Guidebook for Higashiyama-ku, Kyōto-shi
Convention centers
Our hotel and house are conveniently located a 5-minute walk to 2 major convention centers: Miyako Messe and Hotel Westin Miyako.
Many conferences, conventions and congresses are held at the Westin Miyako Hotel. Our house and hotel are less than a 5-minute walk from here.
10 locals recommend
The Westin Miyako Kyoto
Keage Higashiyama WardMany conferences, conventions and congresses are held at the Westin Miyako Hotel. Our house and hotel are less than a 5-minute walk from here.
Parks & Nature
Here you find some of Kyoto's most cherished parks where people gather to enjoy a nice day out.
Only a few minutes from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL, Okazaki Park is located aroud Heian Shrine. Many events take place here, specially involving food! The cherry blossoms are also something else. Only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
34 locals recommend
Okazaki Park
Okazaki Saishōjichō Sakyo WardOnly a few minutes from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL, Okazaki Park is located aroud Heian Shrine. Many events take place here, specially involving food! The cherry blossoms are also something else. Only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
I bet you thought Kyoto only had temples and shrines, right? But the city also has many other attractions, such as a zoo, a botanical garden and even an aquarium. Kyoto's zoo is the 2nd oldest zoo in Japan, only behind Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Only a 5-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
312 locals recommend
Kyoto City Zoo
Okazaki Hoshojicho Sakyo WardI bet you thought Kyoto only had temples and shrines, right? But the city also has many other attractions, such as a zoo, a botanical garden and even an aquarium. Kyoto's zoo is the 2nd oldest zoo in Japan, only behind Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Only a 5-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
Maruyama Park is located in the premises of Yasaka Shrine. It's hard to say where one starts and the other finishes making this park quite unique. During spring the park is crowded with people who want to have a hanami picnic under one of numerous beautiful cherry trees you find here. It's only a 10-minute walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
468 locals recommend
Maruyama Park
Maruyamachō Higashiyama WardMaruyama Park is located in the premises of Yasaka Shrine. It's hard to say where one starts and the other finishes making this park quite unique. During spring the park is crowded with people who want to have a hanami picnic under one of numerous beautiful cherry trees you find here. It's only a 10-minute walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
Entertainment & Activities
I've visited the former Kyoto City Museum of Art on multiple occasions but I still remember vividly the exhibitions of Picasso and Dali. By the way the new museum looks I think they will keep the same level and even improve it. You find lots of works of art by Japanese artists also.
279 locals recommend
Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art
124 Okazaki EnshōjichōI've visited the former Kyoto City Museum of Art on multiple occasions but I still remember vividly the exhibitions of Picasso and Dali. By the way the new museum looks I think they will keep the same level and even improve it. You find lots of works of art by Japanese artists also.
Shopping
Here in Kawaramachi you are in the heart of Kyoto’s downtown area. You can find everything here: from mementos and traditional gifts to high-end brand shops, such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, not to mention restaurants, bars, karaoke parlors, and much more.
Kawaramachi-dori Street
Kawaramachi-dori StreetHere in Kawaramachi you are in the heart of Kyoto’s downtown area. You can find everything here: from mementos and traditional gifts to high-end brand shops, such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, not to mention restaurants, bars, karaoke parlors, and much more.
Essentials
Lawson Higashiyama-Sanjo-Jingumichi
163 EbisuchōGetting Around
Higashiyama Station
98-1 大井手町Keage Station
Higashikomonozachō Higashiyama WardSightseeing
Here we introduce places near our house and hotel which we believe you should check it out, not only because they are only a few minutes from our house but also because they are gorgeous and worth a visit any time of the year.
