In this episode, we map two streets. Yasaka-dori, which runs for 1.5 kilometers, begins at Yamato'oji-dori in the west, passes long the southern boundary of Kennin-ji, and crosses Higashioji-dori on through to Sannen-zaka in the east. Yasaka Pagoda has immense presence and towers over you as you cross Higashioji-dori. To reach Kiyomizu-dera we should continue on through Sannen-zaka - literally, Three-year Slope - but we take a slight detour to Ninen-zaka (Two-year Slope) and visit a location connected to artist, Yumeji Takehisa, an icon of Taisho-era culture.
Kiyomizu-zaka is in actual fact called Matsubara-dori. The stretch ascending from Higashioji-dori is called Kiyomizu-zaka, because it is the approach to World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera, a tourist symbol of Kyoto. With more than 5 million visitors annually, the approach is always teeming and is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants serving Kyoto cuisine.
