When visiting Kyoto, Pontocho is a street well worth taking your time to explore. It has been a bustling downtown district in Kyoto since the Edo period, and the street still retains a strong sense of old Kyoto. This time, I visited during the day. Without the lively nighttime crowds and noise, the street felt especially quiet and peaceful. Traditional machiya townhouses and narrow alleys line both sides, giving it a uniquely Kyoto charm. Strolling leisurely through the area and experiencing the atmosphere of daily life in the ancient capital has a charm of its own. It's also a great place to take beautiful photos.
Pontocho | Review by wendy
Other Reviews by wendy
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Zuishinin Temple
The head temple of the Zentsuji school of Shingon Buddhism, it is said to be the place where Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi spent her later years. The current halls were rebuilt after the Keicho era, and the main hall, built in the shinden-zukuri style, enshrines the principal image, a seated Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu statue designated as an Important Cultural Property, a seated Kongosatta statue by Kaikei, and a seated Amida Nyorai statue said to be the work of Jocho.
Zuishinin Temple has deep ties to the famous Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi and is also a well-known spot for viewing plum blossoms in Kyoto. I visited in the summer this time, so there were no plum blossoms to enjoy, but I unexpectedly discovered a different kind of peaceful beauty. The weather was excellent that day, and the blue sky and greenery made a beautiful backdrop for the historic temple. It looked good from every angle.
What I liked most was how few visitors there were. The entire place was quiet and relaxing, without the noisy crowds found at Kyoto's popular attractions, giving it an extra sense of peaceful Zen. It's an easy walk from Ono Station on the Kyoto subway and is perfect for a leisurely little trip. If you like quiet, traditional temples, I'd actually recommend taking a walk here rather than visiting the popular attractions.
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Bishamondo Monzeki
Rooted in the Izumo Temple, founded by Gyoki in 703, Bishamondo in the Yamashina ward of Kyoto is dedicated to Bishamonten, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, and is one of the "Tendai Sect Kyoto Gokashitsu Monzeki."
Bishamondo Monzeki is a prestigious temple belonging to the “Five Monzeki Temples of the Tendai School in Kyoto.” It is also a well-known Kyoto destination for cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage in autumn. Unfortunately, there were no fall colors to enjoy when I visited, so it was missing some of autumn's vibrant colors, but that actually allowed me to appreciate a different kind of quiet beauty.
I took a leisurely walk from JR Yamashina Station to Bishamondo. There were few cars and people along the way, making the walk especially pleasant, as if I had the entire road to myself. Compared with the huge crowds at Kyoto's popular attractions, this place really felt as peaceful as having it all to myself. With no crowds of tourists, there was less noise and more relaxation. Even though I missed the fall foliage season I had been looking forward to most, the walk still felt very worthwhile.
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Yasaka Koshindo
A temple built in a famous tourists spot in Kyoto called Higashiyama, where other famous sights such as the Kiyomizu Temple and Yasaka Shrine are located. The official name of the temple is "Daikokusan Kongoji Koshindo,” but is well-known as "Yasaka Koshin-san" in the local area. It is said that this was where the Koshin faith, which derived from Chinese Taoism, first started in Japan, and is also one of the three Koshin in Japan.
A cute little shrine that's perfect for a quick stop while exploring Kiyomizu-dera! The most eye-catching feature of Yasaka Koshindo is the colorful “wish monkeys” hanging all around the grounds. The individual colorful cloth balls are so bright and cute that you can't help taking photo after photo just standing beside them.
This place also attracts many visitors in kimono who come specifically to take pictures, making the whole scene feel very Kyoto. But whether or not you're wearing a kimono, the colorful balls make a great backdrop for photos. Because it's so popular, the crowds are truly unbelievably huge! If you want a more complete, unobstructed shot, you may need to wait patiently for a while.
When walking around the Kiyomizu-dera area, don't forget to stop by this colorful little spot and take a few cute photos with a Kyoto feel!
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