Gion is the famous entertainment and geisha quarter on the eastern bank of the Kamo-gawa. While Gion¡¯s true origins were in teahouses catering to weary visitors to the nearby shrine Yasaka-jinja, by the mid-18th century the area was Kyoto¡¯s largest pleasure district. The best way to experience Gion today is with an evening stroll around the atmospheric streets lined with 17th-century traditional restaurants and teahouses lit up with lanterns. Start off on the main street ±á²¹²Ô²¹³¾¾±-°ì¨Âá¾±, which runs north¨Csouth and bisects Shij¨-d¨ri.
At the southern section of ±á²¹²Ô²¹³¾¾±-°ì¨Âá¾±, many of the restaurants and teahouses are exclusive establishments for geisha entertainment. At the south end you reach Gion Corner and Gion K¨bu Kaburen-j¨ Theatre (µoÔ°¼×²¿¸èÎèÁ·³¡).
If you walk from Shij¨-d¨ri along the northern section of ±á²¹²Ô²¹³¾¾±-°ì¨Âá¾± and take your third left, you will find yourself on Shimbashi (sometimes called Shirakawa Minami-d¨ri), which is one of Kyoto¡¯s most beautiful streets, especially in the evening and during cherry-blossom season. A bit further north lie ³§³ó¾±²Ô³¾´Ç²Ô³ú±ð²Ô-»å¨°ù¾± and ¹ó³Ü°ù³Ü³¾´Ç²Ô³ú±ð²Ô-»å¨°ù¾±, running east¨Cwest. Wander in either direction along these streets, which are packed with old houses, art galleries and shops specialising in antiques ¨C but don¡¯t expect flea-market prices.
