One of my greatest pleasures while living in Kyoto was to take long rambling bicycle rides. One autumn day, after visiting crowded Tofukuji, I headed into the streets on the lower slopes of the Higashiyama Hills, just to see what was there. I found many pretty autumn scenes. Most intriguing was the entrance to Imakuma-no-Kannonji, with it's striking red bridge. I didn't enter the temple that day. I thought I could continue exploring, and return to visit another day. The back streets of Kyoto are full of wonderful surprises. They never disappoint me.
- 1 min read
Lost in Southern Higashiyama
Cycling Higashiyama's back streets in autumn
![Cathy Cawood Cathy Cawood](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/1713/240x240!/61d020bdef751f611f5e3c02.jpg)
By Cathy Cawood
Community writer
![A very inviting road!](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99659/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99659.jpg)
A very inviting road!
![Wet maple leaves on the road ](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99655/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99655.jpg)
Wet maple leaves on the road
![This road seems to lead into the mountains](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99653/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99653.jpg)
This road seems to lead into the mountains
![Torii at the entrance to a shrine I couldn't even find on Google Maps!](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99650/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99650.jpg)
Torii at the entrance to a shrine I couldn't even find on Google Maps!
![Red and yellow maple trees side by side on the hill](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99656/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99656.jpg)
Red and yellow maple trees side by side on the hill
![A red bridge high in the trees](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99654/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99654.jpg)
A red bridge high in the trees
![Graveyard on the hillside](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99652/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99652.jpg)
Graveyard on the hillside
![Row of almost leafless bonsai trees against the wall of a wooden house](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99649/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99649.jpg)
Row of almost leafless bonsai trees against the wall of a wooden house
![A small gully filled with autumn color](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-101492/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-101492.jpg)
A small gully filled with autumn color
![Very small Ojizo dwarfed by its large red and white shelter](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99662/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99662.jpg)
Very small Ojizo dwarfed by its large red and white shelter
![Red bridge at the entrance to Imakuma-no-Kannonji ](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99657/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99657.jpg)
Red bridge at the entrance to Imakuma-no-Kannonji
![Entrance to Imakuma-no-Kannonji](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99661/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99661.jpg)
Entrance to Imakuma-no-Kannonji
![Autumn leaves form a colorful background](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99658/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99658.jpg)
Autumn leaves form a colorful background
![Stone lanterns flank the road as it emerges from the shadow of the trees into the sunlight](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99660/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99660.jpg)
Stone lanterns flank the road as it emerges from the shadow of the trees into the sunlight
![Baseball players head home after a game](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/16952-99663/1000/kyoto-lost-in-southern-higashiyama-99663.jpg)
Baseball players head home after a game
Join the discussion
Victoria Vlisides
9 years ago
Beautiful photos to view on this rainy day! :)
1 comment in total
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