Walking along Hanamikoji-dori Street in Gion, Kyoto, after passing through the lively front section, the hustle and bustle gradually fades as you go deeper.
What comes next—quiet streets with little bridges and flowing water—is the most charming part of this old district.
Hanamikoji-dori Street | Review by 10BRENDA
Other Reviews by 10BRENDA
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Sagano Bamboo Grove Trail
The delightful scenery attracted noble families and poets who built their homes in Sagano. Sagano bamboo trail spans about 400m (437 yards) from Nonomiya Shrine, via Tenryuji Temple’s north gate to Okochi Sanso cottage.
Because this place is so popular, it usually gets a bit crowded with tourists. If you want to capture the pure, tranquil beauty of the bamboo grove like in the photos, with no one around, the best trick is to point your camera upward or come around 7 or 8 in the morning to enjoy a peaceful walk and the fresh scent of the bamboo.
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Ujigami Shrine
This ancient shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto," has been attracting reverence for centuries. It is said to have been established in 1060, three years after the construction of Uji Byodoin Temple in 1053, serving as its guardian shrine. As the protective deity of Uji's land, it has been continuously worshipped by people from all walks of life, from commoners to nobility, and it still gathers much reverence today.
Compared with the lively area around Byodo-in nearby, Ujigami Shrine is just across the bridge, but the whole atmosphere feels completely different.
It feels like a corner of the forest forgotten by time, giving off a quiet, ancient spiritual vibe. Even though it’s not large, it has a unique historical and cultural charm of its own. -
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Byodoin
An imperial authority in the Heian Period, Fujiwara Michinaga used this place as a vacation home. His son Yorimichi inherited, converted and opened it as a temple in 1052. It was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1994. The remodeling in 2014 brought it back closer to its original state. The main Amida Buddha statue in Amida Hall is worth a look. You will be amazed by the symmetrical beauty of the building.
My favorite place of all.
There’s something almost magical about the reflection at Byodoin—it instantly makes you feel calm. Watching the Phoenix Hall perfectly mirrored on the pond is something I could never get tired of. No matter how many times I see it, I fall in love with it all over again.
Compared with the crowds at Kyoto’s other popular spots, Byodoin has a special elegance.
What I love most is sitting down at the wisteria tea house there, ordering an authentic Uji sencha and dessert, and gazing out at the greenery and garden outside the window. Enjoying that peaceful, Zen-like moment without any interruptions was honestly one of the best parts of my trip. It feels like a secret hideaway just for the people who truly appreciate it.
And the tea is so, so good—I still miss it. -
