Sannenzaka

Sannenzaka, or Sannen-zaka (三年坂), is a stone-paved pedestrian road and tourist attraction in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The road is lined with traditional buildings and shops, and is often paired with the similar road, Ninenzaka.[1][2] The two roads lead to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kodaiji Temple and Yasaka-jinjia Shrine, which are a few famous sights in Kyoto.[3] Sannenzaka itself is a narrow slope that is fill with around 60 shops and restaurants that sell traditional Kyoto products and food.[4] There are also notable shops for visitors to get a hands-on experience of Japanese culture, including tea ceremonies, as well as Maiko and Geisha makeovers.[4]

Sannenzaka
TypePedestrian
LocationHigashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Name origin

The real name of Sannenzaka is Sanneizaka which translates to "safe delivery hill".[5] According to old Japanese myths, while Empress Komyo was pregnant, she dreamt of a monk who guaranteed her to safely deliver her baby as long as she had faith in Kannon.[5] After that experience, she found a gold statue on her pillow which she enshrined as a Buddha of safe delivery in the Kyomizu Temple alongside her own picture.[5] Many women would go to the temple to pray for a successful childbirth including Hideyoshi Toyotomi's wife.[6]

Traditional architecture

In 1972, this area was the first to be nominated as a historic preservation district in Kyoto, which then became the first legal preservation of urban regions in Japan.[7] The street of Sannenzaka contained many traditional buildings called Kyo Machiya that were meant to endure the changing weather conditions of Kyoto.[7] The doors are made out of wood, sliding doors are made out of paper, and walls out of mud.[7] Businesses would operate in the front, while living spaces were in the rest of the house, which are both accessible through separate entrances. [7] Modifications of Kyo Machiya can also be seen in this area, including two storied Machiya from the Meiji era and the Sukiya-style Machiya.[7] From 1999 to 2014, the original purpose for Machiya started to fade as many buildings were turned into souvenir shops.[7]

References
  1. "Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Districts". Inside Kyoto. Archived from the original on 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. "Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka Area | Kyoto, Japan Attractions". www.lonelyplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  3. Suebsuk, Naphasinee & Osamu Nakagawa (2015). "Transformation and Modification of Historical Building Use, and Owner Motivation for Urban Conservation in the Nineizaka and Sanneizaka Preservation District, Kyoto, Japan". Athens Journal of Tourism. 2 (1): 37–54. doi:10.30958/ajt.2-1-3 – via JSTOR.
  4. "Sannenzaka And Ninenzaka Streets". Welcome Kansai. 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  5. MacWilliams, Mark (2004). "Living Icons: "Reizō" Myths of the Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage". Monumenta Nipponica. 59 (1): 48–49 – via JSTOR.
  6. "Sannenzaka And Ninenzaka Streets". Welcome Kansai. 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  7. Suebsuk, Naphasinee & Osamu Nakagawa (2015). "Transformation and Modification of Historical Building Use, and Owner Motivation for Urban Conservation in the Nineizaka and Sanneizaka Preservation District, Kyoto, Japan". Athens Journal of Tourism. 2 (1): 37–54. doi:10.30958/ajt.2-1-3 – via JSTOR.


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