嵯峨鳥居本伝統的建造物群保存地区

On a brutally hot Kyoto day, we hopped a bus partway up the hill on our way to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple and wandered through this area. Best decision we made that afternoon...second only to buying cold drinks before the climb. This area is beautifully, stubbornly preserved. Narrow lanes, traditional wooden homes, tiled roofs, stone steps, and the kind of quiet that makes you instinctively lower your voice. It feels less like a tourist stop and more like a neighborhood that politely tolerates visitors...as long as you behave and keep moving. Fair warning: it’s mostly uphill, the shade comes and goes, and summer here does not mess around. Bring water. Bring more water than you think. Kyoto heat has no mercy and no sense of humor. But the payoff is real. The walk slows you down, the architecture pulls you in, and by the time you reach the temples farther up, you’ve earned the calm. This is Kyoto without neon, without crowds, without trying too hard. Just history, wood, stone, and time doing its thing. Bottom line: Absolutely worth the detour...especially if you want to see Kyoto quietly flex its restraint. Go early or late, hydrate like it’s a sport, and enjoy one of the city’s most intact historic streetscapes.

I passed through this preserved street on the way to Adashino and Otagi Nenbutsuji. The traditional houses along the road gave it a nostalgic feel. It's not a long stretch but nice to wander and take in the atmosphere before heading to the temples.

It was quite a walk from Arashiyama Bamboo Forest to get to Ayuchaya Hiranoya, a beautiful historic restaurant located in the Sagano area of Kyoto. It is well known for its traditional matcha tea and Japanese sweets. We ordered matcha (of course!), Yuzu and sweets. Sakura cha was offered before our food was served.

Visited here while in the area, it did tend to be less busy as was a walk out but worthwhile. There are temples and shrines too

I stumbled upon this street by chance, and it was good fortune that brought us together. It's out of the crowds, has cafés, restaurants (even a vegetarian one), and lots of old antique-like shops with knick-knacks. If you're observant enough, you'll notice a few religious shrines sprinkled in niches around the walkway and street.

This is such a lovely place off the beaten tourist trail. Takes a bit more of a walk to get here but so worth it. Spend the time once you are finished walking the lovely quiet back roads to the tourist bamboo forest and get to enjoy a lovely part of Kyoto.

The street was lovely and beautifully preserved. It was a nice downhill walk from the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple. The only issue was that the small restaurants and some (but not all) of the souvenir shops took CASH ONLY (no credit cards). We did not expect that. It was the last day of our trip, so we didn't have a lot of cash on us so we couldn't get lunch there. Be sure to bring cash if you plan to get a meal there.

Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street is a real gem in Kyoto. Walking through this historic street feels like stepping back in time. Traditional wooden houses, small shops and tea houses give the area a very special charm. It is much quieter than the very touristy areas, perfect for getting to know Kyoto from a more authentic side. It is particularly nice to simply stroll through the street without a fixed destination, admire the architecture and soak up the relaxed atmosphere. A wonderful place for anyone who wants to experience historic Kyoto in peace.