Gion

Tourist ban now in effect in Kyoto’s Gion geisha district…but are visitors obeying the rules?

A recent video of a maiko being chased by a tourist in Gion proves why the ban is necessary.

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Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules

Historic area wants foreign visitors to know it’s not a theme park.

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Have a refreshing summer night’s stay in Kyoto with the Yojiya Pretty Girl Room Stay in Gion

Cooling beauty products, minty fresh sweets, and a beautiful hotel–what else could you want?

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Rainy day in Kyoto creates amazing photo of sakura above, below, and all around

Usually rain isn’t what you want when the cherry blossoms are blooming, but this is a very beautiful exception.

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Kyoto’s uniquely beautiful New Year’s tradition is being carried on by Starbucks Japan【Photos】

Before all of Japan had gacha machines, Kyoto had fukudama, and the coffeehouse chain is helping make sure the city still does.

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A first-time visit to Kyoto’s Gion Festival becomes a night to remember

There’s more to these giant Yamahoko floats than first meets the eye. 

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Japan respectfully says goodbye to a single bamboo shoot in Kyoto

Takenokone given death poem, posthumous name.

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We eat Japan’s oldest sweet, available at only one store in all of Japan

Edo period confectionery store learnt the secret recipe from a monk on a mountain in Kyoto. 

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Disney collaborates with traditional Kyoto designers for exhibition series【Photos】

Ever wanted to rock Disney and traditional Japanese style at the same time? Now you can.

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Jamaican-style ramen in Kyoto: A cross-cultural hit, or just jerking your taste buds around?

Ramen and jerk chicken are delicious on their own, but do they play nice together?

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Kyoto’s popular tourist spot Gion to forbid photos on private roads, 10,000 yen fine to violators

Trespassing of both property and people have led to this development.

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Beautiful Kyoto Hard Rock Cafe, and we stopped by to try its exclusive signature burger【Photos】

And check out the cool Kyoto-themed merch, of course.

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The quintessential Kyoto experience: becoming a maiko for the day! 【Pics & video】

They say that it’s rare to see a real maiko walking the streets of Kyoto, since these artists usually work at night and live in their own secluded world, far from the rest of Japanese society. In fact, if you spot a maiko strolling around Gion during the day, there’s a good chance she’s a tourist who’s undergone a fabulously elaborate makeover.

We took our Japan Wish competition winner Ashley to a studio in Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood to have a maiko-over and be transformed in an amazing process that yielded completely stunning results. Ashley was able to choose her own kimono and obi sash, and as part of the deal she was treated to a professional photography session and the opportunity to take a stroll around the streets of Gion in full maiko garb!

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Despite raging typhoon, Gion Matsuri goes on as it has for over 1,000 years【Video】

The Gion Festival, or Gion Matsuri, has been celebrated consistently for over a thousand years and is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. The highlight is the Yamahoko Parade which occurs twice, on July 17 and July 24, and our competition winner’s wish was to see it happen with her own eyes here in Japan. This year, with a incoming typhoon, there were rumors swirling about the festival being cancelled, but with hardly any interruptions in its long history, this parade wasn’t about to be stopped by mere weather!
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Kyoto restaurant only sells one dish, features mannequins and gets rave reviews!

In a country filled with countless ramen, udon and sushi restaurants, it can be very difficult to choose. Which one is the most delicious? The most interesting? How do you find the restaurant where you can understand everything on the menu?

If you’re in Kyoto, look no further than Issen Yoshoku, the restaurant that covers all those bases, plus, you never have to dine alone!

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