Date I went: 04/17/2020
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Today I travel through the usually busy streets of the Kiyomizudera area. Since this is usually a tourist heavy area it is very unusual to see the streets completely empty.
Ichinenzaka Hill (一念坂, 一年坂)
Ichinenzaka is not much of a shopping street compared to other streets around this area, but nonetheless is a cool side street you can turn down on your way to the busier streets of Nineizaka and Sanneizaka.
Nineizaka/Ninenzaka (二寧坂/二年坂)
I was probably walking around this street for 20 minutes and encountered one other person.
Sanneizaka/Sannenzaka (産寧坂/三年坂)
I crossed paths with one other person here as well.
Kiyomizudera Shopping Street (清水寺門前商店街)
This is usually the busiest street around the Kiyomizudera area.
Kiyomizudera Shopping Street: http://www.monzenkai.com/shoplist.html
One fan shop was open on this street and there were also repairs being done to the sidewalk since there was hardly anyone around now.
The usual busy crowds of Kiyomizudera street.
Nio-mon Kiyomizudera Temple (清水寺仁王門)
Last week you could see a couple people walking around here and there, but today it was absolutely empty.
Otowanotaki (音羽の滝)
No one was making any wishes here today at Otowanotaki. You can read more about it in my blog post here (https://oritabi808.wixsite.com/website/post/kyoto-going-up-the-traditional-japanese-streets-of-sanneizaka-and-nineizaka)
Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)
Kiyomizu-dera Zoom In
Kiyomizudera is definitely the grandest temple within Kyoto; although Kinkakuji is a close contender. You can get the best views of the city of Kyoto from here.
From the locals in Japan I talked with it seems most of them visit Kiyomizudera when they visit Kyoto to offer prayers. There are many other temples around the Kiyomizudera area where Japanese will go to pray, but this temple is definitely the must-go-prayer-spot.
Kiyomizudera: https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/
Okuno-in Hall (奥之院)
This temple sits on a platform built into the mountainside (as does Kiyomizudera).
Thousand Stone Buddha (石仏群)
This garden of buddha statues is located to the side of the temple. You'd have to walk around a bit to even come across it.
I walked back down the streets I came. I did come across this tea shop that was staying open still despite no customers in sight.
Yasaka Road / Yasaka Koshindo (八坂道・八坂庚申堂)
Hōkan-ji Temple (法観寺 八坂の塔)
Empty.
Issen Yoshoku (壹錢洋食 祗園本店 お好み焼)
Another example of the weirdness you can find in Japan. This character with the dog and boy seems to be custom made for this restaurant. There are some lewd woodblock paintings hanging up all around the inside of the restaurant as well. And by the way, their most popular dish here is Okonomiyaki (fried Japanese pancakes).
Gion Shimbashi Traditional Buildings Preservation District (祇園新橋伝統的建造物群保存地区)
Only this bird walking around the river was hanging out here.
This is my favorite kind of view in the Gion area with the houses overlooking this small stream. The water here is only ankle deep and seems like these are probably man made streams that lead into the Kamo River (the river running through the middle of Kyoto).
Shin Bridge (祇園 新橋)
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