Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.

In the heart of Gion, Hanamikoji Street runs for just over a kilometer between Sanjo Avenue and Kennin-ji Temple. The machiya lining proudly along this small cobbled road are wonderfully preserved treasures. Behind the facades, protected from outside gazes by kimusuko (wooden trellises) and from the weather by inuyarai (curved bamboo barriers), hide ochaya (tea houses) and high-end restaurants

Pontocho is a historic narrow alley located in the heart of Kyoto. It is one of Kyoto's most well-preserved traditional entertainment districts. Pontocho runs parallel to the Kamo River, stretching between the Sanjo and Shijo Streets in the city's central Nakagyo Ward.

It is located outside of Heian-kyo. It runs as if it were following the east outer edge of the construction of Odoi Fortress, built by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI. It was opened during the early Edo period when the downtown expanded to the Kamo-gawa River (Yodo-gawa River System). It extends from Aoibashi-Nishizume in the north to Jujo-dori Street in the south. North from Aoibashi-Nishizume, the street has a different name: Shimogamo-hon-dori Street. The area along the street between Sanjo-dori Street and Shijo-dori Street is Kyoto's central shopping and entertainment district, having pedestrian paths covered by an arcade

Teramachi actually means “Temple Town” and the street got this name due to the high concentration of temples that can be found along its Eastern side. This covered shopping arcade is very popular in Kyoto. Teramachi Street is not only a tourist attraction but also a place where locals come to shop for clothes, home decor, and accessories.

Nishiki Market is a marketplace in downtown Kyoto, located on the east end of Nishikikōji Street, one block north and parallel to Shijō Street and west of Teramachi Street. Rich with history and tradition, the market is renowned as the place to obtain many of Kyoto's famous foods and goods