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Gion is the most famous district of Kyoto, also known as the Geisha district. Tourists flock to this area, as Kyoto is the second most visited city in Japan after Tokyo. Moreover, Gion still has a traditionally Japanese atmosphere for most visitors, as many original buildings have been well-reserved or renovated.
Tips For Gion – One Day In Kyoto’s Geisha District
We explored the Gion district in Kyoto extensively and will show you everything you can experience and see there. Temples, shrines, cafés – the range of activities is diverse, and with our tips for Gion, you can explore this popular district wonderfully.
How to Get To Kyoto
There are various ways to travel to Kyoto. The first is by plane. However, the city does not have its own airport, meaning you must travel via Osaka International Airport (domestic flights only) or Kansai International Airport (international flights), which is also in Osaka. From there, you continue by taxi or train to Kyoto. You can find flights and prices best on Skyscanner.
The most commonly used option for traveling to Kyoto is the train. The Shinkansen bullet train and regional trains from countless cities in Japan (e.g., Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, etc.) run to Kyoto. For longer distances, the Shinkansen is worth it; otherwise, you should also consider regional trains. Availability and schedules can be found on 12go.asia.
Info: If you’re staying in Japan for a little longer, a Japan Rail Pass is worthwhile. It includes some Shinkansen bullet trains and many other trains. Individual tickets are relatively expensive, but if you’re traveling for two weeks or more, the Japan Rail Pass definitely pays off, and you can save a lot of money. Highly recommended!
Accommodation In Kyoto – Our Hotel Tip
We have two recommendations for Kyoto. The first is the Seibido Inn. There, you can stay in traditional Japanese rooms. They are very minimally furnished with futon beds, but they still have a TV, refrigerator, and free Wi-Fi. You can read about our experience in the Seibido Inn review.
If you prefer a normal hotel, we recommend the Kyoto Inn Gion The Second. The rooms come with a standard bed, table, TV, Wi-Fi, etc. There is also a lovely breakfast, and the location is perfect for exploring Gion on your own.
You can find even more inspiration for other hotels in Kyoto here.
1. Shirakawa
Shirakawa is a picturesque part of Gion along the Shirakawa Canal and thus the starting point of our walking tour through this district of Kyoto. During the cherry blossom season in Japan, Shirakawa is especially beautiful and even more worth a visit than it already is.
The main street of Shirakawa runs parallel to Shijo Avenue, which you take to get to Yasaka Shrine (see point 3). It is also one of the areas where you might occasionally see a Geisha, as there are many Ochayas (houses where Geishas entertain guests). Otherwise, there are upscale restaurants here, and it’s a pretty peaceful area because most visitors to Kyoto don’t pass through this spot directly. Hence, only a few come here.
2. Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine
The Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine is a truly beautiful small shrine used by local residents. It’s located by the Gion Shin Bridge, through which the Shirakawa Canal flows. It’s often overlooked by tourists, but it’s a nice quick photo stop in the Shirakawa area before you continue exploring Gion.
3. Yasaka Shrine
If you’re standing directly in front of the small shrine, walk left over the little bridge and straight ahead until you reach the main road. Turn left there, and you’ll come straight to Yasaka Shrine (sometimes also referred to as Gion Shrine).
This Shintō shrine was built in 656 and is one of the largest shrines in Japan. Every New Year, the annual Gion Matsuri Festival is celebrated here. It originated in 869, when many shrines from Yasaka Shrine were carried through the district to prevent an epidemic from spreading.
You’ll find numerous small and larger shrines on the grounds, which honor various deities or even fortune-tellers who predict your future. Many residents of Gion come here to practice their religion. It’s open around the clock, and admission is free. By the way, this is also the starting point of a historic walking tour through Gion.
4. Hanami-koji
Next, we head to Hanami-koji Dori (Street), which branches off Shijo Avenue. It’s essentially the main street of Gion and runs 1.4 kilometers through this district of Kyoto. While you can marvel at the old traditional houses during the day, the street really comes to life in the evening. You can also experience this on a night walk through Gion. Highly recommended!
