Gion

Kyoto
Gion featuring street scenes and a city
Experience a traditional tea ceremony or a night of cultural entertainment within the historic wooden teahouses of this well-preserved Kyoto district.

Gion is a historic district in Kyoto, known for its geisha culture, wooden teahouses, shops and restaurants. Situated between the beautiful Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River, Gion is characterized by its historic teahouses, many of which have been transformed into boutique shops and fine-dining restaurants. Explore this district by day to shop for local items like candy, pickles and handmade souvenirs, or by night for a chance to catch a glimpse of the elusive geisha experience.

Begin your exploration of Gion in Hanamikoji Street, a strip with side alleys filled with preserved teahouses and traditional wooden façades. Shirakawa is another interesting area alongside the canal of the same name. This quiet canal-side district is near Shijo Avenue and has a selection of upscale restaurants and bars that look out onto the canal’s willow trees.

A good way to experience some of Gion’s cultural attractions is to see a show at Gion Corner. These foreigner-friendly shows demonstrate a selection of traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremonies, puppet theater, flower arranging, dance performances and comedy plays.

Visitors with Japanese connections or a ticket with a tour company may be able to spend an evening in a traditional teahouse with entertainment lead by a geisha. Geishas, or Japanese hostesses, traditionally provide the evening’s drinks and performances of music and dance.

Gion is also the home of the Yasaka Shrine and its Gion Matsuri Festival, a popular festival that takes place every July at the famous Shinto shrine and other sites on the opposite banks of the Kamo River.

Reach Gion by bus from Kyoto Station within 20 minutes. You can also catch a train to Gion Shijo Station or Kawaramachi Station. Spend a day or two exploring Gion and its surrounding districts of Kiyomizudera and Higashiyama. A leisurely 30-minute walking route connects these areas via historic alleys and the Yasaka Shrine.


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Gion Hotel Deals

Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs
Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs
3 out of 5
491 Zaimokucho, Shimogyo, Kyoto, Kyoto
The price is ¥16,869 per night from May 29 to May 30
¥16,869
per night
May 29 - May 30
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a sauna. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,470 reviews)
"A short walk from Kyoto Station. Excellent service from the staff. New and clean facilities, a nice japanese ambience in decour. Massage chairs were a hit and the onsen was premium quality."

Reviewed on May 8, 2024

Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto
4 out of 5
4-450-1 Gojobashi-Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥20,364 per night from Jun 3 to Jun 4
¥20,364
per night
Jun 3 - Jun 4
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (468 reviews)
"Excellent eco boutique hotel- terrific area. Roof top bar and all restaurants fabulous, fresh food. Reasonable rates for rooms. I highly recommend this property. I felt safe, and the rooms were spacious."

Reviewed on May 2, 2024

Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto
Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
4 out of 5
572 Komatsucho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
The price is ¥33,704 per night from Jun 4 to Jun 5
¥33,704
per night
Jun 4 - Jun 5
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, free train station pick-up, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (755 reviews)
Excellent hotel in a great location.
"We really enjoyed our stay at The Celestine. The service was great, the room clean and comfortable and the breakfast was amazing. Would definitely recommend this hotel and would stay again when next in Kyoto."

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2024

Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Kyoto Granbell Hotel
Kyoto Granbell Hotel
4 out of 5
27 Yamatocho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥18,178 per night from Jun 3 to Jun 4
¥18,178
per night
Jun 3 - Jun 4
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and in-room massages. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (829 reviews)
"We loved everything in this place and we were sad to leave and we would go back any time! The place is beautiful, central, warm, welcoming, exceptionally clean. The staff was extremely professional, helpful, caring, gentle. We loved the breakfast, everything was fresh, delicious, and everyday there ..."

Reviewed on May 5, 2024

Kyoto Granbell Hotel
Gion Ryokan Karaku
Gion Ryokan Karaku
3.5 out of 5
499 Minamigawa Gionmachi,Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
The price is ¥25,423 per night from May 31 to Jun 1
¥25,423
per night
May 31 - Jun 1
Stay at this ryokan in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (130 reviews)
"Excellent hosts. Rooms very clean and well maintained. You need to be comfortable sleeping on tatami mat floor on a futon but it was part of the experience in visiting Japan for us. We did not try the food as we wanted to explore the cuisine in the town. Great location that was walkable to many sites ..."

Reviewed on May 9, 2024

Gion Ryokan Karaku
Kyoto Ryokan The Kinoe
Kyoto Ryokan The Kinoe
4 out of 5
44-8 Bishamon-cho, Higashioji-dori, Matsubara-agaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
The price is ¥23,201 per night from May 29 to May 30
¥23,201
per night
May 29 - May 30
Stay at this ryokan in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions Kawaramachi ...
9/10 Wonderful! (197 reviews)
"Beautiful ryokan in a great location! The staff are so friendly and accommodating and the entire place is very very clean, only complaint is the beds are very uncomfortable for a forigners standards the futon cushion is almost non existent and you will feel like sleeping on hard floor with an uncomfortable ..."

Reviewed on May 10, 2024

Kyoto Ryokan The Kinoe
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Gion

Shoren-in Temple which includes a temple or place of worship and signage

Higashiyama Ward

4.5/5(29 area reviews)

Consider a visit to Kiyomizu Temple and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Higashiyama Ward. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at Higashiyama Station or Sanjo Keihan Station.

Higashiyama Ward
Sannenzaka Ninenzaka which includes street scenes and a small town or village as well as a large group of people

Sannenzaka Ninenzaka

5/5(17 area reviews)

You'll enjoy the gardens and monuments in Sannenzaka Ninenzaka. You might want to make time for a stop at Kiyomizu Temple or Hokanji Temple.

Sannenzaka Ninenzaka
Eikando Temple showing religious aspects, a temple or place of worship and a garden

Okazaki

4.5/5(16 area reviews)

Gardens and mountain views are highlights of Okazaki. Make a stop by Kyoto Municipal Zoo or Murin-an while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Keage Station to get around town.

Okazaki
Central Kyoto

Karasuma

Visitors to Karasuma love its popular shops, and you can check out Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi Street. If you want to see more in the area, you can get around town on the metro at Karasuma Oike Station.

Karasuma
Kyōto showing a river or creek and mountains

Nakagyo Ward

4.5/5(52 area reviews)

Travelers love Nakagyo Ward for its popular shops, and you can see more of Kyoto by jumping on the metro at Nijojo-mae Station or Karasuma Oike Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi Street.

Nakagyo Ward
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Higashikujo Nishisannocho

5/5(35 area reviews)

While there might not be top attractions in Higashikujo Nishisannocho, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Kawaramachi Street and Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Higashikujo Nishisannocho


Gion