Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka are essentially Kyoto's greatest hits album - and for good reason. These perfectly preserved streets are probably what you imagined Kyoto would look like before you arrived. We're talking those classic stone steps, traditional wooden buildings, and if you're lucky (or early enough), you might catch some folks in kimono adding to that perfect old Japan vibe.

First things first: there's this wild local superstition about falling on these slopes bringing bad luck for the next 2-3 years. So maybe watch your step, especially in wet weather! But don't let that spook you - these streets are absolutely worth any perceived curse risk.

Yes, they're touristy. Yes, they'll be crowded. But some places are popular for a reason, and these streets deliver exactly what they promise - that movie-perfect vision of old Kyoto. Between the traditional shops, the tea houses, and the occasional glimpse of Yasaka Pagoda in the distance, it's like walking through a postcard of historic Japan.

Pro tip: Come early morning or around dusk if you want fewer crowds and better photos. And don't rush it - half the fun is popping into random shops and discovering what's behind those traditional facades.