The lanes between Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera
Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka lie on the walk between Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera in Higashiyama. Both are lined with traditional shops and houses and paved with stone, and Sannenzaka has stone steps. Together they make a classic approach on foot.
The name Sannenzaka is often explained in two ways. One tradition ties it to the year 808, when the lane is said to have been laid out. The other connects it to prayers for a safe birth. Treat these as explanations of the name and not as a firm building date.
This is an independent guide. It does not speak for the shops or for the city. Walking times and prices below are for 2026.
The walk from Higashiyama station
Nene-no-michi, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in order.
1. Higashiyama station to Nene-no-michi
From the subway station the route follows Nene-no-michi toward the lanes. Kodai-ji lies on this stretch, so allow time if you plan to go in.
2. Ninenzaka
Ninenzaka is the first lane, with old house fronts and shops.
3. Sannenzaka
Sannenzaka follows, with its stone steps. Watch your feet on the stones, especially in wet weather.
4. Kiyomizuzaka and the temple
The lane meets the street up to Kiyomizu-dera. The walk takes about 35 minutes in total without longer visits. Plan more time if you stop at shops or temples.
Our picks: the Higashiyama lanes
A tea house, a kimono for the lanes and an early walk past Kiyomizu-dera.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tea ceremony in a garden tea house
About an hour with two bowls of Uji matcha, Japanese sweets and a photo.
Check availability →
Early walk from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera and Gion
Two and a half hours with a local guide. Temple admission is extra.
Check availability →
Kimono rental with hairstyling near Kiyomizu
Kimono until 5 pm with hairstyling, accessories, dressing help, sandals and luggage storage. Attraction entries are not included.
Check availability →Higashiyama walking tours
Guided walks through the old lanes, past Kodai-ji and on to the temple, with live prices and availability. Check what the listing includes.
Yasaka Pagoda and Kodai-ji
Two stops that sit beside the lanes.
The Yasaka Pagoda is part of Hokan-ji and stands between Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine. It is 46 m high and can be seen from the lanes. The address is 388 Yasaka Kami-machi, Higashiyama-ku. Do not mix it up with the three-storey pagoda at Kiyomizu-dera. You can enjoy it from the outside. Do not plan on going inside, as access to the building is not guaranteed.
Kodai-ji lies at the north end of the walk. Adult entry has been JPY 800 since 1 April 2026, JPY 400 for junior high and high school students, and JPY 700 for groups of 30 or more. A combined ticket with Entoku-in costs JPY 1,200 for adults. Opening hours are 09:00 to 17:30, last entry 17:00. Children up to elementary school age enter free with an adult, with at least one adult for every five children. Evening hours, with lights from 17:00 to 22:00 and last entry at 21:30, apply only on dates the temple announces separately.
Behavior in the lanes
People live and work here.
Keep the lane open
Do not block entrances or the lane itself, and do not step onto private property. Stand to one side when you take a photo.
Photos
Take photos only where it is allowed. Shop and lodging fronts are not free backdrops. Do not treat residents as photo subjects without asking.
Shops and hours
Not every shop opens at the same time, so do not plan around one particular opening.
Steps and stone paving
The lanes have steps and stone paving. Wear sturdy shoes and allow more time if someone in your group has difficulty with steps.
Many visitors choose a kimono or yukata for the lanes. See kimono rental for prices and return rules. For an evening on the hill, see Kiyomizu-dera at night.
Where to go next
Connect the lanes to the rest of the area.
Kiyomizu-dera
The temple at the end of the lanes, with its wooden stage.
Gion
The district to the north, with rules for streets and photos.
Getting there
Bus, rail and walking routes to the temple.
For other parts of the city, see the Kyoto page of the Fushimi Inari guide.
Planning the walk
Time, access and the temple at the end.
Time of day
The temple grounds open at 06:00 and close at 18:00 for most of the year, and at 18:30 from 1 July to 31 August. Adults pay JPY 500 and elementary and junior high school students pay JPY 200 (2026). Plan the lanes for the stretch when you are not in a hurry to reach the gate.
By public transport
From 7 October to 10 December 2026 the city car park at Kiyomizuzaka does not take private cars, and coaches need a reservation. Come by subway, bus or on foot. The getting there page has the routes.
Going the other way
You can also walk the lanes downhill after the temple and end at Yasaka Shrine or Gion. That order puts the steps of Sannenzaka at the start.
Taking a break at Kodai-ji
The garden and the tea house at Kodai-ji are a break from the lanes. Check the admission and hours above before you go in.
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka: frequently asked questions
How long does the walk from Higashiyama station take?
About 35 minutes to the temple on foot, via Nene-no-michi, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, without long visits on the way.
What does the name Sannenzaka mean?
One explanation ties the lane to the year 808, another to prayers for a safe birth. These are explanations of the name and not a firm building date.
Can I go inside the Yasaka Pagoda?
Do not count on it. The pagoda is easy to see from the lanes, but access to the inside is not guaranteed.
How much is Kodai-ji?
JPY 800 for adults, JPY 400 for junior high and high school students, and a combined ticket with Entoku-in for JPY 1,200, as of 1 April 2026.
Are the lanes suitable for wheelchairs and strollers?
The lanes have steps and stone paving, so plan extra time and consider a different route if you have difficulty with steps.