Restoration of the stone pavement on Hanamikoji-dori Street in the Gion area of Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto has been completed. It had been temporarily paved with asphalt due to a water pipe renewal project. The work was carried out 6 to 7 meters a day during the night when there was little pedestrian traffic, and the elegant landscape has been restored for the first time in two years.

According to the Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewerage Bureau, about 500 meters of water pipes were renewed between Shijo-dori and Donguri-dori along Hanamikoji-dori. The stone pavement had been removed from the north side of Kenninji Temple to Shijo-dori for approximately 300 meters in the spring of 2021.

Restoration of the stones began last August. Hanamikoji-dori has no distinction between sidewalks and roadways, but to make it easier for people to walk, different types of stone were used in the center and at both ends of the road surface to make it look like a roadside strip. The construction took more than half a year to complete as the work was carried out on half the width of the road at one time to avoid blocking traffic.

Isoichi Ota, executive secretary of the Gion-Machi South District Council, said, "I am glad the restoration project was completed in time for the opening of the 'Miyako Odori' dance. The stone pavement has been laid as if to indicate a sidewalk, so I hope it will lead to pedestrian safety."