Bridge · Higashiyama / Furukawa-cho
Gyoja-bashi Bridge 行者橋
A narrow stone-slab footbridge over the Shirakawa canal in Higashiyama, crossed by Mount Hiei's marathon monks at the end of their 1,000-day practice.
About
Gyoja-bashi ("ascetic's bridge") is a simple bridge of long granite slabs, barely wide enough for one person, crossing the willow-lined Shirakawa canal near Furukawa-cho. Its name comes from the kaihogyo monks of Mount Hiei, who cross it on their way into the city during their gruelling 1,000-day walking practice. It is one of the most photogenic spots on the Shirakawa: kimono-clad visitors pose on the slabs, with traditional houses and weeping willows along the water. It is quieter than Tatsumi Bridge, ten minutes downstream in Gion Shirakawa.
Highlights
- Granite slab footbridge only one person wide
- Associated with Mount Hiei's kaihogyo marathon monks
- Willow-lined Shirakawa canal and machiya houses
- Quieter than Gion Shirakawa's Tatsumi Bridge
Tips
- No railings: take care with small children and in wet weather.
- Go early morning for photos without queues.
- Walk downstream along the Shirakawa to Gion and Tatsumi Bridge (10 min).
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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