Hiyodorizaka ひよどり坂

Bamboo grove path rivals Kyoto beauty

This narrow path of bamboo, Hiyodorizaka, descends along a slope to the west of the row of samurai houses in Sakura City's historic quarter. You'll see a wooden sign that describes it in English as "Old Samurai Road". It was the route that samurai retainers took on their way to the castle. I highly recommend a visit to the samurai quarters and a walk along this unpaved path to access the castle site (now only marked by massive earthworks) to get to the National History Museum. It's as beautiful and evocative of a bygone era as Kyoto's famous bamboo path.