Ishibekouji Alley

Ishibei-koji Lane is a charming street in Kyoto’s Gion area that evokes classic Kyoto atmosphere with its stone paving and beautiful stone walls. It is a narrow passage connecting Nene-no-michi in front of Kodaiji Temple with Shimogawara-cho Street one block to the west, and you can walk straight through it in under two minutes. The lane was formed from the late Meiji to Taisho periods and is designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Lined with well-maintained homes and walls that convey a sense of history, it gives visitors a strangely timeless feeling, as if you have stepped back in time. Along both sides are ryotei restaurants, inns, and venues such as ryotei-style eateries and snack bars, and it is beloved by connoisseurs as Gion’s hidden inner quarter. While it perfectly matches the Kyoto image many travelers seek, the entrance can be hard to find, so it tends to be less crowded, allowing you to enjoy a quietly romantic atmosphere. If you take the city bus, get off at the Higashiyama Yasui bus stop; walking east from there, the entrance to Ishibei-koji is just ahead. When you reach Nene-no-michi, Kodaiji Temple and the Kodaiji Sho Museum are on your left. If you continue up Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka from Nene-no-michi, you will be heading toward the Kiyomizu-dera area.