Gion

Gion is the district centered around Yasaka Shrine. According to the City of Kyoto, it generally spans from Yasaka Shrine in the east, Kennin-ji in the south, around the Kamo River area in the west, and up to Shinbashi in the north. It has been famous as a hanamachi (geisha district) since the early modern period. The best-known street is Hanamikoji-dori, which runs north–south through the area; from Kyoto Station, take a city bus or Keihan bus to “Gion,” then walk about 1 minute to reach the vicinity (including Hanamikoji). The section of Hanamikoji south of Shijo-dori is designated a historic landscape preservation/repair district, with stone paving and tea houses and restaurants featuring red ochre lattices. You may even spot maiko or geiko. Along the street, the Yasaka Kaikan’s Gion Corner offers accessible cultural performances such as Kyomai dance by maiko, gagaku court music, and kyogen comedy. Nearby, the Gion Shinbashi area around Shinbashi-dori is an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings; you can enjoy stone lanes, black latticed townhouses, and cherry trees along the Shirakawa stream. The photogenic Tatsumi Bridge, often seen in commercials and dramas, is also here, and Tatsumi Daimyojin—said to bring benefit in artistic mastery—is visited by geiko and maiko for prayers.