Heian Shrine (Heian Jingu in Japanese) is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in the city. Located in a beautiful part of Kyoto where you also find the Museum of Art, the zoo and Okazaki Park, all a few meters apart from each other. Only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
544 locals recommend
Heian Shrine
Okazaki Nishitennocho Sakyo WardHeian Shrine (Heian Jingu in Japanese) is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in the city. Located in a beautiful part of Kyoto where you also find the Museum of Art, the zoo and Okazaki Park, all a few meters apart from each other. Only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
A few meters away from Yasaka Shrine lays the world famous Gion District. Here you find what Kyoto is all about: tradition and finesse. The stone streets and wooden houses remind visitors of the long history the Old Capital has. Here you even find geishas and maikos (geisha apprentices) walking the streets. Only a 15-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
Gion Cho
89 SueyoshichōA few meters away from Yasaka Shrine lays the world famous Gion District. Here you find what Kyoto is all about: tradition and finesse. The stone streets and wooden houses remind visitors of the long history the Old Capital has. Here you even find geishas and maikos (geisha apprentices) walking the streets. Only a 15-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
Kiyamachi is a part of the Sanjo Area, a few meters from Kyoto's downtown area. Here is where the nightlife of Kyoto City takes place! Restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs... you find everything here. The cherry blossoms are gorgeous around late-March and early-April. Only a 15-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
43 locals recommend
Kiyamachi Dori
Shimokorikicho Nakagyo WardKiyamachi is a part of the Sanjo Area, a few meters from Kyoto's downtown area. Here is where the nightlife of Kyoto City takes place! Restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs... you find everything here. The cherry blossoms are gorgeous around late-March and early-April. Only a 15-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
One of Kyoto’s old city gates still stands majestically to this day in the premises of Nanzenji Temple. This beautiful Buddhist temple is my favorite place to walk around and unwind in Kyoto. Here you find an aqueduct constructed on the 19th century bringing water from Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.
The contrast between the turn of the century brick structure and the trees and wood buildings is mesmerizing. Not to mention it is a famous spot for the cherry blossoms and a 10-minute walk from the Philosopher’s Path, a cherry blossom paradise and a must-see during spring.
Only a 12-minute walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
San-mon Gate
One of Kyoto’s old city gates still stands majestically to this day in the premises of Nanzenji Temple. This beautiful Buddhist temple is my favorite place to walk around and unwind in Kyoto. Here you find an aqueduct constructed on the 19th century bringing water from Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.
The contrast between the turn of the century brick structure and the trees and wood buildings is mesmerizing. Not to mention it is a famous spot for the cherry blossoms and a 10-minute walk from the Philosopher’s Path, a cherry blossom paradise and a must-see during spring.
Only a 12-minute walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
The Keage Incline was used to carry goods brought from the Lake Biwa Canal back in the old days. The same canal is still being used to this day but only to carry water. The gorgeous cherry blossoms take hold of the landscape during late-March and early-April. It is only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
12 locals recommend
Keage Incline
The Keage Incline was used to carry goods brought from the Lake Biwa Canal back in the old days. The same canal is still being used to this day but only to carry water. The gorgeous cherry blossoms take hold of the landscape during late-March and early-April. It is only a 5 to 7-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
One of Kyoto’s most well-known Shinto shrines. Yasaka Shrine has a very traditional architecture; the kind you see in samurai movies. During spring, the shrine’s premises are crowed with visitors who want to view the beautiful cherry blossoms and have a picnic under its pink flowers. Around a 10-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
867 locals recommend
Yasaka Shrine
625 Gionmachi KitagawaOne of Kyoto’s most well-known Shinto shrines. Yasaka Shrine has a very traditional architecture; the kind you see in samurai movies. During spring, the shrine’s premises are crowed with visitors who want to view the beautiful cherry blossoms and have a picnic under its pink flowers. Around a 10-min walk from our KYOBU-Higashiyama house and Hotel MATERIAL.
Kiyomizu Temple is a quintessential sightseeing spot in Kyoto. This is definitely a must-see if you're a first-timer in the Old Capital. The overview of the city from the deck is unforgettable. Around a 30-minute walk from our hotel and house with plenty of attractions to see in-between.
1521 locals recommend
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu Temple is a quintessential sightseeing spot in Kyoto. This is definitely a must-see if you're a first-timer in the Old Capital. The overview of the city from the deck is unforgettable. Around a 30-minute walk from our hotel and house with plenty of attractions to see in-between.
A few meters from Kiyomizu Temple, you find charming streets such as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka which still keep the traditional look and feeling of how Kyoto was back in the old days. Around a 30-min walk from our hotel and house.
71 locals recommend
Nineizaka (Ninenzaka)
桝屋町-清水-2 東山区A few meters from Kiyomizu Temple, you find charming streets such as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka which still keep the traditional look and feeling of how Kyoto was back in the old days. Around a 30-min walk from our hotel and house.
A few meters from Kiyomizu Temple, you find charming streets such as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka which still keep the traditional look and feeling of how Kyoto was back in the old days. Around a 30-min walk from our hotel and house.
128 locals recommend
Sannenzaka Ninenzaka
Kiyomizu-2 Chome-221 Higashiyama WardA few meters from Kiyomizu Temple, you find charming streets such as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka which still keep the traditional look and feeling of how Kyoto was back in the old days. Around a 30-min walk from our hotel and house.