It’s especially popular among visitors hoping to see a Geisha because Hanami-koji (at least the southern part) is a red-light district. The northern part, on the other hand, has many tea houses, bars, and pubs. Along Hanami-koji, you’ll also find the Gion Corner. On weekends, traditional Japanese performances with music or tea ceremonies take place there.
5. Ryozen Kannon
Before heading along the famous Ninenzaka, there’s another stop on our list: Ryozen Kannon. This is a 24-meter-tall Buddhist statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, built atop the temple hall roof.
Built in 1955, the Kannon was donated by Ishikawa Hirosuke and intended to serve as a war memorial and place of worship for world peace. There is also a hall on the grounds honoring fallen soldiers and depictions of Bodhisattva Ekādaśamukha as well as the gods of wind and thunder.
Open during the day, you can visit Ryozen Kannon for an admission fee of 200 Yen, and you’ll also be given incense sticks to light in the temple.
6. Starbucks Gion
Now we continue along Ninenzaka (also spelled Nineizaka). We’re actually not fans of large coffee chains like Starbucks, but in Gion we still paid a visit to the café because it’s something exceptional here. Plus, of course, it’s a good time to take a coffee break.
Starbucks in Kyoto’s Gion district has taken up residence in an old traditional building. The great thing is that they preserved the building. So, you can order a coffee, then look around in a traditional Japanese house, sit back, enjoy your coffee in peace, and take some nice photos from the windows.
The Starbucks sign is not so obvious, and thus it’s not overly crowded. You should easily find a seat. From the top floor, you also have a great view over the roofs of Gion.
7. Ninenzaka And Sannenzaka
Ninenzaka, together with Sannenzaka (Sanneizaka), is also one of Gion’s tourist attractions. This is mainly because the houses are kept in traditional style and there are many shops there.
At the end, Ninenzaka leads via a staircase directly to Sannenzaka, which, in turn, leads right to the Hōkan-ji Temple and left to the Kiyomizu-Dera. You’ll also find many shops, restaurants, or cafés here. These are probably the two most popular streets in Kyoto’s Gion, as they convey the feeling of old Japan quite well, in contrast to the rest of modern Kyoto.
8. Hōkan-ji Temple
If you head from Ninenzaka toward Sannenzaka, you’ll come to a small fork in the road after the stairs. We first turn right, and even on the way, you’ll spot a popular photo motif with the Yasaka Pagoda, which towers above the houses.
Built in 589, the pagoda with its sloping roofs stands 46 meters high and can also be entered. On the various floors, you can admire statues and images from Japan’s past. Open daily from 10.00 AM to 04.00 PM at an admission fee of 400 Yen.
9. Maccha House
On the way from the temple to Kiyomizu-Dera, you’ll also find Maccha House on Sannenzaka. Here, everything revolves around the popular green tea in Japan. A truly worthwhile stop and a little insider tip!
Everything here is made from green tea. In particular, you can try numerous desserts. We ordered the tiramisu, and it tasted fantastic. Open daily from 10.00 AM to 09.00 PM.
10. Kiyomizu-Dera
At the end of Sannenzaka lies Kiyomizu-Dera. This is a complex of several Buddhist temples that you can visit on its grounds. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1994 and was originally founded in 798. However, all the buildings you can visit today were only constructed around 1633.
In addition to several Shintō shrines you can visit at Kiyomizu-Dera, the fantastic view of the Gion district and Kyoto with the mountains in the distance is also impressive. The main hall, built on wooden pillars and famous for its spacious terrace, is also very popular. Unfortunately, it was not easily accessible during our visit due to renovation work.
The name Kiyomizu-Dera can be roughly translated as “pure water.” The name stems from the fact that a waterfall within the complex flows down the hills. It’s open around the clock daily, but only the main hall is open from 06.00 AM to 06.00 PM. In August and September, even until 06.30 PM. Admission to the main hall is 400 Yen, and you can visit the rest of Kiyomizu-Dera for free.
Kyoto: Tours And Tickets
Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Kyoto in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Gion and Kyoto.
Have you already explored the Gion district in Kyoto? Did you enjoy it as much as we did? Do you have any additional tips for one day in Gion?
