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Free Evening Tour of Gion and the Geisha Districts
Verified by:
FREETOUR.com
Provided by:
Valerio Bianconi
Duration
2 hours
Languages
Italian
Meeting point
Statua di Izumo no Okuni, uscita 4 della stazione Gion Shijo (linea Keihan)
From €0
Tip based
Free Booking. Free Cancellation.
No fixed price — pay what you feel the tour is worth.
Overview
Gion is the most charming and best-preserved district of historic Kyoto: the heart of the geisha world. On this free walking tour, I’ll guide you—in Italian—as we explore it.
We’ll start at the statue of Izumo no Okuni—the woman credited with the birth of kabuki—on the banks of the Kamo River. We’ll stroll along the Shirakawa Canal and cross the Tatsumi Bridge, one of the city’s most elegant sights, before reaching the Yasaka Shrine. From there, we’ll head up toward Higashiyama along Nene no Michi and the Ninenzaka slope, until we reach the iconic view of the pagoda at Hokan-ji Temple. We’ll walk through the historic Hanamikoji Avenue with its many tea houses where geisha work, pass by the illuminated Minami-za Theater, and end our walk in Pontochō, the lantern-lit alley along the river.
Along the way, I’ll tell you the story of Gion and the centuries-old tradition of the geisha, and if we’re lucky, we might even run into a few!
We’ll start at the statue of Izumo no Okuni—the woman credited with the birth of kabuki—on the banks of the Kamo River. We’ll stroll along the Shirakawa Canal and cross the Tatsumi Bridge, one of the city’s most elegant sights, before reaching the Yasaka Shrine. From there, we’ll head up toward Higashiyama along Nene no Michi and the Ninenzaka slope, until we reach the iconic view of the pagoda at Hokan-ji Temple. We’ll walk through the historic Hanamikoji Avenue with its many tea houses where geisha work, pass by the illuminated Minami-za Theater, and end our walk in Pontochō, the lantern-lit alley along the river.
Along the way, I’ll tell you the story of Gion and the centuries-old tradition of the geisha, and if we’re lucky, we might even run into a few!
Tour Conditions
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum Attendees
Requires at least 2 participants to run
Children
Suitable for families with children
Extra Fees
No additional cost
Pets
Not allowed
Read more
This activity includes:
- Pontocho Alley
- Ishibekoji MUAN
- Shirakawa Canal
- Yasui-kompiragu Shrine
- Hanamikoji Street Gion walk
- Ninenzaka
- Yasaka-jinja Shrine
Meeting point
Statua di Izumo no Okuni, uscita 4 della stazione Gion Shijo (linea Keihan)
On arrival
Near the statue of Izumo no Okuni, next to a sign that reads "Your Guide to Kyoto." A short walk from the Minami-za Theater, Exit 4 of Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Line).
Cancellation policy
You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.
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