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- Lucy Dayman
- Shirakawa. Gion Shirakawa Canal. Sometimes the best way to explore a city is to just dive in head-first; no plan, no itinerary, just feet on the pavement, eyes open wide and propelled by an unquenchable curiosity.
- Hanami Lane. © Sodai Gomi / Creative Commons, Machiya in Gion. The entertainment district of Kyoto known as Gion has long been associated with geisha (or geiko, as they are known in Kyoto) and traditional Japanese arts.
- Shijo Dori. © Calamity Sal / Creative Commons, Shijo Dori.
- Teahouses. © Tianshu Liu. If there’s one style of establishment responsible for shaping Kyoto, it would without a doubt have to be the tea house. Known in Japanese as ochaya (お茶屋), tea houses have forever been places of relaxation, contemplation and cultural appreciation.
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Gion attracts tourists with its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. Due to the fact that property taxes were formerly based upon street frontage, the houses were built with narrow facades only five to six meters wide, but extend up to twenty meters in from the street.
Interspersed among the restaurants are a number of ochaya (teahouses), the most exclusive and expensive of Kyoto's dining establishments, where guests are entertained by maiko and geiko.
Another scenic part of Gion is the Shirakawa Area which runs along the Shirakawa Canal parallel to Shijo Avenue. The canal is lined by willow trees, high class restaurants and ochaya, many of which have rooms overlooking the canal. As it is a little off the beaten path, the Shirakawa Area is typically somewhat quieter than Hanami-koji Street.
The ultimate experience is being entertained by a maiko or geiko while dining at an ochaya. As expert hostesses, maiko and geiko ensure everyone's enjoyment by engaging in light conversation, serving drinks, leading drinking games and performing traditional music and dance.
The services of geiko are expensive and exclusive, traditionally requiring an introduction from an existing customer. In recent years, however, some travel agencies and hotels have started to offer lunch or dinner packages with a maiko to any tourist with a sufficient budget. There are even a few companies which target foreign tourists without Japa...
Shijo Avenue, which bisects the Gion district, is a popular shopping area with stores selling local products including sweets, pickles and crafts. Gion is also known for the Gion Matsuri, the most famous festival in Japan. Ironically, the most spectacular events of the festival are held outside of Gion on the opposite side of the Kamo River.
A visit to Gion is best combined with a stroll through the nearby Higashiyama District between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizudera. This area has more preserved streets and traditional shops selling all kinds of local foods, crafts and souvenirs.
Coordinates: 35.003496°N 135.775051°E. Hanamikoji street. Higashi geisha Tsunemomo surrounded by paper lanterns. Gion (祇園) [a] is a district of Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan, originating as an entertainment district in the Sengoku period, in front of Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine).
Gion is a historic district in Kyoto that is known for its traditional architecture, teahouses, and geisha culture. There are plenty of things to do in Gion, whether you are interested in exploring its history or experiencing its vibrant nightlife.
Known as the city's entertainment district, particularly for the refined performers known as geisha (or more properly geiko) who have enthralled patrons for centuries, Gion is full of handsome, understated townhouses and teahouses, restaurants serving traditional Kyoto cuisine, and venerable temples and shrines.
- Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
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Apr 13, 2019 · Gion is Japan as we imagine it: It’s a place where you can dine with geisha, drink tea in an old wooden machiya, and savor kaiseki made by Michelin-star chefs. It’s also a place that yields the most picturesque stock photographs of Kyoto, where #travel Instagram truly shines.
Sep 25, 2023 · First on the list is Gion, a renowned geisha district nestled in Kyoto City, where visitors can immerse themselves in the allure of traditional Japanese culture through captivating Geisha dances and Kabuki performances.
