Visitors with limited time in Kyoto would be well advised to head for the eastern part of the city, where many Buddhist temples are situated on the foot of Mt. Higashiyama. It’s a wide area, extending roughly from Tofuku-ji in the south to Ginkaku-ji in the north. With so much to see careful planning is essential. The most popular temple is Kiyommizu Temple, and neighboring Kodaiji Temple and Yasaka Shrine are also worth a visit. So this is the core area of the eastern city.
The area evoking the Japan of imagination; winding lanes and stone alleyways crisscross gentle slopes, and are crammed with boutiques and restaurants. We recommend you walk from Yasaka Shrine to Kiyomizu Temple by following the lanes shown in blue on the map below.
Yasaka Shrine
Let’s start a walking tour at the Yasaka Shrine. Vermilion gate building is the western entrance of the shrine. The temple’s origin dates back to 7th century, but the main hall is the reconstruction from 17th century. It’s a Shinto shrine and dedicated to the deity responsible for protection against disasters and people’s prosperity. In July, Gion Matsuri which is one of the three greatest festivals in Japan, is held in honor of the deity here. Admission is free.
website: http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/yasaka/english/
At the east end of the Yasaka Shrine, a path leads to the Maruyama Koen Park which is known as the best place for Hanami, cherry blossom viewing in early April. You can walk out the shrine from the southern gate to the next Kodaiji Temple, through Ishibei Koji stone alleyway or Nene street.
Kodaiji Temple
You have to go up the stone steps to get to the entrance of Kodaiji Temple. It’s a 400 year-old Zen Buddhist temple with nice gardens. One of the best known Samurai hero Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s wife, Nene built this temple to pray for the repose of her husband’s soul. Nene is buried under the memorial hall where the couple’s images are enshrined. The temple is good at presentation to tourists and have various events to attracts visitors. You should check their website before you visit.
From mid-March to early May, August 1to 18, and late October and early December) they extends the opening hours to 9:30 p.m. so that people enjoy the illuminated temple buildings and gardens.
website: http://www.kodaiji.com/e_index.html
After leaving Kodaiji Temple, walk for another 15 to 20 minutes to Kiyomizu Temple. Off the lane, a tall wooden tower, Yasaka-no-to is situated on the right-hand side. It’s the five story pagoda built in the 15th century. If you luckily visit there on its occasional opening days, you can enter the tower.
Kiyomizu Temple
Eight out of ten people traveling to Kyoto city visit Kiyomizu Temple. It’s one of the oldest temples in Kyoto and famous for the veranda built on the cliff. A monk Enchin found clear spring water at this location in 8th century and built a small hut here. That is the origin of the temple. The water is still gushing and people prize it as holy water. You can drink it from the waterfall.
Most of the temple buildings you see were built in 1630′s by Tokugawa Shogun after they were collapsed due to fire. It’s interesting to see how the veranda survive for almost 400 years in rain, wind and earthquakes, being stepped by thousands of visitors a day.
The main object of worship in this temple is the “Thousand-armed Kannon” Bodhisattva. It is kept in the back of Hondo main hall and open to public once in 33 years. However, visitors can view a its replica and other statues of assistant Buddha at any time.
They extends the opening hours to 9:30 p.m. in Spring, Summer and Autumn with the buildings illuminated. In 2011, it is from March 12 to 21, August 6 to 16, and November 11 to December 4.
website: http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/
From the Kiyomizu Temple, you can walk down a different returning way to the Higashiyama street (bus route): Chawan zaka street which is lined with many pottery shops, or Toribeno Sando lane which runs through a large graveyard of another temple.
In this tour, you can skip Kodaiji Temple if you are in a rush. The shortest way from Kiyomizu temple to the bus street is Kiyomizu zaka street.
Map
