Kamo River Noryo-yuka
One of Kyoto’s special summer traditions is Kamo River Noryo-yuka, where restaurants set up open-air terraces along the Kamo River so guests can enjoy a[…]
Discovering Gion’s Hidden Alleyways
Step beyond Gion’s main streets and discover narrow alleyways filled with history, mystery, and the quiet beauty of old Kyoto. Beyond Gion’s famous streets, there[…]
Gion Festival Float-Pulling Ceremony in Kyoto
Today, Kyoto was filled with excitement as the Yamahoko Hikizome, the traditional float-pulling ceremony of the Gion Festival’s Saki Matsuri, took place.The streets were crowded[…]
Just a Short Walk from Gion: Shoren-in Temple Special Summer Night Illumination
Special Evening Admission – “Blue Lotus Summer Lights” *Event PeriodJuly 17 (Fri) – August 23 (Sun), 2026Closed: August 13 (Thu) – August 16 (Sun) *Opening[…]
Gion Night Tour Diary 6-17-2026
Guests from Sweden Here are photos from today’s family from Sweden who joined our Gion Night Tour. It was a comfortably cool, overcast evening, perfect[…]
Beyond Geisha: Why a Gion Walking Tour Is One of the Best Ways to Experience Kyoto
Why Choose a Gion Walking Tour? A Local Kyoto Resident’s Perspective When you visit Kyoto’s famous Gion district, what are you hoping to experience? Perhaps you[…]
The Little Known World of Geisha
The story of a woman who became a geisha at the age of 29. In Kyoto’s geisha districts, most women enter this world in their[…]
Walking Gion at Night
What the Evening in Kyoto’s Geisha District Reveals When the sun goes down, Gion reveals a different face. Lantern light sways across the cobblestones, filling[…]
Things to Do in Gion
Kyoto’s Most Iconic District Gion is Kyoto’s most iconic district, where traditional Japanese culture is still very much alive. Cobblestone lanes, wooden machiya townhouses, and[…]
The Reality Behind Kyoto’s Maiko: More Than Just a Beautiful Kimono
My Thoughts on Maiko and What I Want Visitors to Kyoto to Know Before I begin, it may be helpful to know that a maiko[…]