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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.
Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, with traditional wooden houses, restaurants and teahouses. Learn about the history, culture and attractions of Gion, and how to experience a maiko or geiko show or a tea ceremony.
Gion is a historic and cultural district in Kyoto, Japan, known for its traditional architecture, tea houses, and geisha culture. Learn about the history, culture, attractions, and festivals of Gion, and how to experience the geisha culture firsthand.
Gion (祇園) is a district of Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan, originating as an entertainment district in the Sengoku period, in front of Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine). The district was built to accommodate the needs of travellers and visitors to the shrine.
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Gion is the city's most famous entertainment district and the center of its traditional arts. Learn about its history, culture and attractions on a walking tour of its most famous landmarks, shops and historic sites. See the Minamiza Kabuki Theater, the Shrine of Meyami Jizo, the Chugen-ji Temple and more.
Walk far enough and you’ll enter the outskirts of Kyoto’s Gion District, an entire neighborhood with wonderfully preserved buildings and a traditional feel that will warp you back in time. For anyone interested in photography, this is an absolutely fantastic place for shooting, I know I had fun while taking these photos.
Mar 23, 2023 · Gion Kyoto geisha district is Japan’s most popular geisha neighborhood. In Gion you can find traditional old buildings with lantern-lit yards and upscale town-house-style restaurants that look like a scene from a fairy tale.
