Kiyamachi is one of the most popular areas in Kyoto. However, there is much that goes unseen.
Kiyamachi street is a small area surrounded by a number of iconic landmarks, including Yasaka shrine and Maruyama Park. The street itself is very popular for its night life, framed by dozens of traditional stores and restaurants.
I myself don't particularly like locations that are excessively crowded, as it takes away from the allure of the places themselves. Instead I prefer looking for less-visited areas, or, better still, finding lesser known spots hiding in plain sight among popular landmarks. That's why I took it upon myself to go to Kiyamachi and look for such places. Here are some pictures I took just a few minutes’ walk from the most crowded spots. The only exception was Gion Shirakawa which was very crowded, but it was so beautiful that I couldn't help posting some pictures. If you journey there at night, it'll feel like being transported back in time with the absence of crowds.
