Ishibe Alley is a must-see in Kyoto. As you walk through the alleyways you feel like you've stepped into a movie set, only it's real, because the establishments in Ishibe are not just for display.
A lot of the establishments still function as tea houses, salons, restaurants, and houses filled with the muffled sound of families behind closed doors. Unlike Hanami koji, Ishibe Alley is undiscovered. It is like being alone with Kyoto.
This historic alley hasn't changed much in years and the government has made a good job of preserving this place in its traditional form. Finding Ishibe alley isn't hard as its just a few steps away from the entrance of Kodai-ji Temple.
