Gion Shirakawa

Gion Shirakawa, stretching along Shimbashi Street and the Shirakawa River, is the heart of Gion and one of Kyoto’s most picturesque quarters. This area has a long history, beginning its development as a temple town for Yasaka Shrine in the mid-Heian period (roughly 794–1185). By the mid-Edo period, it flourished greatly as a hanamachi (flower district) after receiving official permission from the Edo shogunate to operate teahouses, laying the foundation for today’s townscape. During the Edo period, the district thrived as a center of popular entertainment.
The townscape that survives today, largely rebuilt after the great fire of 1865, consists of two-story wooden machiya and tea shops with lattice-fronted façades and stone-paved lanes. This area, especially along Shimbashi Street, has been designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. Walking here vivdly evokes the refined atmosphere of old Kyoto in its Edo days.
The district is closely tied to Kyoto’s geisha culture, and you might glimpse a geiko or maiko here on their way to appointments. Traditional teahouses and restaurants here continue to host ozashiki banquets. For visitors, hands-on cultural experiences are also available, such as watching performances or even dressing as a maiko for a day.
In spring, about 40 cherry trees bloom along the riverbanks, and the reflection of the blossoms in the water and illuminated at night against the backdrop of historic buildings creates one of Kyoto’s most enchanting seasonal scenes.