Gion and Higashiyama are rich in famous temples such as Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple, which attract many tourists from overseas, as well as Kodaiji Temple and Sanjusangendo. Gion and Higashiyama are also home to many famous gourmet restaurants and are representative of Kyoto's sightseeing areas.
Gion and Higashiyama are home to Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Chion-in Temple, Kenninji Temple, Maruyama Park, Heian Shrine, Jishoji Temple, Nanzenji Temple, Konkai Komyoji Temple, and the Philosophical Path.
Local delicacies such as kaiseki cuisine, eel, green tea, udon noodles, and Ajari rice cakes are also recommended.
Founded in 778, Kiyomizu-dera is a historic Buddhist temple with roots dating back to the Nara period (710–794). The temple complex covers approximately 130,000 square meters on the slopes of Mount Otowa in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The main hall, rebuilt in 1633 during the Edo period, is designated a National Treasure. Famous for its large wooden terrace known as the “Stage of Kiyomizu,” the...»
Yasaka Pagoda is one of Kyoto’s most recognizable landmarks, rising above the traditional streets near the approach to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This elegant five-story pagoda features a traditional Japanese architectural style and a tiled roof, standing approximately 46 meters tall. The pagoda stands within the grounds of Hokan-ji Temple. Because the temple grounds are relatively small and the pagod...»
Yasaka Shrine, affectionately known as “Yasaka-san,” is famous for the Gion Festival, one of Japan's three great festivals. The festival originated as a religious ceremony held at the shrine and has become one of Kyoto's most celebrated annual events. The shrine's main hall, rebuilt in 1654 under the patronage of Tokugawa Ietsuna, is designated a National Treasure. Twenty-nine other structures ar...»
Rengeo-in Temple, commonly known as Sanjusangendo, is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto famous for its extraordinary collection of 1,001 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, the Buddhist deity of compassion. The temple is an affiliated hall of Myoho-in Temple and is renowned for its remarkable Buddhist sculptures, many of which are designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties of Japan....»
Tofuku-ji Temple is a major head temple of the Tofuku-ji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. It is renowned for its spectacular autumn foliage and its important role in preserving the Zen Buddhist culture of the Kamakura (1185–1333) and Muromachi (1336–1573) periods. Tofuku-ji was ranked fourth among Kyoto’s Five Great Zen Temples, a prestigious group establish...»
Maruyama Park, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, is a historic green space loved by both local residents and visitors. Opened in 1886, it is regarded as the oldest park in Kyoto City. Centered around a traditional Japanese strolling garden, the park features restaurants, teahouses, and peaceful paths where visitors can enjoy the changing scenery throughout the year. The park is especially ...»
Kennin-ji Temple, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, is one of Japan’s oldest Zen temples and the head temple of the Kennin-ji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Founded in 1202 by the Zen master Eisai, it was Kyoto’s first Zen temple and remains an important center of Japanese Buddhist culture. The spacious temple grounds feature traditional halls, temple buildings, and subtemple...»
Kōdai-ji Temple, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, is a historic Zen Buddhist temple closely associated with the powerful warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife, Nene, also known as Kita-no-Mandokoro. Nene founded the temple to pray for Hideyoshi’s peaceful repose after his death. Known for its beautiful Japanese gardens, historic architecture, and rich cultural heritage, Kōdai-ji is a po...»
Chion-in Temple is the head temple of the Jōdo (Pure Land) school of Japanese Buddhism. Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, it stands on a site closely associated with Hōnen, the founder of the Jōdo school. Hōnen established a hermitage in the Yoshimizu area here and began teaching his Buddhist beliefs. He also spent his final years at this location. The temple complex features magnificent b...»
Jishu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located within the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. It stands on higher ground on Mount Kiyomizu, also known as Mount Otowa, above the famous temple’s wooden stage. Dedicated to matchmaking and romantic relationships, the shrine has long been a popular destination for people wishing for good fortune in love, especially young...»
Kyoto National Museum, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, is one of Japan’s leading museums dedicated to traditional Japanese art and cultural heritage. Established in 1897, the museum preserves, researches, and exhibits a wide range of historical objects, including paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, crafts, and archaeological materials. Its collections focus primarily on Japanese art and ...»
Yasui Konpiragu Shrine, located in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward, is famous for its blessings related to breaking unwanted relationships and forming positive new connections. It is affectionately known as the “Shrine for Breaking Ties” or “Yasui no Konpira-san.” Visitors come here to leave behind harmful relationships, overcome bad habits, and pray for good fortune in their personal lives....»
