The Northern Higashiyama Area is one of Kyoto’s most important sightseeing districts. It’s less crowded than Southern Higashiyama but it contains at least as many first-rate sights, including fantastic temples, shrines and lots of greenery.
Heian Jingu’s Torii and Okazaki Canal
Northern Higashiyama Area Description:
The Northern Higashiyama Area runs along the base of the Higashiyama (Northern Mountains) from Sanjo-dori in the south to Shugakuin in the north. The western boundary of the district is the Kamo-gawa River. The area at the base of the mountains is basically one long strip of temples, while the central area, known as Okazaki-koen, is the city’s museum district.
Things To Do And See In Northern Higashiyama
- Nanzen-ji Temple
One of the best temples in the Northern Higashiyama district, Nanzen-ji Temple is a sprawling Zen paradise surrounded by lush green hills - The Kyoto International Community House
The Kyoto International Community House has a lot to offer the short-term visitor, including a library with international papers and magazines, free internet and wifi - Murin-an Villa
This perfect walled in garden just down the hill from Nanzen-ji Temple is a brilliant place to escape the crowds that plague the big-name spots of Higashiyama - Heian-jingu Shrine
Heian-jungu Shrine is one of the most important and visually impressive Shinto shrines in Kyoto. It’s worth a visit, particularly on Shinto festival days - Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art is the best museum in Kyoto (it’s only eclipsed by the Kyoto National Museum when the National is holding a special exhibition) - National Museum of Modern Art
Kyoto’s National Museum of Modern Art is a reasonably interesting museum that occasionally holds worthwhile special exhibits - Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts
The Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts is a small free museum that showcases the main traditional crafts of Kyoto. It’s a great rainy day activity. - Kyoto City Zoo
If your kids are strangely unimpressed by the subtleties of Buddhist temples, the Kyoto City Zoo can be a godsend - Eikan-do Temple
One of Kyoto’s most famous fall foliage spots, Eikan-do Temple is a sprawling complex of gardens and halls that’s worth a visit outside of the fall foliage season - Konchi-in Temple
Konchi-in Temple is one of the finer small temples in the Northern Higashiyama Sightseeing district. The garden alone is worth the price of admission - The Path of Philosophy
The Path of Philosophy is easily one of the most attractive sights in Kyoto – a streamside path lined with blossoming trees and shrubs of every description - Reikan-ji Temple
Only open for two brief periods a year, Reikan-ji Temple is a must-see attraction if you’re lucky enough to be in town when the gates are open - Anraku-ji Temple
Another tiny charmer of a temple off of the Path of Philosophy, Anraku-ji is highly recommended if you’re in town when it’s open - Honen-in Temple
Honen-in is our favorite temple in all of Kyoto, and that’s saying a lot in a city with over 1600 temples - Ginkaku-ji Temple
Ginkaku-ji temple, the famed “Silver Pavilion”, has magnificient halls and gardens. It’s predicably popular so best visited in off-peak time - Mt Daimonji-yama Hike from Ginkaku-ji Temple
The one-hour roundtrip hike from Ginkaku-ji Temple up to the viewpoint on Mt. Daimonji-yama is the best short hike in Kyoto. The view of the city from here in incredible! Here is everything you need to do this hike. - Shinyo-do Temple
Shinyo-do Temple is a beautiful temple located atop Yoshida-yama Hill. The main hall here is sublime and the ground is dotted with cherry and maple trees. - Konkaikomyo-ji Temple (Kurodani)
Konkaikomyo-ji Temple, better known as Kurodani, is a superb and rarely visited (by tourists) temple on Yoshida-yama Hill. - Enko-ji Temple
This small temple in far Northern Higashiyama packs a huge punch: It’s got two incredible gardens, some fine Buddhist artwork and even a small bamboo forest reminiscent of the famous one in Arashiyama. - Manshu-in Temple
A small gem of a temple well to the north of the “beaten path,” Manshu-in rewards the visitor with a fine garden, brilliant architecture and superb decorations - Shisen-do Temple
Another northern temple far from the beaten track, Shisen-do Temple is the perfect choice for visitors who want to escape the crowds that plague better known spots - Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa
Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa is the most spacious and, in some ways, the most pleasing of Kyoto’s four imperial properties - Bishamon-do Temple
Bishamon-do Temple is a beautiful temple just over the Higashiyama Mountains from Kyoto in the suburb of Yamashina. It can be reached by train and subway, or by hiking trails from Nanzen-ji Temple. - Robert Yellin Gallery
Located a short walk from Ginkaku-ji Temple, the Robert Yellin Gallery is a carefully curated gallery of Japanese pottery in a lovely traditional Kyoto house.
