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Kyoto Gion

Teahouse, Geisha and Festival

Gion 祇園 is centered around Shijo-dori Street, and is famous for its well-dressed Geisha, who can often be seen in the streets. The streets of Gion, Shirakawa and Hanamikoji are very traditional, and the Gion Festival 祇園祭 held every year by Gion Yasaka Shrine is one of the three major festivals in Japan.

Gion 祇園 is located on the east coast of Kyoto Kamogawa River, is centered around Shijo-Dori Street and is bounded by Sanjo in the north and Gojo in the south. Many parts of the area have been preserved from the Edo period and are now the center of culture and entertainment in Kyoto.

Walking through the streets of Gion, you can often see People in Kimono or fully dressed Geisha, attracting a large number of foreign tourists. In fact, many of those wearing kimonos are also tourists from all over the world, but they choose to dress that way in order to blend in better with their surroundings.

Tourists in kimonos can be seen everywhere in Gion

Manywhere Trivia:
The streets of Gion are filled with beautiful women wearing kimonos from all over the world, but the difference between tourists and locals is immediately apparent: the locals wear kimonos in a plain and light style, while the tourists are mostly dressed in bright and colorful kimonos.

To the north of Shijo-dori is a small river called Shirakawa, which runs through the Gion district and eventually flows into the Kamogawa River. Every spring during the cherry blossom season, The Cherry Blossoms along the Shirakawa River make the stone pavement crowded with tourists.

Hanamikoji Lane is another Edo-style small street in the Gion area, the stone-paved road is lined with teahouses and restaurants, which, despite their unattractive facades, have a different look inside.

The lanterns hanging in front of the Hanamikoji Lane shops

Manywhere Tips:
Hanamikoji Lane is the most frequent place for Gion Geisha, but please don’t disturb them or take pictures, it’s not polite.

Located at the end of Shijo Road, Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社 is the main shrine of more than 3,000 Yasaka Shrines in Japan. The Gion Festival 祇園祭, one of the three major festivals in Japan, is held by Kyoto Yasaka Shrine every July. For a whole month, people gather in Kyoto to celebrate this great festival.