Hanamikoji Street
Hanamikoji Street
4
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The area
Neighborhood: Gion
Gion is Kyoto's famed Geisha District (called "Geiko" in Kyoto). Though Gion's many tea houses and entertainment restaurants are closed to foreigners, Geiko and Maiko in their traditional makeup with gilded hair in full kimono can be seen drifting the streets on their way to and from work, where they fan dance, sing, and play instruments for customers. Gion lights up at night, when the ancient-looking streets glow with lanterns along the river, where weeping willows catch the starlight and the air is warmed with conversation. Groups pass through to populate the restaurants and bars along the riverfront, but Gion still manages to be a mostly quiet district, due in large part to limited automotive traffic through many of its streets. Gion is a wonderful place to indulge in Kyoto's local and customary cuisines, and is best enjoyed after dark.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
397 reviews
Excellent
104
Very good
185
Average
93
Poor
11
Terrible
4
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carloscharmy
Bangkok, Thailand779 contributions
Mar 2023
Hanamikoji Street is a captivating gem in Kyoto! Witnessing two geishas around 6 pm was a memorable experience. It's essential to respect their privacy and refrain from taking pictures, as they deserve to enjoy their work without intrusion. The charming shops and restaurants add to the street's allure, making it a delightful and culturally rich destination to explore.
Written July 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterSam
Japan12,224 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
There are several entertainment districts in Kyoto, but Gion is the most famous.
Among the streets of Gion, Hanamikoji-dori has an especially glamorous atmosphere.
It's always bustling with tourists, but the street looks great in the evening sunshine.
The most historic and prestigious teahouse here is Ichiriki. It's said that Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi both frequented it.
By chance, around 6pm in the evening, I met a maiko on her way to her room.
However, I refrained from taking photos of her from the front or back.
Human dignity is important.
Alongside Hanamikoji-dori, there are a number of small stone-paved alleys.
Among the streets of Gion, Hanamikoji-dori has an especially glamorous atmosphere.
It's always bustling with tourists, but the street looks great in the evening sunshine.
The most historic and prestigious teahouse here is Ichiriki. It's said that Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi both frequented it.
By chance, around 6pm in the evening, I met a maiko on her way to her room.
However, I refrained from taking photos of her from the front or back.
Human dignity is important.
Alongside Hanamikoji-dori, there are a number of small stone-paved alleys.
Written June 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erico2709
Singapore, Singapore2,513 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
It is quite an odd feeling walking along this street. On the one hand, you see all these rich in history quaint houses which goes back ages, at the same time, your quite stroll is interrupted by cars or policemen around you making sure you stay out of their way. One can imagine in the old times when there were no cars then, really surreal.
Written July 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Construct37
Whittier, CA1,114 contributions
Nov 2022
This place is usually so crowded that it is not a great use of your time. However, directly after Japan reopened it was remarkable pleasant to walk around. There are many similar streets around Japan which are not nearly as impacted by tourists and judging by all the signage, the locals struggle with the crowds on a daily basis.
Written November 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoGo2SlowGo
Denton, TX1,441 contributions
Apr 2019
Hanamikoji is in the Gion district and is known as the geisha district. The area has traditional wooden merchant houses, machiya, and quaint ochaya, or tea-houses.
The historic architecture of Hanamikoji Street is one of its highlights, particularly the prevalence of its machiya, or wooden merchant homes, which feature narrow facades. Now, these homes are mainly restaurants where you can sample local cuisine prepared in Kyoto style. Tucked in between these machiya are also ochaya, or teahouses, where you can learn more about Japanese heritage during a tea ceremony with a geisha.
We saw many women dressed in geisha style and there were stores that provided a geisha makeover for the day.
We enjoyed the tea ceremony but my wife passed on the geisha makeover. This is still worth your time.
The historic architecture of Hanamikoji Street is one of its highlights, particularly the prevalence of its machiya, or wooden merchant homes, which feature narrow facades. Now, these homes are mainly restaurants where you can sample local cuisine prepared in Kyoto style. Tucked in between these machiya are also ochaya, or teahouses, where you can learn more about Japanese heritage during a tea ceremony with a geisha.
