Gion District

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Geishas, or geikos, traditional Japanese female artists offering art performances on social occasions, are probably the most alluring and dominant element of Japanese culture. But it’s only when you experience the Gion district, the place of its origin, that you can truly gain an insight of its enigmatic charm. Lying in Higashiyama District in eastern urban Kyoto, Gion dates back to the Edo period (1603 - 1867) and is where to encounter elusive dressed-up geikos on their way to some 300-year-old ochaya (teahouses). It also leads to Kyoto’s ancient landmarks such as Yasaka Shrine and Kennin-ji Temple.

Historical Facts

Gion district is situated before and derives its name from the eastern Gion Shrine, commonly known as Yasaka Shrine. As such, it’s also associated with the Gion Festival, one of the biggest festivals in Japan and held in the shrine in July.

Many ochaya teahouses that line the streets can date back to 1665, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate or in its Edo era.

The early 19th century once witnessed a cultural and economic boom of Gion. The number of geiko and maiko, the apprentice geiko, amounted to over 3,000.

For the surviving Edo-era buildings, Gion was designated in 1999 as an Important Preservation District of Historic Buildings.

Two girls wearing Kimono in Gion District

Must-sees at Gion District

Machiya, old townhouses flanking the Gion streets

Dominating the sides of Gion streets are wooden machiya that adjoin each other, which were residences and offices of wealthy merchants built since the Edo period. 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) wide at the front, machiya appear to be small, but they can actually stretch as deep as 20 meters (66 feet). Now, they’ve changed to cafes, art studios, or shops selling cadies, crafts, kimono, etc.

Visitors in a rickshaw are watching old houses

Visitors are watching old houses

Green tea stand in Gion

Hanami-koji Street, the place to encounter Geisha

Hanami-koji Street is the No.1 place of entire Japan to encounter geiko and maiko. It’s a branch of the east-west Shijo Avenue and leads to the southern Kennin-ji Temple. There are many converted machiya houses as classy restaurants, in which kaiseki ryori – a local cuisine – and other haute dishes are served. But what make the street especially famous are ochaya teahouses, the workplaces of those white-faced, red-lipped female artists, who put on kimono and come here to entertain special guests with conversation, tea ceremony and other art performances.

Where to best experience Geisha Culture?

Hanami-koji Street

Graceful Geisha in Gion

Not anyone gets a chance to see geiko perform at teahouses, even if you are rich. The privilege only goes to those invited. (And this explains the phenomenon of geiko spotting at Gion - they are just too mysterious!) But if you are really interested, go to Gion Corner near the southern end of Hanami-koji Street,

To watch Miyako Odori, a public Geisha dance performance held in April;

Spend 3,150 yen or so to appreciate introductory versions of Japanese art performances like ikebana (the art of flower arrangement), tea ceremony, kyogen (a form of comic theater), and authentic maiko dances. They are given twice daily, one at 18:00, another at 19:00.

Be a geiko yourself, by wearing kimono and wig rented from a kimono shop. It can be a memory of a lifetime to stroll Gion in geiko attire.

Gion and its machiya houses during daytime

Shirakawa area, by a river with quiet atmosphere

To the north of the Shijo Avenue flows the Shirakawa River. A distance away from the central commercial area of Gion, the willow-lined riverside enjoys a serene atmosphere that the lively Hanami-koji Street lacks. There are also many classic teahouses and cafes, some of which provide views of the river. It’s a good place to relax.

Pontocho area, where to experience Gion nightlife

Pontocho is a 500-meter-long (0.3-mile-long) lane along the western side of the Kamo-gawa River. Life here particularly happens at night, as it’s the gathering place of bars. During summer, shopkeepers would set up yuka decks or cooling platforms by the river for guests to eat and drink under the starry sky.

Pontocho Photos

Know Before Going

As mentioned above, many tourists come here to spot geisha walking the Gion streets. It’s no problem to shoot a few photos at a polite distance if you encounter some, but please show respect by not disturbing them with stalking.

Gion Geisha District, Kyoto

How to Get There?

By bus:
Take No.206 from Kyoto Station and get off Gion bus stop.

By train:
Take Keihan Line and get off at Gion-Shijo Station;

Or take Hankyu Line, get off at Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, and reach Gion by walking towards the Kamo-gawa River.

Nearby Must-See Attractions

The Higashiyama District in which Gion sits boasts many most historic sites of Kyoto. For travelers visiting Gion, you might want to enrich your tour by adding some surrounding attractions to your itinerary:

Kiyodemize-dera Temple (1.3 km/0.8 mi away to the southeast, 17 min’s walk)

Aka Pure Water Temple, Kiyodemize-dera Temple is a UNESCO-listed and perhaps Kyoto’s most-loved Buddhist temple established 1,200 years ago, with a fascinating waterfall whose “pure” water can be drank for prayer. The main hall has a raised platform, popular for offering a panorama view of the city and surrounding season colors.

Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka (0.9 km/0.6 mi away to the south, 14 min’s walk)

Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are sloping shopping streets lying between Gion and Kiyodemize-dera Temple, with an original ancient ambience achieved by hidden poles and wires.

Yasaka Shrine (on the eastern border of Gion)

Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto religious complex holding the most celebrated Gion Festival, which Gion derived its name from. Gion Festival is held throughout the month of July, to appease raging spirits and purge the city of negative spiritual energy.

Kennin-ji Temple (at the southern end of Gion’s Hanami-koji Street)

Kennin-ji Temple is Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple, a hidden gem for having a break amid the busy Gion area. Typical Zen gardens and awe-inspiring traditional paintings can be founded here.

Nishiki Market (1.1 km/0.7 mi away, 16 min’s walk, across the Kamo-gawa River in the west)

Packed with street food stands with many offering free samples, Nishiki is the best place to experience local food culture.