The third time of series of “Streets of Kyoto” is the north side area of Higashioji-dori.

I went to north from Gion along Higashioji-dori. There is a bag shop “Ichizawa-Shinzaburo hanpu“, which has made bags from canvas since 1905, at the east side of the street. It is popular bag shop among Japanese people. I think it is easy to find that shop, because the crowd are always made. Because after that there are not so many interesting things for a while, it may be better to go by bus.

If you get off at Higashiyama-nijo bus stop and turn to the east from Higashioji-dori, you reach to Heian-jingu Shrine which has a big red torii. And if you go east more, you can visit to many sightseeing spots, for example Nanzen-ji Temple, Eikan-do Temple, etc. there. But I didn’t go to that area.

The living area of Kyodai-sei I advanced toward the north further along Higashioji-dori. There is a hospital affiliated to a medical school of Kyoto University that is most famous National Universities of Japan in the west side of having passed Marutamachi-dori. There is a schoolhouse of Kyoto University in both sides of the street when going to the north more.



Around there is a living area of Kyoudai-sei (student at Kyoto University). So there are a lot of cheap restaurants and ramen shops for the student.

The handmade signboards of the club of the university stand in a row along Higashioji-dori.



And you will be able to find the signboard of “Yoshidaryou” around there. Yoshidaryou is a dormitory of the student of Kyoto University. The dormitory is so famous that the letter delivers even if it only “Kyoto University Yoshidaryou” is written as the name and address on the envelope. It is the oldest university dormitory now in Japan, and in 60’s that the Student activism was done, it seems that it was the place of the discussion of students and the activity. And, this Yoshidaryou is a welcome dormitory where a poor traveler can lodge. It seems that it had been 200 yen a night stay in old times. Of course you must sleep crowded together at the large room, but it seems to be able to use the washing machine free of charge. In addition, you might be able to enjoy the communication with Kyodai-sei. If you are a poor backpacker, I think that it is worth visiting though it is not certain now whether it is possible to lodge in.

At the top of Yoshida-yama

I also advanced toward the north further along HIgashioji-dori. When I reached Higashi-Ichijo-dori where the schoolhouses are on both sides, and it seems as if I enter in the premises of Kyoto University, I looked at the east.


I saw the torii far away. It is a torii of Yoshida-jinjya Shrine famous for the Setsubun festival. And I climbed the small mountain where it is in the end of the street on that day.

This small mountain is Mt. Yoshida-yama. 15 minutes will be sufficient for you to climb it.


I passed front of Yoshida-jinjya Shrine, and when I went up small stone steps I reached mountain where it seems to lose the way.


I walked on the path that continues northward, because I arrived at the park when I went anyway up. The building appeared suddenly in the mountain after walking for a while.


It is a quaint cafe “Moan” with the lunch menu and the cake set. It is using the building of sukiya-dukuri (one of architectural styles of Japan) that was constructed in Taisho period.


It seems to have been originally the chashitsu (tea house), and it has two tearooms still now. I do not know the taste of lunch because I had no enough time that enters the inside to my regret. Please look on the Web site (in Japanese) of “Moan”.


I think that it is good idea that you go sightseeing in temple and shrine in Kyoto, but it is good one also that you spend time to sit back and enjoy at the cafe on the mountain.

How about calling at the cafe on your way home from Tedukuri-ichi market, because it is near “Chion-ji Temple”?

I arrived at a square of the top, when I advanced toward the north along the path from the cafe. The view was not so good, but I found “Dai” which is Kanji character of “Gozan no Okuribi” which is lighted up on 16th August every year at the east.