Hands-down the single most beautiful lane in all of Kyoto, Ishibei-koji Lane is like entering another world.
Isibei-koji Street
Blink and you’ll miss the entrance to Ishibei-koji Lane, Kyoto’s most atmospheric pedestrian-only walkway. In fact, even if you don’t blink, you might not spot the entrance, because it’s labeled only in Japanese. It turns off of Nene-no-Michi Lane, and the most reliable way of finding Ishibei-koji is to ask one of the many rickshaw pullers who congregate on Nene-no-Michi.
Once you enter Ishibei-koji, you’ll find yourself in the Kyoto of your imagination. There’s nothing modern to be seen – only beautifully maintained traditional inns, restaurants and elite bars. The lane twists and turns a few times, but at no more than 200 meters in length, you can’t get lost.
Ishibei-koji Lane features in our Private Walking Tour of Southern Higashiyama.
Where Is This Place Located?
See these places on our Kyoto Google map:- Open the Kyoto map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Near To Here:
Ishibei-koji Lane is located in Kyoto’s Southern Higashiyama district. See our complete list of things to do in Southern Higashiyama, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Kyoto Walking Tour: Classic Southern Higashiyama
Take in some of Kyoto’s most famous sights and some of its secret spots too, all in one four hour private Kyoto walking tour.(Four hours duration. Price: ¥40,000)
More Details About The Tour
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
