Yanagi-kōji

　It was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who spearheaded the urban planning of Kyoto, a city that had fallen into ruin during the Ōnin War and the subsequent Sengoku period. From the latter half of the 16th century, a castle complex known as ‘Jurakudai’ was constructed; samurai residences and townhouses were laid out in a grid pattern; and earthen ramparts known as ‘Odoi’ were built around the city, thereby establishing its function as a fortified city.

　It was during this period that Yanagi-kōji, situated just off Shijō Kawaramachi, was created. In this alleyway stands the Hachibē Myōjin shrine, dedicated to ‘Hachibē-san’—one of the three tanuki said to have once made their home within the precincts of a temple that once stood on this site—and it has become a symbol of prosperity in business.

　Today, the street is lined with restaurants on both sides; it is particularly beautiful at night and bustles with local residents.