Yoshidayama Kyoto Remote Mountain Walk
Yoshidayama Kyoto - I spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering in the drizzle around the paths and lanes of Yoshidayama in Kyoto.
Yoshidayama, Kyoto 吉田山, 京都
Steps on the mountain
I spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering in the drizzle around the paths and lanes of Yoshidayama in Kyoto. Lying between the two tourist hotspots of Heian Jingu and Ginkakuji, just east of Kyoto University, its an area missed by most tourists, which adds enormously to its charm.
Tiled walls and temple roofs
Kurodani Temple
The southern "hump" is dominated by Kurodani Temple and acres of cemetery which abound with cherry blossoms in the spring.
Around it and between it and the northern "hump", the residential area is more like a mountain village with stairways and pretty narrow lanes heading off in all directions.
Torii gates at Takenaka Inari Shrine
Takenaka Inari Shrine
The northern high point is dominated by Takenaka Inari Shrine, much smaller than the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine south of Kyoto, but also somehow more atmospheric and quietly eerie. It is also much less visited than Fushimi Inari.
Takenaka Inari Shrine
Yoshida Jinja
By wandering the multitude of paths I was able to visit another half dozen shrines scattered around the wooded hill before finally coming down into Yoshida Jinja, one of the 22 major shrines of ancient Japan.
Staircase to a torii gate
Then it was back out into the incessant roar of traffic and streets packed with swarms of zombie-like tourists.
Access - Getting There
This lovely, rather remote district of Kyoto can be accessed from the main entrance to the mountain just south of the Hyakumanben crossroads near Kyoto University. Walk east from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan and Eiden lines along Imadegawa Dori, then turn south on Higashiyama Dori. Turn east again on Higashi-ichijo.
Alternatively reach the area from Shirakawa Dori not far from Ginkakuji Temple, Philosopher's Walk and Honen-in. Turn west off Shirakawa towards Shinnyodo and continue west from here along the picturesque narrow lanes.
Keywords
Kyoto hiking Japan Kansai