Shoren-in Temple is a historic Buddhist temple of the Tendai school, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. It is one of the three prestigious monzeki temples associated with Enryaku-ji, a status traditionally reserved for temples whose head priests included members of the imperial family or aristocracy. With its elegant buildings, peaceful gardens, and magnificent camphor trees, Shoren-in offers vi...»
Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, renowned for its outstanding collection of Buddhist sculptures. Originally established as Saiko-ji Temple, it houses several important works of religious art, including the National Treasure statue of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, a statue of the Buddhist monk Kuya Shonin, and a statue of Taira no Kiyomori, a prominent figure...»
Kyoto is famous for its traditional Japanese cuisine, but it also has a thriving bakery culture. With residents known for their discerning tastes, the city is home to numerous popular bakeries, ranging from specialists in rich Danish pastries to pioneers of French-style bread in Japan....»
Unagi kinshi-don is a distinctive rice bowl featuring grilled freshwater eel topped with a large, fluffy Japanese rolled omelet known as dashimaki tamago. Served hot, the dish brings together tender eel, soft egg, and steamed rice in a satisfying combination....»
When it comes to shabu-shabu in Kyoto’s Gion district, one of the most renowned establishments is Junidanya, known as one of the restaurants that pioneered this popular Japanese hot pot dish. At Junidanya, the focus goes beyond simply using premium beef such as Omi beef or Matsusaka beef. The restaurant carefully selects the finest cuts available each day, serving only beef that delivers an excep...»
Asagayu, or Japanese breakfast rice porridge, is a refined Kyoto dish made with plain white rice porridge topped with a delicate thickened sauce flavored with first-press dashi broth and light soy sauce. The tradition dates back to the early years of the Meiji period (1868–1912) and is associated with Hyotei, a renowned traditional restaurant near Nanzen-ji Temple with a history spanning more tha...»
Saikyozuke is a traditional Kyoto dish made by marinating slices of seasonal fish or meat in Saikyo miso, a famous local white miso. This method of preserving food reflects the ingenuity of earlier generations, who sought ways to enjoy delicious fish in Kyoto, a city far from the sea....»
Kaorimaru is a delightful scented ornament sold by Owariya, a small specialty incense shop on Shinmonzen-dori in Kyoto’s Gion district. These colorful, cocoon-shaped balls contain fragrant aromatic wood that releases a gentle, pleasant scent. Their attractive appearance and delicate Japanese fragrance have made them popular souvenirs, particularly among women. With their traditional design and s...»
Chirimen sansho is a traditional Kyoto delicacy made by simmering tiny dried young sardines, known as chirimen jako, with fresh sansho pepper berries. Its origins at Harema date back approximately 50 years, when the shop’s first chef, Yasuo Harema, began cooking these two familiar ingredients together, inspired by a dish commonly prepared in Kyoto households. Because Kyoto is far from the sea, ch...»
Founded in 1878, Jintora is a specialty shop devoted to shichimi, the traditional Japanese seven-spice blend. Located in Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s renowned food market, between Sakaimachi Street and Takakura Street, the shop is known for its time-honored craftsmanship, passed down through generations within the family. Jintora’s Kyoto shichimi is made with carefully selected ingredients, including ...»
Kanshundo is a long-established Kyoto confectionery founded in 1865 by its first-generation owner, Fujita Seishichi. Drawing on Kyoto’s high-quality ingredients, pure water, and rich confectionery heritage, the shop has continued to create traditional Japanese sweets that reflect the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. Among its most distinctive creations is Chaju-no-Utsuwa, a remarkable c...»
Kyo Baum is a Japanese baumkuchen, a ring-shaped layered cake, made with Kyoto Uji matcha, soy milk produced in Kyoto, and 100% domestically grown Japanese wheat flour. Baked to achieve a moist, soft, and fluffy texture, it brings together the distinctive flavors of Kyoto in an elegant confection....»
Kyoto is well known for its tofu, and this traditional ingredient has inspired a variety of popular desserts with a lighter, healthier image and a pleasantly delicate texture. For example, a shop in Nishiki Market, one of Kyoto’s best-known food markets, offers soy milk soft-serve ice cream and soy milk doughnuts. The soft-serve has a clean, refreshing taste without a heavy aftertaste, making it ...»