A Guide to Ancient Kyoto During Dragon Boat Festival

Taking a stroll through Kyoto's Ninenzaka during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday is like stepping into a painting where time interweaves. This Ishizaka slope connecting Kiyomizu Temple and Kodaiji Temple is lined with century-old wooden townhouses on both sides. During the Dragon Boat Festival, vermilion lanterns and mossy stone steps complement each other. The following is an in-depth travel guide to Ninenzaka specially tailored for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Highlights 1. Morning Light Exploration: Traveling through Edo Style Arrive at Ninenzaka before 7am in the morning to avoid the hustle and bustle of tour groups. The wooden lattice windows, the teahouses with fluttering curtains and the handicraft shops in the morning light restore the elegance of the era of "The Tale of Genji". We recommend going to the corner of the alley next to Ichiran Ramen Kyoto Ninezaka Store to capture the silhouette of a geisha carrying her yukata bag in the morning mist. 2. Cultural Tour: Craftsmanship and Shrine Visits • Ninenzaka Pottery Festival (June only): If it falls on a weekend, shops along the street will display traditional crafts such as Nanbu ironware and Shigaraki ware, and you can experience hand-made lacquerware painting. • Yasaka Shrine Branch: A miniature shrine hidden in Sannenzaka. During the Dragon Boat Festival, calamus and rice dumpling-shaped amulets are hung here, and the most effective amulets are those that “ward off disasters and bring good fortune.” 3. A feast for the senses: Matcha meets Kyoto vegetables • Gion Tsujiri Sannenzaka: The century-old shop’s matcha parfait is garnished with “calamus honey beans” which are limited to the Dragon Boat Festival. Reservations must be made in advance for seats on the second-floor terrace. • Kyoto Yakiniku Hiroshi Gion Branch: A yakiniku restaurant hidden in the basement of a townhouse, it serves "Kyoto Vegetables Collection" with marinated Wagyu beef. The aroma of charcoal fire mixed with the sound of running water in the courtyard is a Kyoto-only summer flavor. 4. Night Tour of Secret Places: Dialogue between Lanterns and the Starry Sky After nightfall, lanterns along the streets of Ninenzaka light up one after another. We recommend going up to the second-floor terrace of "Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzan Toban Store" before the last "Kyoto Sightseeing Bus" (20:30), holding a cold drink in a bamboo tube, and overlooking the long river of light and shadow dyed amber by lanterns on the cobblestone road. Useful Information • transportation: • Take the Tozai Subway Line to Higashiyama Station, and walk 10 minutes to the Sannenzaka entrance. • Take Kyoto Bus No. 100/206 to Gojozaka Station and walk along Kiyomizu-dori for 15 minutes. • Tips: • There are many tourists during holidays, so it is recommended to visit after 2 pm during the peak hours. • Most traditional stores do not support electronic payments, so keep plenty of cash on hand. #Dragon Boat Festival good places