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Read the English + Japanese version｜英語＋日本語版はこちら
- Introduction｜はじめに
- Stone Paving and Wooden Facades｜石畳と、軒を連ねる町並み
- A Town Growing Along Temple Routes｜社寺をめぐる道から、町へ
- Commerce Along the Way｜道沿いに育った商い
- Kasagiya｜大正時代から続く甘味処・かさぎ屋
- Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya｜古い日本家屋で、コーヒーを
- Character Shops｜物語の世界に出会うお店も
- A Short Detour to Yasaka-dori｜八坂通へ、少し寄り道
- Continuing to Sannenzaka｜産寧坂（三年坂）へ
- Shoindo on Sannenzaka｜産寧坂で出会う、器の老舗・松韻堂
- The Street Around the Shops｜お店と一緒に、町並みも
- Google Map
- 🗺 Explore More Kyoto Areas
Introduction｜はじめに
Stone paving, wooden facades,
and shops along the slope.
Ninenzaka invites us
to look beyond the scenery.
How did this route toward Kiyomizu-dera
become a place to shop and pause?
We begin with the streetscape,
explore the history and today’s shops,
then continue toward Sannenzaka.
Stone Paving and Wooden Facades｜石畳と、軒を連ねる町並み
Along Ninenzaka,
stone paving gives way to steps.
Wooden latticework and projecting eaves
bring texture to the street.
Look from the entrances
to the upper floors and roofs.
Each facade has its own details,
yet together they form
one continuous streetscape.
How did this townscape develop?
Its story begins with
the temples and shrine nearby.
A Town Growing Along Temple Routes｜社寺をめぐる道から、町へ
The wider district began
as settlements around Kiyomizu-dera,
Hokan-ji and Gion Shrine
(now Yasaka Shrine).
From the mid-Edo period,
urban development followed
the roads linking these sacred sites.
Development continued
through the Meiji and Taisho periods.
This is the history of the wider district,
which includes Ninenzaka.
The preservation district contains townhouses
from the late Edo through the Taisho period.
The buildings we see today
were not all built at the same time.
Commerce Along the Way｜道沿いに育った商い
The district’s tea shops and craft shops
can be seen as part of a tradition
rooted in sightseeing
in early modern Japan.
The story of this area includes
not only its temples and shrine,
but also the shops
along the roads leading to them.
Today, Ninenzaka offers
sweet treats, coffee
and character-themed shops.
Let us explore a few,
then continue toward Sannenzaka.
Kasagiya｜大正時代から続く甘味処・かさぎ屋
Founded in 1914,
Kasagiya is a traditional sweets shop
along Ninenzaka’s stone steps.
Shiruko and zenzai,
made with sweet azuki beans,
offer a reason to pause.
Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya｜古い日本家屋で、コーヒーを
Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
opened on June 30, 2017.
Its traditional Japanese house
was already over a century old
when the store opened.
With tatami rooms inside,
the store offers a different setting
for a familiar cup of coffee.
It is one example of a historic building
being used in a new way.
Official Shop Information｜公式店舗情報
Character Shops｜物語の世界に出会うお店も
Along Ninenzaka,
you can also find
Donguri Republic Ninenzaka
and PETER RABBIT™ SHOP&BAKES Ninenzaka.
The street has a playful side, too.
Official Shop List｜運営会社・公式店舗一覧
A Short Detour to Yasaka-dori｜八坂通へ、少し寄り道
For a short detour,
follow Yasaka-dori
toward Yasaka Pagoda at Hokan-ji.
The tower rises above
the wooden buildings along the street.
This is a separate street
from Ninenzaka.
After your detour, return to Ninenzaka
and continue toward Sannenzaka.
Continuing to Sannenzaka｜産寧坂（三年坂）へ
If you would like to walk farther,
continue from Ninenzaka
toward Sannenzaka.
Its name is also written
as 三年坂 in Japanese.
Stone steps rise between shopfronts.
Follow Sannenzaka onward
to reach Kiyomizuzaka,
the approach to Kiyomizu-dera.
Shoindo on Sannenzaka｜産寧坂で出会う、器の老舗・松韻堂
On Sannenzaka,
you will find Shoindo,
a specialist in Kyo-yaki
and Kiyomizu-yaki ceramics,
founded in 1855.
Its selection includes
teacups, rice bowls and plates.
The shop brings another kind of commerce
into our walk:
ceramics for everyday life.
The Street Around the Shops｜お店と一緒に、町並みも
A long-established business.
A historic house with a new use.
As you walk through Ninenzaka
and Sannenzaka,
notice both the shops
and the buildings around them.
■PhotoTip｜Shopfronts and Stone Paving in One Frame
Include a little of the paving
with the facade or entrance.
It helps show how each shop
fits into the street.
Take photographs without blocking the path.
Which shop would you like to stop at?
Google Map
Shop hours vary.
Before your visit,
check each shop’s official information
and the official tourism website
for the latest updates.
Official Tourism Information｜京都観光Navi・二年坂
🟫 CAT MEMO 🐾
“Which One Should I Choose…?” 🐱🌸
Ninenzaka is more than
a picturesque old street.
The history of its surroundings,
its long-established businesses
and its newer shops
give us different ways to explore.
Thank you
for visiting
Ninenzaka.
May your time here
bring you peace
and beautiful memories.
And may your journey
through Kyoto
be a wonderful one. 🐾
References｜参考資料
Kyoto City: Sannenzaka District Preservation Plan
京都市「産寧坂伝統的建造物群保存地区保存計画」
Kyoto School Trip Navi: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Area
京都市・京都観光推進協議会「産寧坂・二年坂界わい」
🗺 Explore More Kyoto Areas
Kyoto is divided into several unique areas,
each offering different attractions and experiences.