HANAMACHI-MICHI · KYOTO PHOTO WALK

Kyoto's Five Hanamachi

The five geisha districts, on one map — where they are, and when each one shines.

HIGASHIYAMA HILLS KAMO RIVER TAKASE RIVER SANJŌ-DŌRI SHIJŌ-DŌRI KAWARAMACHI-DŌRI Hanamikoji Kitano Tenmangū Shrine Yasaka Shrine Minami-za Theatre N 4 Kamishichiken 上七軒 2 Pontocho 先斗町 1 Gion Kobu 5 Gion Higashi 祇園東 3 Miyagawa-cho 宮川町
1

Gion Kobu

The most famous of the five. Hanamikoji street, stone lanes, and teahouses behind lattice doors — start here at dusk, when the lanterns come on.

BEST AT DUSK · DANCE: MIYAKO ODORI, APRIL
2

Pontocho

One narrow lane along the Kamo River, barely wide enough for two. In summer, dining platforms hang over the water; all year, the evening light is kind.

BEST IN THE EVENING · DANCE: KAMOGAWA ODORI, MAY
3

Miyagawa-cho

Just south of Gion Kobu, and noticeably calmer. Machiya townhouses still line the lane end to end — the district a local would walk you through slowly.

BEST AT DUSK · DANCE: KYO ODORI, EARLY APRIL
4

Kamishichiken

Kyoto's oldest hanamachi, up by Kitano Tenmangu Shrine — and the one most visitors never find. Seven teahouses, built long ago from the shrine's leftover timber.

BEST IN DAYTIME QUIET · DANCE: KITANO ODORI, LATE MARCH – EARLY APRIL
5

Gion Higashi

The smallest of the five, a few calm lanes east of Gion Kobu. Easy to combine with its famous neighbour, and gentle in the early evening.

BEST IN EARLY EVENING · DANCE: GION ODORI, EARLY NOVEMBER
Walk kindly. Maiko and geiko are people on their way to work, not photo spots. On Gion's private lanes, photography is not allowed — keep to the public streets, never block a doorway, and ask with your eyes before your camera. A local will know which lanes are which.