Higashiyama is one of the best-preserved historic districts of Kyoto and runs along the east side of the city.

It's a large area that spans a number of UNESCO World Heritage temples and the most pristine of Kyoto's old townscapes. The area is also home to several of the city's kagai, or geisha districts.

Small shops, cafes and restaurants that have catered to visitors and pilgrims for centuries, line the streets and offer wares such as Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, crafts, souvenirs, sweets, pickles and traditional foods.

Every year during March, Higashiyama hosts the annual Hanatoro (meaning ‘flower and light road’). During this festival, the streets are lit up with thousands of lanterns interspersed with flower and light displays.

A popular attraction is the Philosopher’s Path, lined with cherry trees, running alongside a canal. There are also beautiful temples and shrines that are frequented by pilgrims and tourists.