Vacation Rentals & Whole-House Stays in Kiyomizu-dera, Gion & Higashiyama | Sleep Among the Stone-Paved Slopes and Geisha Districts
The Kiyomizu Stage, the vermilion of Yasaka Shrine, the stone paving of Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, and the lattice-fronted houses lining Gion's geisha district—the scenery of "this is Kyoto" is gathered densely along the foot of the Higashiyama hills. The greatest advantage of staying in this area is being able to walk it in the early morning and evening, when the crowds have thinned. The stone-paved slopes that overflow with people by day fall surprisingly quiet at dawn and dusk. Walking Higashiyama at those hours is a privilege reserved for those staying nearby.
The Kiyomizu Stage—A Nail-Free Cliff Structure Held Up by 139 Zelkova Pillars
Kiyomizu-dera is said to have been founded in 778 (the 9th year of Hoki). An ascetic followed a stream of golden water up Mount Otowa, met a hermit believed to be an incarnation of Kannon, and carved a thousand-armed Kannon into the sacred wood the hermit left behind—so the beginning goes. Later, the warrior Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who had entered these hills chasing a deer, made an offering to build the temple, and from the purity of the Otowa Waterfall it is said to have been named "Kiyomizu-dera" (Pure Water Temple).
The famous Kiyomizu Stage is part of the main hall, rebuilt in 1633 (the 10th year of Kan'ei) through an offering by Tokugawa Iemitsu, and is a National Treasure. What stands out is its structure. 139 zelkova pillars support the stage, assembled without using a single nail in a cliff-hugging style known as *kake-zukuri*. The stage stands about 13 meters high—roughly equivalent to a four-story building. This stage jutting out over the slope has stood, nail-free, for nearly 400 years.
The saying "to leap from the Kiyomizu Stage" also comes from here. In the Edo period, people actually did leap off as a form of prayer, and there are records of it (needless to say, this is now forbidden). Kiyomizu-dera is one of the World Heritage "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto."
The Otowa Waterfall—Source of the Temple's Name; Its Three Streams' "Blessings" Are a Matter of Legend
What gave Kiyomizu-dera its name is the Otowa Waterfall within the grounds. Pure water falls from three bamboo spouts, and worshippers catch it with a ladle to drink.
You may come across explanations of these three streams as "the left is for academic success, the middle for love, and the right for longevity," but this is not the official position of Kiyomizu-dera. What the temple teaches is "purification of the six senses and the fulfillment of one's wishes"; assigning a separate blessing to each of the three streams is nothing more than popular lore. What's more, which stream corresponds to which blessing varies from source to source and has never been fixed.
In other words—including the saying that "drinking greedily from all three makes the blessing vanish"—these are best understood as matters of legend. Since it is the water of the waterfall after all, perhaps it is best not to fuss over the assignments, but to clear your mind and take a single sip.
Ninen-zaka, Sannen-zaka & Yasaka Shrine—Stone Paving and Vermilion in Higashiyama
The road leading from Kiyomizu-dera to Yasaka Shrine is Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka (Sannei-zaka). The whole area has been designated by the nation as the Sannei-zaka Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where rows of Kyo-machiya townhouses are preserved along with the stone paving. It is one of the earliest such districts to be selected within Kyoto.
The origin of the slopes' names is, in fact, entirely a matter of legend. For Sannen-zaka (Sannei-zaka), one prominent theory holds it is the "slope where one prays for a safe delivery (san-nei) to the Koyasu Kannon," but there are also "Sainen-zaka" theories and claims it was built in "808 (the 3rd year of Daido)." Ninen-zaka likewise has various theories, such as being "laid out in 807 (the 2nd year of Daido)." The popular saying that "if you trip, you'll die in two (or three) years" has spread widely, but this originally comes from a legend of another place, and there is no clear basis for tying it directly to Kyoto's slopes. It seems best enjoyed as folklore.
At the bottom of the slope stands Yasaka Shrine. It is the head shrine of all Yasaka Shrines nationwide, and its principal deity is Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Its founding is variously placed in 656 or 876; officially it is not pinned down and is said to be "before the capital moved to Heian-kyo." Before the Meiji era it was called "Gion-sha," and the Gion Festival is this shrine's rite. Its main hall was designated a National Treasure in December 2020, making it a relatively recent "promotion."
Yasaka Pagoda & Kodai-ji—The Silhouette of Higashiyama and Nene's Prayer
Standing straight up into the Higashiyama sky above Ninen-zaka is the five-story Yasaka Pagoda. Its formal name is Hokan-ji, a temple said to have been built by Prince Shotoku (there are various accounts), and one of the oldest pagodas in Kyoto. The five-story pagoda stands 46 meters high, and while all the other buildings burned in the Onin War, this pagoda alone survived. What stands today was rebuilt in 1440 (the 12th year of Eikyo) by Ashikaga Yoshinori. The composition of the pagoda peeking out beyond a stone-paved slope is the single most photographed view in Higashiyama.
