Tips for Photography at Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka

1. Shooting Considering the Terrain 

Actual Structure

When descending from Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the terrain slopes downward in the order of Sannenzaka (steep stairs) -> Ninenzaka (gently sloping stone wall path).

Reality Facts from Visitors

The "photos commonly seen on blogs featuring a long traditional street stretching out with Yasaka Pagoda (Five-story Pagoda) in the background" are taken from a composition where you look up at the top (towards Sannenzaka) from the bottom of Ninenzaka.

However, if you visit during the day, the crowds pouring down from Kiyomizu-dera Temple will rush in from directly in front (above), resulting in dozens of selfie sticks and other people's faces being thrust straight into your lens.

An Honest Solution Utilizing the Structure

If you attempt the "looking up from below" composition that everyone else does during the day, you are 100% bound to fail.

Instead, take a photo looking down from the very top of the steep Sannenzaka stairs (the corner just before Kiyomizu-dera). Due to the nature of the stair terrain, the people in front drop significantly in height, so their heads are naturally positioned at the bottom of the frame, resulting in less interference from the crowd.

2. The Underground Power Line System and Light Limitations

Actual Appearance

Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are areas where all utility poles have been buried underground by Kyoto City to preserve the traditional landscape.

The advantage is that photos come out clean because there are no power lines obstructing the view.

Is the light too bright?

The absence of power lines means the sky is wide open. Because of this, between 11 AM and 3 PM, sunlight strikes the eaves of the wooden buildings and the stone pavement directly, creating an overly strong contrast that makes the image look almost black and white.

If you take a photo wearing a kimono, dark shadows from the eaves fall on your face, and the stone pavement is blown out white (overexposure), making the photo look very crude. Optimal Solution

The timing for the best photos is between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM (the Golden Hour just before sunset), which bloggers highly praise. As the sun sets in the west, take photos utilizing the faint backlight coming from behind Yasaka Pagoda.

If you slightly increase the camera exposure at this time, the silhouettes of the wooden buildings will stand out while the subject's skin appears very soft and emotional.

3. Bypassing the Bottleneck in the Alley near the Starbucks Ninenzaka Branch

Current Situation

The area around the 'Starbucks Tatami Branch' in the middle of Ninenzaka is the physical core zone where the worst bottleneck occurs, with people trying to take photos and those standing in line tangled up in an already narrow alley (approximately 3-4 meters wide).

Inconveniences Based on Reviews

There are countless reviews stating, "All the photos taken here wearing kimonos are fake. Western tourists were screaming behind me and a rickshaw passed by, so I had to take the picture in 0.5 seconds and run away." A Honest Solution Utilizing the Structure

Boldly skip the main passageway in front of Starbucks.

If you look to the left just before the Starbucks building, there is a very narrow side path leading to Yasaka-dori.

Because it is a narrow structure with two stone walls facing each other, tourists only pass through and do not stop.

If you place a person right against this wall and take a photo compressed into a vertical frame, the hustle and bustle of the main street disappears, and the image is filled only with the deep wood texture of the Kyoto houses.

Common Inconveniences of Kimono Rental People

'Geta' and the Stone Floor System
Actual Structure

 This entire area consists of flat cobblestone floors made by carving rough natural stone.

In particular, the herringbone stairs of Sannenzaka have a considerable incline.

Looking at reviews from visitors, there are many confessions such as, "Snapshots where you walk around looking pretty in a kimono? That's all staged. In reality, it feels like the space between your toes is going to tear, so you end up walking like a robot." It is said that the stone pavement becomes incredibly slippery, especially when it rains lightly or morning dew forms, causing many people to fall.

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Very Honest Tips from Experienced Visitors

Wear geta sandals over your socks (tabi) only briefly when taking photos, and when moving around, hide the folding flat shoes or black sneakers you brought under your kimono skirt.

Since the skirt is narrow and your feet are barely visible, it is much more advantageous for your facial expression to walk comfortably while moving around and only slightly expose your toes the moment you press the camera shutter.

In summary, the surreal photos with empty backgrounds posted on Instagram are, due to the spatial structure, either "the result of diligent people who secured a clear sky without power lines before 7:30 AM" or "the result of technical compromises made during the day, deliberately using a telephoto zoom to crop out the crowds and only capture the top of the eaves to avoid the narrow alley terrain."

Visit to Ninenzaka, a place worth visiting in Kyoto

Governor’s review of the visit to Cho Myung-jeon Hall in Japan

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ISAIAH

I am traveling the world and creating beautiful memories. Do you know of any better places? I would be very grateful if you could let me know. I will also share the places here where I have had fun and felt happy. I will always strive to be an important guide for you. Please visit often. Always be happy. Thank you.

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