Southern Higashiyama - Kyoto - page 197

Duration Two hours

Start on the steps of Yasaka-jinja (at the intersection of Shijō-dōri and Higashiōji-dōri), a 10-minute walk
from Shijō (Keihan line) or Kawaramachi (Hankyū line) stations. Cross to the south side of Shijō-dōri and just
after passing the Gion Hotel turn left. Walk 150m and take the second right. Another 100m brings you to
Hanami-kōji, a picturesque street of high-class ryōtei (traditional, high-class restaurants). Take a look then walk
back north to Shijō-dōri.

Cross Shijō-dōri and go west (left) for about 20m then turn right into Kiri-dōshi. As you continue along Kiri-
dōshi, you'll cross Tominagachō-dōri, which is lined with buildings containing hundreds of hostess bars.

Kiri-dōshi crosses another street and then narrows to a tiny alley. You are now about to enter Gion's most lovely
area, which lies just across Tatsumi-bashi bridge . This is the Shimbashi district, which features some of
Kyoto's finest traditional architecture, most upmarket restaurants and exclusive hostess bars.

At the fork in the road you will find a small Tatsumi shrine . Take a left and walk west along the canal.
Just before you come to the end of the street, on your left, across a bridge, you'll find Ōzawa , a fine tem-

pura restaurant.

At the end of Shimbashi, take a left onto gaudy Nawate-dōri. Just before you reach Shijō-dōri, you'll pass
Issen Yōshoku , a popular okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) restaurant.

Head west on Shijō-dōri, passing Minami-za , Kyoto's main kabuki theatre. Cross the Kamo-gawa on the
north side of Shijō-ōhashi and walk to the kōban (police box) on your right. You are now standing at the inter-
section of Shijō-dōri and Pontochō . Heading north brings you into an entirely different world of upmarket
restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes.

At the north end of Pontochō at Sanjō-dōri, take a left and another left on Kiyamachi-dōri. This is a much more
casual and inexpensive entertainment district.

SHŌREN-IN
OFFLINE MAP
( 青蓮院 ; 561-2345; 69-1 Sanjōbō-chō, Awataguchi, Higashiyama-ku; admission ¥500; 9am-5pm;
5min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway line) This temple is hard to miss, with its giant
camphor trees growing just outside the walls. Fortunately, many tourists manage to do just
that, leaving the lovely garden relatively quiet, even when nearby attractions are mobbed.

| TEMPLE

Shōren-in, commonly called Awata Palace after the road it faces, was originally the res-
idence of the chief abbot of the Tendai school. Founded in 1150, the present building dates
from 1895 and the main hall has sliding screens with paintings from the 16th and 17th
centuries. This is a pleasant place to sit and think while gazing out over one of Kyoto's
finest landscape gardens.