“Rokkaku-do (Official name : Shiunyama Choho-ji temple)” is a historic temple that is only 8 minutes walk to the northwest from the main store of Kyoto ICHINODEN. When Prince Shotoku came to this place in search of materials for the construction of Shitennoji, he had a revelatory dream telling him to build a hexagonal temple here. And it is said that Prince Shotoku placed the Buddharupa in the temple himself after the construction of the temple was completed. It is a temple that is also known as the birthplace of Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement).

When you reach the northwest from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store, you will see a red brick building which is “The Museum of Kyoto”. The museum is divided into two parts: a main building which carries out various exhibitions throughout the year; and an annex building designated as an important cultural property. This old-fashioned machiya scenery shows a different taste of Kyoto.

The street where Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store is situated is “Yanagi no Banba-dori”. It runs through the famous “Kyoto’s kitchen” Nishiki Market. To the north you will find Maruta-machi-dori, where the Kyoto Imperial Palace is situated; and to the south you will find Gojo-dori. The street is around 2.3 km long in total. The history of this “Yanagi no Banba-dori” is very old, dating back to the Heian period. At that time it was called “Made no koji”, and the road was about 12 metres wide.

When going east from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store and through the arcade of Nishiki market, you will find “Teramachi-dori”. There are many shops selling Kyoto souvenirs. Many local students visit this area on a school trip. Today it is a shopping arcade where many new and old shops line up and is crowded with locals and tourists. But it is said that there were many temples in this area in the past, as its name suggests.

You can see “Yata jizoson” as you go north to Sanjo-dori through the busy Teramachi Arcade. Many lanterns with a warm colour are lit around the area, and a lot of Ksitigarbha statues are placed there, too.
The principal object of worship is a Ksitigarbha situated in the back of the precinct, standing in the fire. It is said that this Ksitigarbha, named Daijukujizo, saves people in hell. In addition, the “Farewell Bell” in the precinct is paired with the “Meeting Bell” in Daichinzan Rokudochinno Temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto. While “Meeting Bell” is to welcome ancestors to this side of the world, “Farewell Bell” is to send them to the world after death.

When you reach the northeast from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store, the headquarters of Jyodoshu (Jodo Buddhism or The Pure Land School) Seizan Fukakusaha “Seiganji Temple” is standing in front of the opening of the arcade.
“This place is also known as the stage for the Yokyoku* “”Seiganji Temple””. Since Izumi Shikibu was a bodhisattva of singing and dancing in the song, “”Seigan Temple”” is worshiped as a temple of mastering performance skills. Beside the main hall is a stone sculpture of Ogizuka, in which nowadays people would still dedicate fans in praying for improvement of their performance skills.

*Yokyoku (謡曲), also called utai (謡), is an integral part of the traditional Noh theatre in Japan. “

When you reach the northeast from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store, there is a timber trader “Vinegar Shop”, which is said to be Ryoma Sakamoto’s hiding place in the past.
Ryoma is said to have been living here until he was assassinated, under the auspices of the 6th generation of the Vinegar Shop, who showed an understanding of Ryoma’s activities.
Towards the end of Edo Period, it was said that before the “Vinegar Shop” was a cove in Takase-gawa River that provides a pier for boats. Residence of many Domains were along the river and it was a convenient place for communication. Ryoma set up the Kyoto headquarters of Kaientai (an association of roshi organized by Ryoma) here, where many volunteers including Mutsu Munemitsu were hanging out there.

Walk from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store to Nishiki Market then go eastward and you will find the lively Shinkyogoku-dori. When you go north on this lively street bustling with young people and tourists, you will see “Seishin-in” on your right.
Izumi Shikibu is the first priest of “Seishin-in”. Empress Fujiwara Akiko asked his father Fujiwara no Michinaga to build this temple for Izumi as she entered the priesthood after her daughter’s death. The grave of Izumi Shikibu is quietly standing on the north side of the precinct. To date, there are still many people who admire Izumi visiting this place.

Enter the Nishiki Market from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store, then head east and you will see “Nishiki Tenmangu”. The locals call it “Nishiki no Tenshin” and pray for academic and business prosperity. The history of the “Nishiki no Tenshin” dates back to the middle of the Heian period. It was moved to the present place in Tensho 15th year (Year 1587) during the urban planning of Taiko, Hideyoshi Toyotomi. And from then on, it has come to be called “Nishiki Tenmangu”.

If you go south from the main store of Kyoto ICHINODEN, you will find the “Nishiki market”, which is known as the kitchen of Kyoto. Approximately 130 shops selling fruits, fresh fish, etc. line up along the road between Teramachi-dori in the east and Takakura-dori in the west (about 400m long in total), providing all sorts of groceries for Kyoto’s households.

Speaking of Kyoto in July, you cannot miss the “Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival)”. This “Gion Festival” which is counted as one of the three biggest festivals in Japan together with the Tenjin Festival in Osaka and the Kanda Festival in Tokyo has a long history. In the Gion Festival, which lasts for up to a month, you can also see the highlight of the event, Yamahoko-Junko parade.
“Gion Festival” originated about 1100 years ago. At that time, an epidemic took place in the Kyoto area. In order to quell the epidemic, people started praising the Gozu Tenno (deity said to be the Indian god Gavagriva). And this traditional festival started from then on.

Walk from Kyoto ICHINODEN Main Store to Shijo-dori then go eastward. At the south of the junction of Shijo Teramachi where many department stores stand, you will find “Hiyoke Tenmangu”.
The occurrence of this “Hiyoke Tenmangu” is in the 7th year of Tensho (Year 1579). In order to escape the warfare of Tsukushi Province (Fukuoka prefecture), it is said that one old priest entered into Kyoto, carrying the statue of Sugawara no Michizane from Dazaifu, and started the worship activities around Rokkaku-dori. It was then transferred to the current place in the 2nd year of Keicho (Year 1597).