Eastern Kyoto is packed with interesting attractions and landmarks. It is an old district with narrow streets, home to residential areas, temples, and well-known shrines. Even a full day here is barely enough.
Let's look at this one-day itinerary for the eastern zone of this World Heritage city in Japan.
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1. Ginkaku-ji Temple
Time needed: 45 minutes
This Zen Buddhist temple was built by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, who spent his later years living here after retirement. Its design was inspired by Kinkaku-ji Temple
Photo by Ankur P from flickr.com/photos/ankurp/35450810783/ [CC by 2.0]
2. Philosopher's Path
Time needed: 90 minutes
The path is paved with stone the whole way and runs alongside a small canal. Both sides are lined with hundreds of cherry trees, making it another popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms in early April each year.
Philosopher's Path
3. Nanzen-ji Temple
Time needed: 1 hour
This Zen Buddhist temple sits at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains and is one of the major Zen temples in Japan.
photos by Takeshi Kuboki from flickr.com/photos/kuboki/5206330089(cc by 2.0)
4. Keage Incline
Time needed: 30 minutes
This route runs along the right side of the brick drainage canal behind Nanzen-ji Temple. Cherry trees line the entire incline, ready to bloom in spring.
Keage Incline
5. Heian Shrine
Time needed: 1 hour
In front of the shrine stands a giant red torii gate. Around the shrine is a large garden with many kinds of trees, a Japanese-style pond, and rows of cherry trees. It is another popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms.
Plaza in front of Heian Shrine
6. Yasaka Shrine
Time needed: 30 minutes
Also known as Gion Shrine, this is another famous shrine in Kyoto, built around 1,350 years ago. It is located in the Gion and Higashiyama districts. The main building combines the honden and haiden halls. In front of the main building is a hall with hundreds of lanterns hanging from it. In the evening, the lanterns are lit up and look very beautiful. Each lantern was donated by a shop in Kyoto.
Yasaka Shrine
7. Kodai-ji Temple
Time needed: 45 minutes
Built in 1606 by the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a memorial to him, Kodai-ji Temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. The main building received generous funding for its construction, resulting in a lavishly decorated interior and a beautiful Zen garden surrounding it.
Photo by Kimon Berlin from flickr.com/photos/kimon/2644437437/ [CC by-sa 2.0]
8. Higashiyama District
Time needed: 1 hour
This is an area for strolling and shopping, lined with many shops and sweet stores. It sits on a hill in eastern Kyoto. The charm of this district lies in its old-style buildings and shops, especially the stretch between Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Shrine, where a narrow walking street is lined with traditional Japanese wooden buildings. These house restaurants and local sweet shops, giving the area the feel of an old town that still holds onto Kyoto's traditional character.
Atmosphere of a Higashiyama alley
9. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Time needed: 1 hour
It is one of the most famous temples in Japan, built in 780. Its name, meaning "Pure Water Temple," comes from the spring water of the Otowa Waterfall. It has also been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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