Kokusai-dori, which stretches about 1.6 km, really lives up to its nickname, the “Miracle Mile”!
Walking down the street, with lively shops on one side and the traditional sound of the sanshin drifting through the air, the mix of modern shopping and local culture creates such a special atmosphere.
Naha Kokusai-dori Shopping Street | Review by 10BRENDA
Other Reviews by 10BRENDA
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Hanamikoji-dori Street
Hanami-koji Street is a main street crossing Gion north to south from Sanjo to Kenninji Temple. It is “koji” (small alley), but the street is wide and lively with lots of stores hosting many tourists. The Teahouse district still maintains the traditional ambience in the district from Shijo-dori to the south. The original teahouses were on Shijo-dori and to the north of it, which were gathered to the current southern district in Meiji and Taisho Periods.
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. -
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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. -
