Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings
Shijo-Karasuma, Kyoto
Sanjo-dori was Kyoto's main east-west street until the trams of 1912 pulled the centre south to Shijo, and plenty of the buildings put up along it since the Meiji era are still standing. Look for the red brick of the 1902 Nakagyo Post Office at the Higashinotoin corner and the 1906 Bank of Japan branch that's now the Museum of Kyoto annex.
Insider tip
Walk it east from Karasuma towards Teramachi. At the southeast corner of the Sanjo-Karasuma crossing is a road origin marker set up in 1920. The Museum of Kyoto annex is free to walk into.
What's on near Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Medalist Exhibition
メダリスト展
Time 10:00 to 18:00, Fridays to 19:30 (last entry 30 min before) Station Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 3 min walk from exit 5
An exhibition on Tsurumaikada's figure skating manga Medalist, with new illustrations drawn for it, famous scenes from the manga, sets that recreate its world and picks from the TV anime. It fills the museum's third and fourth floor galleries.
Photograph by Mike Peel www.mikepeel.net., CC BY-SA 4.0 KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival 2027
KYOTOGRAPHIE 京都国際写真祭 2027
Time Hours and closing days vary by venue Station Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line)
A month of photography shows in machiya, galleries, museums and temples around the city, in exhibition spaces designed with architects and craftspeople. The 2027 theme, artists and venues are still to be announced.
18th Kyoto Historica International Film Festival
第18回京都ヒストリカ国際映画祭
Station Karasuma-Oike (Karasuma, Tozai Lines)
A film festival devoted to historical drama, with Japanese period-film classics, new historical films from abroad and screenings at the Museum of Kyoto.
Photograph by Mike Peel www.mikepeel.net., CC BY-SA 4.0 Kyoto Bunpaku Hanashi no Kai Vol.34: Shofukutei Tama solo rakugo
京都文博 噺の会 Vol.34 笑福亭たま 独演会
Time 13:00 (doors 12:30) Station Karasuma Oike, exit 5, 3 min walk
Kamigata rakugo by Shofukutei Tama on tatami at the Museum of Kyoto, with an opening act by Hayashiya Kanza. No preschool children. Unreserved tatami seating by entry number.
Photograph by Mike Peel www.mikepeel.net., CC BY-SA 4.0 Kan'ei: Beauty Nurtured by Peace
特別展「寛永 太平がはぐくむ美」
Time 10:00 to 18:00, Fridays to 19:30 (last entry 30 minutes before) Station Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 3 min walk
Marking 400 years since Emperor Go-Mizunoo's visit to Nijo Castle, the museum shows the Kan'ei culture of Hon'ami Koetsu, Tawaraya Sotatsu and Nonomura Ninsei, with scrolls and screens of the imperial procession and a Kano Sanraku hawk painting from Nijo Castle. It's closed on Mondays (open 12 Oct) and 13 Oct, and the ticket covers the permanent galleries too.
Photograph by Mike Peel www.mikepeel.net., CC BY-SA 4.0 Smaller local events nearby
Pedro Vian plays Jon Hassell Performance
Sun 25 Oct · Lobby Lounge, Ace Hotel Kyoto, Karasuma Oike
A 90-minute listening session of Jon Hassell's music, presented in the Lobby Lounge.
16:00 to 17:30 · Map · Source: Ace Hotel Kyoto · Modern Obscure Music SPA at Ace Hotel Kyoto
KYOTO by Noritake Exhibition
On now, until 31 Oct · Ace Hotel Kyoto, Karasuma Oike
A solo exhibition by the illustrator Noritake at Ace Hotel Kyoto, made during his artist residency in the city.
Free · from 03:00 · Map · Source: Ace Hotel Kyoto · KYOTO BY NORITAKE
Live music nearby
Nearby
Around Shijo-Karasuma
Kyoto's old bank corner, with kimono streets one block back
Shijo-Karasuma is the crossing where the subway meets the Hankyu line from Osaka, and by 1915 three of the big banks stood on it. It doesn't look much like the Kyoto on the posters. Walk one block west, though, and you're on Muromachi-dori, the old kimono wholesalers' street, near the lanes where the Gion Matsuri floats are built every July.
Shijo-Karasuma has 16 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shops, 3 shrines and temples, 3 cafes, 3 museums, 1 restaurant, 1 bar and 1 neighbourhood. Read the Shijo-Karasuma guide.
Good to know
- How do I get to Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings?
- The nearest station is Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line). Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings is in Shijo-Karasuma, Kyoto.
- How much does Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings cost?
- Nothing. Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Sanjo-dori Brick Buildings?
- Late afternoon.
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