Ninen-zaka
Ninen-zaka (two-year slope) provides a glimpse of the two-storey shops and homes typical of the Kyoto city of old. After a great fire in 1864, 80% of Kyoto's cityscape was destroyed, leading to creation of historic preservation districts such as this one on the pilgrims' route to Kiyomizu Temple. The shops now sell traditional pottery and food for tourists. Some have narrow slatted windows on the second floor which allowed protection for people to look at the passing samurai and daimyo, which was forbidden. The buildings are quite narrow (about 8 metres) but can extend back a long way. Apparently if one drops something or stumbles here it brings two years' bad luck, hence the name.
Kyoto is something of a University town so the school excursion doesn't seem out of place.
Ninen-zaka
Ninen-zaka (two-year slope) provides a glimpse of the two-storey shops and homes typical of the Kyoto city of old. After a great fire in 1864, 80% of Kyoto's cityscape was destroyed, leading to creation of historic preservation districts such as this one on the pilgrims' route to Kiyomizu Temple. The shops now sell traditional pottery and food for tourists. Some have narrow slatted windows on the second floor which allowed protection for people to look at the passing samurai and daimyo, which was forbidden. The buildings are quite narrow (about 8 metres) but can extend back a long way. Apparently if one drops something or stumbles here it brings two years' bad luck, hence the name.
Kyoto is something of a University town so the school excursion doesn't seem out of place.