion-in, Kodaiji, and Kiyomizudera
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Overview
Higashiyama is a district in north-eastern Kyoto which is famous for its historically preserved streets, traditional architecture, and ancient temples. It's located right next to Gion and is well-known for Kiyomizu-dera temple, one of the busiest and most popular temples in Japan. The best way to experience Higashiyama is by starting with the Yasaka Shrine, which is located at the end of the main street connecting Gion to downtown Kyoto, and then ending at Kiyomizudera. Walking between these two destinations will take about 1-2 hours and along the way you'll find a wide variety of souvenir shops, street food, boutique stores, cafes, restaurants, and temples. The Yasaka Shrine and Yasaka Park are well-known for hosting various events and festivals throughout the year, it's also very popular for the cherry blossoms at the end of March. Higashiyama is considered one of the most beautiful areas of Kyoto.
FAQ
The 7 Best Things To Do In Higashiyama
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Higashiyama a good area for staying in Kyoto?
Higahiyama contains some of the most beautiful hotels in Japan, and is an amazing location for staying in Kyoto. If you stay in Higashiyama you'll be within walking distance to beautiful temples, and relatively close to the Kamogawa river and downtown Kyoto. We've compiled a list of the best accommodation in Higashiyama based on customer reviews at the end of this article, click here.
How many hours do you need for sightseeing in Higashiyama?
3-5 hours is ideal for walking around Higashiyama and exploring a few of the temples. You'll also encounter many good restaurants and cafes so it's good to be flexible with your time.
Is Gion the same as Higashiyama?
Gion is located between Higashiyama and the Kamogawa river. They are not the same but are within walking distance of each other. You'll find more restaurants and bars in Gion, while Higashiyama is mainly known for its temples.
Where's that famous street in Higashiyama?
Higashiyama has many famous streets and stone pathways, the most famous is Sannen-zaka. Sannen-zaka is known for its incredible view of the Yasaka Pagoda on the way to Kiyomizu-dera. Click here for the famous location along Sannen-zaka.
How busy does it get in Higashiyama?
The famous streets that run from Kodaiji Temple to Kiyomizu-dera, which includes Sannen-zaka, are small and narrow, as a result, they become incredibly crowded during the peak tourist season in Spring (March-April) and Autumn (Nov-Dec). If you're traveling during this time, prepare yourself for dense crowds and a slow walking pace.
What's the best accommodation near Kiyomizudera?
Higashiyama contains some of the nicest hotels in Japan, so we analysed thousands of customer reviews to determine a list of the best accommodation near Kiyomizudera.
The 5 Best Things To Do In Higashiyama
The attractions on this list are not intended to be ranked, they are listed to provide an ideal itinerary. You could either start at number 1 or start at number 5.
1. The Yasaka Shrine & Maruyama Park
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The Yasaka Shrine is a spacious Shinto shrine located at the end of the busy main street (Shijo-Dori) that runs through Gion and heads toward downtown Kyoto. The Yasaka Shrine leads into Maruyama Park, both of which are beautiful locations that often host festivals and events, most notably the hanami (cherry blossom celebration) festival that occurs from the end of March and the start of April. During the hanami festival, tables and tatami mats are laid out onto the grass which are then surrounded by pop-up stalls serving food, drinks, and games. It's a lively atmosphere and thoroughly worth checking out if you're in Japan during that time.
Walking through the Yasaka Shrine will lead you to Maruyama Park and Chion-in Temple.
Cost: Free
Hours: 24/7
Events Schedule: Official website
2. Chion-in Temple
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Chion-in is a magnificent 800-year-old Buddhist temple complex located next to Maruyama Park. It features a dramatic staircase that was included in the film The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise. The entrance to the temple announces itself with the largest sanmon gate in Japan which was built 400 years ago. The monks who manage the temple have a passion for artistic expression and often host exhibitions such as projection illumination events. Despite all of its impressive features, it's notably quieter than the other temples in Higashiyama.
Chion-in is only a 5-minute walk from Yasaka Shrine.
Cost: During the day most of the temple is completely free, the main hall costs ¥500
Hours: 8:30am - 4pm
Spring & Autumn Illuminations: 6pm - 9pm (¥800)
Events Schedule: Official website
3. Kodaiji Temple
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Kodaiji is a 400-year-old Zen Buddhist temple famous for its autumn leaves and bamboo forest. It becomes particularly busy during autumn and hosts nighttime illumination events for the autumn leaves. Along with having its own bamboo forest, Kodaiji temple also features a charming matcha tea house that overlooks a peaceful moss garden.
Cost: ¥600 (additional ¥500 for the teahouse)
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Spring & Autumn Illuminations: 6pm - 9pm
Kodaiji is a 10-minute walk from Chion-in temple, or a 5-minute walk from Maruyama Park.
4. The Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka Historical Streets
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The historically preserved streets of Higashiyama begin at Maruyama Park and end at Kiyomizudera Temple. The two most famous of these streets are Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka. The total length spans about 1.2km and meanders through a large area filled with traditional architecture, temples, shrines, gift shops, street food, craft stores, cafes, and restaurants. Due to their narrow structure and popularity, they become very crowded, especially during peak tourist season during spring and autumn. Despite the crowds, it's well worth the effort as there's so much to see and do.
Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka are about 15 minute's walk from Gion, and a 5-minute walk from Kodaiji.
Cost: Free
Hours: 24/7 (Shops are only open during the day)
5. The Yasaka Pagoda
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The Yasaka Pagoda is one of the most photographed spots in Kyoto. This 600-year-old pagoda is a remnant of an old temple that used to be located here. It's a prominent feature of Higashiyama, you can even go inside to check out the ancient architecture.
The Yasaka Pagoda is within a 10-minute walk from Kodaiji Temple and Kiyomizudera.
Cost: ¥400 to go inside
Hours: 9am - 3pm
6. The Yasaka Koshin-do Temple
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Perhaps one of the most instagrammable temples in Kyoto, the Yasaka Koshin-do Temple is free to enter and features thousands of colourful balls perfect for taking photos. The balls represent little monkeys with their hands and feet tied together to symbolize self-control over harmful desires. You purchase the little balls, known as a talisman, then write down your wish, or a desire you want to control, and then hang it up on the shrine.
The Yasaka Koshin-do Temple is located right next to the Yasaka Pagoda.
Cost: Free, or ¥300 to purchase a talisman
Hours: 9am - 5pm
7. Kiyomizudera Temple
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Kiyomizudera is a 1200-year-old temple built on the hillside overlooking Kyoto city. It's one of the most popular temples in Japan and it's easy to see why. It's a large temple complex famous for its cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and stunning views. Unlike most temples, Kiyomizudera opens extra early so you can avoid some of the crowds that this area is known for. If you happen to be visiting during winter, there's a small chance you'll get to see Kiyomizudera in the snow, it's quite rare though, as it typically only snows 1-3 times per winter in Kyoto.
Cost: ¥400
Hours: 6am - 5pm
Spring & Autumn Illuminations: 6pm - 9pm
