
Gion Walking Tour (Self Guided), Kyoto
Gion is Japan's most famous and now only geisha district. It is a place where old wooden merchant homes, exquisite teahouses and exclusive Japanese restaurants line beautiful streets. Widely considered to be the most attractive is Ishibei-koji Lane, a pedestrian-only walkway with a stone floor and a clutch of wooden inns, restaurants and bars. Equally eye-catching is Shirakawa Dori, another pretty thoroughfare lined with traditional buildings.
Take a gentle step back in time at Pontocho Alley, where cars and modern buildings are forbidden. Admire the traditional shops and stay for lunch or dinner in one of the many restaurants. Likewise, Hanamikoji Dori appears to have come from a different time with its old homes, tea houses and restaurants.
Stop by some of Gion's most spiritually important sites. Yasaka-jinja Shrine is where people come to get married and to have their children blessed. Visit Kennin-ji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and marvel at the beauty and calm of its Zen garden. A key reason why visitors flock to the neighborhood is to see a geisha (they call themselves geiko) girl or maiko (geiko apprentices). They are professional entertainers and you may see them on their way to restaurants where they perform and interact with guests. Alternatively, book a table at one of the restaurants where they stage their shows.
Take a gentle step back in time at Pontocho Alley, where cars and modern buildings are forbidden. Admire the traditional shops and stay for lunch or dinner in one of the many restaurants. Likewise, Hanamikoji Dori appears to have come from a different time with its old homes, tea houses and restaurants.
Stop by some of Gion's most spiritually important sites. Yasaka-jinja Shrine is where people come to get married and to have their children blessed. Visit Kennin-ji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and marvel at the beauty and calm of its Zen garden. A key reason why visitors flock to the neighborhood is to see a geisha (they call themselves geiko) girl or maiko (geiko apprentices). They are professional entertainers and you may see them on their way to restaurants where they perform and interact with guests. Alternatively, book a table at one of the restaurants where they stage their shows.
How it works: A discovery walk features a route using which you can explore a popular city neighborhood on your own. This walk, along with other self-guided walks in over 1,500 cities, can be found on the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app's built-in GPS navigation functions allow following this walk route with ease. The app works both online and offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Gion Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Gion Walking Tour
Guide Location: Japan » Kyoto
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Author: Dee
Guide Location: Japan » Kyoto
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Author: Dee

1) 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Yasaka Shrine

2) 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Yasaka Shrine

3) 463−32 Shimokawarachō, Ishibei-koji Lane

4) 463−28 Shimokawarachō, Ishibei-koji Lane

5) Hanamikoji Dori, Gionmachi Minamigawa

6) Hanamikoji Dori, Gionmachi Minamigawa

7) Hanamikoji Dori, Gionmachi Minamigawa

8) Shirakawa-minami Dori

9) Shirakawa-minami Dori

10) Shirakawa-minami Dori

11) 198 Nakanomachi Yamatooji Nshi-iru, Minamiza Theatre

12) Shijō Dori

13) Shijō Dori

14) Pontocho Alley, 217−1 Nabeyachō
Walking Tours in Kyoto, Japan
Create Your Own Walk in Kyoto
Creating your own self-guided walk in Kyoto is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Higashiyama Walking Tour
Kyoto is a city catering for tourists, especially the ones with love of history, religion and, of course, Japanese culture. Many of Kyoto's attractions are located in the eastern part of the city, which itself is split into wards. One of them is the Higashiyama Ward, home to several famous temples of Kyoto, including centuries-old Zen and Shinto sites such as lantern-lit Yasaka shrine and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Imperial Kyoto Walking Tour
The former capital of Japan, Kyoto is the city of tradition, history and culture. Attesting to this is the central part of the city, replete with historic attractions – centuries-old imperial palaces, castles and shrines that have seen a lot in the turbulent past of Kyoto. The explore the most prominent of them and to feel the breath of antiquity, follow this self-guided walk.
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Walk on Philosopher's Path
Extending about 2 km along a canal carrying water from Lake Biwa to the foothills, the Philosopher's Path (so called because famed Japanese philosopher, Nishida Kitaro, used to walk it as a daily meditation before WWII) is perfect for a leisurely stroll with views that change through the seasons; cherries followed by new green leaves and, then again, the pastel hues of autumn.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
It's... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Arashiyama and Bamboo Grove Walking Tour
The Arashiyama district is slightly out of way for tourists – but that just means one can enjoy it more comfortably. While arguably the most popular attraction here is the 'bamboo path' with its magnificent, towering bamboos, you should also enjoy other scenic attractions such as the Ōi River and Mount Arashi, or the Monkey Park, all within walking distance and selected/described in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Gion District Walking Tour
Famed for being one of the most mesmerizing parts of Kyoto, Gion is the area long associated with traditional Japanese entertainment, stunning temples, geisha and local eateries ideal to while away a day in the ancient capital of Japan. The district forms part of the Higashiyama (“Eastern Mountain”) neighborhood lying north and south of Shijo Street, stretching from Yasaka Shrine in the east... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Kyoto Shopping and Food Tour
The cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto is just as famous as a shopper’s paradise and is, without saying, the best place in the country to buy traditional and modern Japanese goods. Souvenirs, food, bargains and various “one-of-a-kind items” are all up for grabs here. If you would like to walk around Kyoto on your own two feet and enjoy shopping and authentic Japanese cooking, follow this... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
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