Higashiyama Sanjo: Everyday life in the cultural strata

Higashiyama Sanjo: Everyday life in the cultural strata

The Higashiyama Sanjo area in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, where Sanjo Street and Higashioji Street intersect, is a place that exudes a unique charm even within the tourist city of Kyoto. While slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of famous sites such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Shrine, the history and culture of the ancient capital quietly lives on in everyday life. It is no coincidence that WABISUKE's store is located here. Rather, it feels as if we are standing on a cultural "stratum."

Memories of Sanjo Street: The backbone of Kyoto

Sanjo-dori Street originated as an important east-west main road that was established as "Sanjo Oji" in the urban planning of Heian-kyo. The modern Sanjo-dori Street is an extension of this road, and it continues to convey Kyoto's historical urban structure to the present day.

During the Edo period, Sanjo Ohashi Bridge was known as the final stop on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road, and was the destination for travelers heading from Edo to Kyoto. However, this only applies to travelers who took the Tokaido road, as there were several other routes to Kyoto. As a key transportation hub, Sanjo Street played a role in supporting commercial and cultural exchange.

The border between the mountain and the city—a place where cultures intersect

Higashiyama Sanjo is located on the border between the foot of Higashiyama and the city. Temples such as Shoren-in Temple and Chion-in Temple line the mountain side, giving the area the character of a religious and ceremonial space. Meanwhile, townhouses and merchant houses line Sanjo Street, creating an urban living space.

The geographical location where religious culture and civic life intersect symbolizes the multi-layered cultural structure of the city of Kyoto. Because Higashiyama Sanjo is located at this crossroads, it has a unique atmosphere where culture and everyday life naturally intertwine.

The lingering echoes of Higashiyama culture—the source of tranquility and aesthetic sense

In the late Muromachi period, when Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his villa, Higashiyama Palace, in Higashiyama, it was the catalyst for the formation of what is known as "Higashiyama culture." Yoshimasa's aesthetic sense, fused with Zen thought and aristocratic culture, fostered a wide range of artistic culture, including shoin-zukuri architecture, the tea ceremony, beautiful gardens, Noh theater, and linked poetry.

This cultural trend spread from Higashiyamaden, which was later converted into a temple called Jisho-ji (Ginkaku-ji), and formed the theoretical foundation for the aesthetic sense of wabi-sabi. Wabi-sabi itself would later be further developed and systematized in the development of the tea ceremony, but it can be said that its prototype was alive and well in this place.

Higashiyama Sanjo is a place where the echoes of this culture still linger. The nearby Awataguchi area has been known as a place that has produced master swordsmiths since the Heian period, and even today, Awata Shrine holds festivals related to swords. Modern architecture from the Meiji to early Showa periods can be found dotted along Sanjo Street, creating a landscape where Japanese and Western, old and new, intersect.

"Using" culture

One of the reasons why WABISUKE has set up shop here is from the perspective of "using culture." Culture is not something that can only be stored in a museum. Its value comes alive when it is handled, used, and felt in daily life.

For example, WABISUKE's clasp purses are more than just wallets. They are imbued with the texture of the fabric, the sewing techniques, the choice of colors, and above all, the idea of ​​"being close to the memories and emotions of the person who picks it up." They truly embody the "intersection of culture and everyday life" that is the location of Higashiyama Sanjo.

Cultivating culture together with the local community

In recent years, the area around Higashiyama Sanjo has seen a surge in the restoration of traditional townhouses and the opening of small galleries and craft shops. While resisting the trend toward tourism, local people are rediscovering their own culture and trying to pass it on to the next generation.

Higashiyama Ward is still home to many people working in traditional crafts, including mounters, dyers and weavers, and tea ceremony utensil artisans. While their specific distribution and numbers have changed over time, the fact that they continue to quietly restore cultural properties and pass on craft techniques gives a sense of the underlying strength of the city of Kyoto.

WABISUKE also wants to play a part in this. Through purses and accessories, we hope to provide visitors with the experience of "bringing culture home with them," and to be a presence that gently embraces the local atmosphere and memories.