Highlights of Ninenzaka
Ninenzaka is a stone-paved slope in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district connecting the Kōdai-ji area with Sannenzaka and Kiyomizudera. Restaurants and souvenir shops featuring traditional Kyoto machiya façades line the street.
Stone-Paved Slopes and Kyoto Machiya
From the top of the slope, you can look out over a streetscape of wooden shops with tiled roofs lining the stone pavement. The curves and changes in elevation make the view shift with every position along the path.
Shops housed in traditional machiya line the street, where you can stroll while choosing traditional crafts and sweets or stopping for a meal or a rest.
At dusk, lights outside the shops illuminate the stone pavement, giving the street a different character from its daytime appearance. You can walk along the street throughout the day, but opening hours vary by shop.
Walking route connecting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda and Kodaiji Temple
South of Ninenzaka, the road continues via Sannenzaka to Shimizuzaka and Kiyomizudera, while to the north it connects with Kodaiji and Nene’s Path. A turn along the way also brings you close to Yasaka Pagoda, making it possible to explore Higashiyama’s shrines, temples, and traditional streetscape as one continuous route.
For information about the highlights of Kiyomizu-dera, the starting and ending point of the walk, visiting hours, admission fees, and access, please see the article on Kiyomizu-dera.
Basic Information about Ninenzaka / Ninenzaka
The information below was checked against official sources on September 29, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official Tourist Information
- You can check an overview of Ninenzaka and the historic streets in the surrounding area.
二年坂｜【京都市公式】京都観光Navi観光スポット・サービス情報。京都にある観光情報をカテゴリ別にご用意しました。行きたいスポットへは、エリアで検索できる機能が便利です。ja.kyoto.travel - 📍 Location
- Around Masuyacho, Higashiyama, Kyoto
- 🕒 Access Hours
- As a public road, it can be used at any time. Store opening hours vary by business.
- 💶 Admission
- Walking through the area is free.
- ⏱ Time Required
- Allow approximately 20 to 30 minutes to walk through the Ninenzaka streets alone, or approximately 1 to 2 hours to explore as far as Sannenzaka and the area around Yasaka Pagoda while enjoying shopping and dining. ⚠️ The time required varies depending on crowds and the stores you visit.
Access to Ninenzaka / Ninenzaka
Route buses
It is about 5 minutes on foot from the Kyoto City Bus stops “Kiyomizu-michi” or “Higashiyama Yasui.” To avoid traffic congestion, you can also walk from Higashiyama Station on the Tozai Subway Line via Maruyama Park, Kodaiji Temple, and Nene-no-Michi.
Railway
From Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line, you can walk here via Yasaka Shrine and toward Kodaiji Temple. Rather than walking back and forth along Ninenzaka alone, it is easier to explore in one direction by combining it with Sannenzaka and Kiyomizudera Temple.
For attractions, transport and suggested itineraries, see “Kyoto: A guide to attractions, food, transportation, and suggested itineraries”.