Places to Eat in Northern Higashiyama
- Omen
Just down the hill from Ginkaku-ji Temple, Omen is one of our favorite restaurants in Kyoto. They serve some of Kyoto’s best udon noodles - Sanmikouan Higashiyama Sanjo
If you’re hungry for a tasty bowl of soba and some excellent side dishes while exploring near Okazaki, try to get a table at Sanmikouan. It’s a tranquil oasis in a busy neighborhood. - Daigin Shokudo
Daigin Shokudo is a great shokudo near Ginkaku-ji Temple. It serves the standard noodle and rice favorites. It’s a good choice for a meal when exploring Northern Higashiyama. - Onigiriyasan
If you’re looking for a healthy lunch to take with you on a hike in Kurama or anywhere else in Kyoto, stop by Onigiriyasan for some of the best rice balls in town. They’re healthy, cheap and delicious! - Kyoto Soh-an Café
Kyoto Soh-an Café is a great place for a cup of coffee or tea or a light meal when exploring Northern Higashiyama. You can usually get a seat here when the places closer to the temples are packed. - Goya
A great place to eat near Ginkaku-ji Temple, Goya is an Okinawan-themed restaurant with excellent food, cool music and comfortable seating - Falafel Garden
A great vegetarian restaurant in northern Kyoto, Falafel Garden specializes in the eponymous falafel, but there’s plenty more on the menu to keep things interesting - Sujata
With reasonably priced lunch sets, Sujata is a long-time favourite with Kyoto residents looking for homey vegetarian fare. - Sanmikouan Ginkakuji
If you’re looking for a tasty bowl of soba in peaceful surroundings, just steps from Ginkaku-ji Temple, you’ll definitely like Sanmikouan – it’s head and shoulders above the usual fare in this neighborhood. - Hyotei
One of Kyoto’s Michelin three-star restaurants, Hyotei is one of the most attractive restaurants in Kyoto. It’s a kaiseki restaurant that makes few concessions to foreign palates - Hinode Udon
Hinode Udon is a fine lunch restaurant near Nanzen-ji Temple and the Path of Philosophy. As the name suggests, udon noodles are the specialty of the house - Karako
For a hearty bowl of ramen noodles in the Kyoto museum district (Okazaki-koen Park and Heian-jingu area), Karako is the obvious choice - Au Temps Perdu
A perfect little French café on the edge of Kyoto’s museum district (Okazaki-koen Park), there are few better places in Kyoto to sip tea and watch the world go by - Choice
Choice restaurant is a great place to enjoy Japanese-style vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food. It’s at Sanjo-Keihan, very close to Downtown Kyoto.
Ryokan in Northern Higashiyama
- Nanzenji Sando Kikusui
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
For those with a little cash to splash, consider staying at Nanzenji Sando Kikusui. A night here won’t come cheap, but it’s worth it for a sublime ryokan experience. - Kyoto Garden Ryokan Yachiyo Hotel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
The Garden Ryokan Yachiyo is a large ryokan near Nanzen-ji Temple, very used to foreign guests
Vacation Rentals in Northern Higashiyama
- Koto Inn
One of the finest vacation rentals in Kyoto, Koto Inn is a lovingly restored Japanese machiya with all the comforts that Western travelers have come to expect
Shopping in Northern Higashiyama
- Kyoto Handicraft Center
For one-stop souvenir shopping, the Kyoto Handicraft Center should be at the top of your list - Tozando
For wanna-be samurai and other fans of Japanese swords and knifes, Tozando should be high on your itinerary
Nightlife in Northern Higashiyama
- Metro
The only club we’ve ever seen inside a train station, the aptly named Metro is located in one of the entrance tunnels to the Keihan Line’s Marutamachi Station - Kick Up
A cozy bar in Keage, just across the street from the Westin Miyako Hotel, Kick Up is an excellent place for a sociable drink in eastern Kyoto
Getting to Northern Higashiyama
- By subway from Kyoto Station: Take the Karasuma Subway Line to Karasuma-Oike Station and change to the Tozai Subway line heading east. Get off at Higashiyama Station and walk north to get to Okazaki-koen. Or, get off at Keage Station and walk north to get to Nanzen-ji Temple and the Path of Philosophy.
- By bicycle from Kyoto Station: Cycle east to the Kamo-gawa River and then cycle north (upstream) until you hit Sanjo-dori or Marutamachi-dori.
- By Hankyu Line (from Osaka etc): Get off at Kawaramachi Station.
- By Keihan Line (from Osaka etc): Get off at Sanjo Keihan Stations
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 – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a Japan Rail Pass – here's my explanation of why it's worth it
- A prepaid Icoca card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- Get travel insurance for Japan - World Nomads is well-regarded (and here's why)