To the north of that Yasaka Pagoda lies Kodai-ji. In 1606 (the 11th year of Keicho), Kita-no-Mandokoro (Nene), principal wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, built the temple to pray for the repose of her late husband. After Hideyoshi's death, Nene took holy orders and called herself Kodai-in.
The stone-paved path running along the west side of Kodai-ji is Nene-no-Michi. The name comes from Nene's later years, when she walked daily from her residence at Entoku-in to Kodai-ji. The power lines have been buried underground to compose the scenery, rickshaws pass through, and people in kimono stroll along it. If your lodging is in this area, you can walk Nene-no-Michi at the very start of the day, in a stillness before even the rickshaws have set out.
Gion—Three Centuries of a Geisha District That Began with Water Teahouses
Spreading out as the temple-town before the gates of Yasaka Shrine is Gion. The place name derives from the shrine's old name, "Gion-sha." Divided by Shijo Street, the south is a geisha district lined with ochaya teahouses, while the north is an entertainment quarter—two different faces.
Gion's beginnings as a geisha district go back to the Kan'ei era (1624–45), when water teahouses were set up before the gates of Yasaka Shrine. In 1732 (the 17th year of Kyoho), permission to operate teahouses was granted, and the district took shape. In 1872 (the 5th year of Meiji), the Gion Kobu Kabukai was established, and the spring dance performance "Miyako Odori" began. The Hanamikoji area is designated as a special district for preserving the historic scenery.
The Shirakawa stream flowing through Gion is said to be named for the granite of its bed, which looks like white sand. The Gion Shinbashi area is also a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where refined ochaya architecture remains together with the flow of the Shirakawa, the stone paving, and rows of cherry trees. If you stay in this area, you can walk Gion quietly at night, after the tourists have gone. With light spilling from the lattices, the stone-paved Higashiyama wears a face entirely different from its daytime one.
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Access
| Kiyomizu-dera | Keihan "Kiyomizu-Gojo" Station, or by city bus to Kiyomizu-michi / Gojo-zaka |
|---|---|
| Gion & Yasaka Shrine | On foot from Keihan "Gion-Shijo" Station or Hankyu "Kyoto-Kawaramachi" Station |
| Kyoto Station | By city bus, or by transferring on JR / Keihan |
| Arashiyama | From Hankyu "Kyoto-Kawaramachi," transfer at Katsura to Hankyu Arashiyama |
| Osaka (Yodoyabashi / Namba) | Direct, no transfer, on Keihan or Hankyu |
| Fushimi Inari | A few stops on the Keihan Main Line, no transfer |
The Higashiyama area is close to Keihan "Gion-Shijo" and "Kiyomizu-Gojo" and Hankyu "Kyoto-Kawaramachi," and you can reach Osaka directly on Keihan or Hankyu without a transfer. Because you are staying at the center of the sightseeing district, the greatest advantage is being able to walk Higashiyama at the quietest hours—the very start of the morning and at dusk—when there are few people about.
Rooms in This Area
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I walk to Kiyomizu-dera and Gion?
- Many rooms in this area are within walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion, or are located close to the nearest station. The nearest station and walking time for each room are noted on its individual page.
- Can I sightsee while avoiding the crowds?
- Higashiyama, crowded by day, is relatively quiet in the early morning and at dusk. Staying nearby makes it easier to walk the stone-paved slopes at those hours. Please check official information for each temple's and shrine's visiting hours.
- Is it easy to get here from Kyoto Station?
- You can reach the Higashiyama area from Kyoto Station by city bus or by JR / Keihan. We will guide you on the route to your room after booking.
- Is a day trip to Osaka easy?
- From Keihan "Gion-Shijo" or Hankyu "Kyoto-Kawaramachi," you can reach Osaka (Yodoyabashi / Namba) directly without a transfer.
- Is it quiet at night?
- The center of Gion still has people at night, but the alleys just off the main streets and the residential areas of Higashiyama are quiet. If you would like a calm stay, please choose a room in such a location.
- How many people can stay?
- It varies by room. You can narrow your search by number of guests. Some rooms offer a whole Kyo-machiya townhouse for exclusive use.
- Is there a kitchen?
- It varies by room. Some whole-house machiya rooms come with a kitchen. Please check the facilities on each room's page.
- Can I store my luggage?
- Handling of luggage before check-in and after check-out varies by room. Please check the guidance we send after your booking.