Neighbourhood in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Gion
祇園
Kyoto's best-known geisha district, with wooden teahouses along Hanamikoji, the Shirakawa canal and Yasaka Shrine at the top of Shijo-dori.
- places to see
- 14
- walk past the highlights
- 1.7 km
- Kyoto
- Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Photo: HAGAT hOMSZE (opens in a new tab), CC0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Gion grew up as an entertainment district in front of Yasaka Shrine, serving visitors to the shrine, and became one of the most famous geisha districts in Japan. Kyoto's geisha call themselves geiko, and their trainees are maiko. The main street for teahouses is Hanamikoji, while the willow-lined Shirakawa canal is the prettiest corner for an evening walk.
It is also a good base for temples. Kennin-ji sits between the teahouses, and Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are an uphill walk to the east. Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan line and Kawaramachi on the Hankyu line are both at the western edge. More of the ward is in our Higashiyama guide.
Don't miss in Gion
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Yasaka Shrine
八坂神社The shrine that gave Gion its name, at the east end of Shijo-dori. Its lanterns are lit every evening and it hosts the Gion Matsuri in July.
Photo: Zairon (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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2. Maruyama Park
円山公園The park right behind Yasaka Shrine, famous for its huge weeping cherry tree in early April.
Photo: 663highland (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)3. Kennin-ji Temple
建仁寺Kyoto's oldest Zen temple, a few steps from Hanamikoji. Quiet gravel gardens and a twin-dragon ceiling painting.
4. Kodai-ji Temple
高台寺Temple founded by the widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with gardens lit up on spring and autumn evenings.
Photo: Photo by 663highland (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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5. Yasui Konpiragu Shrine
安井金比羅宮Small shrine with a stone covered in paper slips. Crawl through its hole to cut bad ties and make good ones.
Photo: 663highland (opens in a new tab), CC BY 2.5 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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Walk Gion in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 1.7 km in all.
Stop 1
Yasaka Shrine
Start here
Stop 2
Maruyama Park
5 min walk
Stop 3
Kodai-ji Temple
5 min walk
Stop 4
Yasui Konpiragu Shrine
9 min walk
Stop 5
Kennin-ji Temple
4 min walk
More around Gion
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji)
法観寺Five-storey pagoda rising above the lanes of Higashiyama, one of Kyoto's most photographed views.
Otani Sobyo
大谷祖廟A historic site in Kyoto, Japan.
Ninenzaka
二寧坂Shorter stone-paved lane below Sannenzaka, with teahouses and souvenir shops in old townhouses.
Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple
六波羅蜜寺Old temple west of Kiyomizu with a treasure house of Kamakura-period statues.
Hiyoke Tenmangu
火除天満宮A Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Nishiki Tenmangu
錦天満宮Small shrine at the east end of Nishiki Market, dedicated to the patron of learning.
Wakamiya Hachimangu
若宮八幡宮社A Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Sannenzaka
産寧坂Stone-paved slope lined with old wooden shops below Kiyomizu-dera, part of Kyoto's first preservation district.
Seigan-ji Temple
誓願寺Temple on the Shinkyogoku shopping street, linked to the performing arts.
Gion on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
Can I visit a teahouse in Gion?
Most teahouses only take guests through introductions. The easiest way to see geiko or maiko perform is a public dance season in spring or a dinner arranged by a hotel or licensed tour.
Is Gion worth seeing at night?
Yes. Hanamikoji and Shirakawa are lit and atmospheric after dark, and Yasaka Shrine's lanterns stay on in the evening.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Kyoto
- Kiyomizu and SannenzakaKyoto's most visited temple on its hillside stage, reached by stone-paved lanes of old wooden shops and the Yasaka Pagoda.
- PontochoA narrow lantern-lit alley of restaurants and teahouses beside the Kamo River, a few minutes from Nishiki Market and the Teramachi arcades.
- OkazakiKyoto's cultural quarter around Heian Shrine's giant torii, with art museums, the zoo, villa gardens and the great Zen temple of Nanzen-ji.
- Fushimi InariThe head shrine of Inari at the foot of a sacred mountain, with thousands of red torii gates forming tunnels up the trails.
- ArashiyamaKyoto's western edge, where the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji temple and the Togetsukyo Bridge sit below forested hills along the river.
