Chawanzaka Pottery Lane

Chawanzaka, whose name translates as Teapot Lane or Teacup Slope, is the pottery street that climbs the Higashiyama hillside toward the gate of Kiyomizu-dera. Running roughly parallel to the busier main Kiyomizu-zaka approach, it is both a gentler, quieter way up to the great temple and the historic home of Kyoto's ceramic trade — the place to find authentic Kiyomizu-yaki and Kyo-yaki pottery made in the surrounding kilns.

The lane owes its character to the potters who settled on these slopes over the centuries, drawn by good clay, the pilgrim traffic to Kiyomizu-dera, and the patronage of Kyoto's tea masters. The delicate, finely decorated wares they produced became known as Kiyomizu-yaki after the temple, and the style remains one of Japan's most prized ceramic traditions, characterized by refined hand-painting, subtle glazes, and elegant forms suited to the tea ceremony and fine dining. Chawanzaka became the showcase and marketplace for this craft, and its shops have sold teapots, cups, bowls, sake vessels, and incense holders to visitors climbing to the temple for generations.

Today the lane is lined with pottery shops, kiln outlets, and studios, ranging from long-established houses selling museum-quality pieces to friendlier stores offering affordable, characterful everyday ceramics. Because the street is quieter and more specialized than the souvenir-heavy main approach, it is the better place to buy a genuine, locally made piece and to talk to shopkeepers about the ware. Each August the district hosts the Kiyomizu-yaki-no-Sato pottery festival nearby, when potters sell their work at open-air stalls and prices, drawing ceramics lovers from across Japan.

As an approach to Kiyomizu-dera, Chawanzaka is a pleasant, comparatively uncrowded climb. It rises past the ceramic shops and a few cafes and teahouses to meet the main route near the temple's soaring vermilion Nio-mon gate, so you can ascend by the quiet pottery lane and descend through the lively Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets, making a satisfying loop through Higashiyama. The slope is gentle by local standards but still uphill and paved, so comfortable shoes help.

The lane sits at the center of Higashiyama's greatest concentration of sights. At the top is Kiyomizu-dera itself, with its famous wooden stage and hillside views; below and around are Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Ishibei-koji, Kodai-ji, Yasaka Pagoda, and Yasaka Shrine, all within an easy walk. Cherry blossoms in spring and maple color in autumn make the whole hillside spectacular, and Chawanzaka shares in that seasonal beauty.

Getting there follows the same route as Kiyomizu-dera. From Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Line it is about a 15-minute uphill walk east; Kyoto City Buses 100 and 206 stop at Gojo-zaka and Kiyomizu-michi at the foot of the slope. Come in the morning while the shops are opening and the lane is quiet, take your time browsing the ceramics, and carry a carefully wrapped piece of real Kyoto pottery home as the best kind of souvenir.