Top Notch walking tour of Historic Kyoto Gion District

Yasaka Shrine is the head shrine of approximately 2,300 shrines across Japan dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Known for its blessings of warding off evil, matchmaking, and beauty, Yasaka Shrine, affectionately called “Gion-san,” is popular for its various charms and oil blotting papers. It is also famous for hosting the “Gion Festival” and is widely beloved as a central attraction in Kyoto tourism. The adjacent Maruyama Park, designated as a national scenic spot, becomes a bustling hanami spot in spring, centered around the “Gion weeping cherry tree.” In autumn, it is a popular destination for viewing autumn leaves, along with nearby Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodaiji Temple.

Known as “Tatsumi Daimyojin” because of its location in the southeast (Tatsumi) direction from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, this shrine originally served to protect the southeastern direction. Situated along the Shirakawa River in Gion, it is deeply revered by the people of Gion, especially by geiko and maiko who often pray here for the improvement of their performing arts skills. It is also referred to as “Gion’s Inari Shrine,” and its deity is a tanuki (raccoon dog). The shrine’s origin story tells of a tanuki that once lived in the area and caused trouble with its pranks. After a shrine was dedicated to the tanuki, the mischief ceased.

Kennin-ji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, serves as the head temple of the Rinzai sect’s Kennin-ji school. It was established in 1202 by Eisai, who studied Zen in the Song dynasty and modeled the temple after China’s Baizhang Mountain. The temple’s layout features the Chokushi Gate, Sanmon Gate, Lecture Hall, and Abbot’s Quarters aligned in a straight line, and it still retains a bathhouse, which is part of Zen training. The Abbot’s Quarters, an elegant cypress-shingled building, was relocated from Ankoku-ji Temple in Aki Province in 1599. The main image of worship is Shakyamuni Buddha, housed in the Lecture Hall. The temple is renowned for its beautiful dry landscape garden, Daio-en, and also possesses sliding door paintings by Kaiho Yusho. A highlight is the “Twin Dragons” painting on the ceiling of the Lecture Hall.

Hanamikoji Street is lined with traditional teahouses featuring distinctive bengara-koshi (red lattice) and inuyarai (bamboo fences), evoking the nostalgic charm of Gion and providing a sense of tranquility to visitors. The most iconic part of Hanamikoji is the stretch from the prestigious teahouses to Kennin-ji Temple, where the stone-paved streets enhance the surrounding buildings, creating a picturesque and elegant atmosphere. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of maiko or geiko on their way to the teahouses, adding to the enchanting experience.

Yasaka Shrine is the head shrine of approximately 2,300 shrines across Japan dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Known for its blessings of warding off evil, matchmaking, and beauty, Yasaka Shrine, affectionately called “Gion-san,” is popular for its various charms and oil blotting papers. It is also famous for hosting the “Gion Festival” and is widely beloved as a central attraction in Kyoto tourism. The adjacent Maruyama Park, designated as a national scenic spot, becomes a bustling hanami spot in spring, centered around the “Gion weeping cherry tree.” In autumn, it is a popular destination for viewing autumn leaves, along with nearby Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodaiji Temple.