We saw many women dressed in geisha style and there were stores that provided a geisha makeover for the day.
We enjoyed the tea ceremony but my wife passed on the geisha makeover. This is still worth your time.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EredGorgoroth1
Jakarta, Indonesia8,111 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
Going down from Yasaka Shrine to shijo dori, a left turn brought us to Hanamikoji dori.
In the past, during shogunate era, travelers from across Japan came to Yasaka Jinja for pilgrimage and gion matsuri, largest festival in Japan. They would stay in ryokans and eat at the restaurants in gion district. Hanamikoji is a long street well preserved with ancient architecture of restaurants, geisha/ maiko houses and ryokans.
The houses along this street is beautiful and scented with an aura of mysteries of the closed world of old Japan.
The best time to see this place is in late afternoon until dark where the lights from the houses leaks through windows and doors left ajar, and paper lamps invites into another world of geishas.
In the past, during shogunate era, travelers from across Japan came to Yasaka Jinja for pilgrimage and gion matsuri, largest festival in Japan. They would stay in ryokans and eat at the restaurants in gion district. Hanamikoji is a long street well preserved with ancient architecture of restaurants, geisha/ maiko houses and ryokans.
The houses along this street is beautiful and scented with an aura of mysteries of the closed world of old Japan.
The best time to see this place is in late afternoon until dark where the lights from the houses leaks through windows and doors left ajar, and paper lamps invites into another world of geishas.
Written December 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichardS069
Melbourne, Australia206 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
Caught the 206 bus to Gion from Kyoto Station. Go left as you get off the bus and turn right at the next main road Shijo Dori. You can't miss it there is a huge shrine opposite. Walk down this street and you will come across a street on the left hand side Hanamikoji-Dori street. Lots of old style Japanese buildings. Despite being a small lane and being full of tourists they still allowed cars which isn’t good. This lane is too busy for cars, it should be a mall no cars allowed. We walked down the street, had 3 geisha girls go past. Head down and quickly. There were a group of French tourists that were stalking the side street they came out of. They would then chase the poor girls down the street like paparazzi. You could tell the geisha girls were distressed by it. People need to think about their behaviour.
We found Gion corner at the end of the lane to the left. It's like a theatre but no big deal.
Finished up from there and started walking towards Pontocho Dori Street. On a street to the side I noticed a geisha girl was allowing photographs so we got our photos taken. They should have this at the beginning of Hanamikoji-Dori street, that way people can get their photos taken and not stalk the poor geisha girls.
We found Gion corner at the end of the lane to the left. It's like a theatre but no big deal.
Finished up from there and started walking towards Pontocho Dori Street. On a street to the side I noticed a geisha girl was allowing photographs so we got our photos taken. They should have this at the beginning of Hanamikoji-Dori street, that way people can get their photos taken and not stalk the poor geisha girls.
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sadpanda
Melbourne, Australia465 contributions
Feb 2011 • Friends
Hanami-koji is the main tourist street in Gion. This street is packed during peak times and can be ruined by crowds. Sometimes all you see are taxis lining the street showing tourists around and picking up/dropping off at the theatre.
It's a funny street. Part tacky and everything thats wrong with over-touristed places, and also part beautiful. The tea houses etc and the street are actually pretty beautiful. I have a like/hate relationship with it! I have given it a 4 out of 5 stars only because its quick & easy to see and it's actually really nice when the crowds aren't there at night. (I stayed at Kyoto Gion Hotel which was great and 3 mins away). I'd give it a 2 or 3 when it's crowded.
If you are in Gion (and you should be if you're in Kyoto) you should see it. It will take only 15 mins to walk up and down. My only advice is to do it really early in the morning or ideally late at night, around 9pm onwards. This way you'll beat the crowds and it can actually be quite a quiet, peaceful place with a lot of atmosphere.
It's also the best place to see real maiko or geisha. The best time to see them is 6pm onwards. Just remember to respect them. They are not paid Gion attractions and they are just people doing a job (which doesn't involve us harassing them). I believe it's ok to take photos, but do so from a distance and without flash, and then move on. Don't stalk them. During the day you're most likely seeing tourists dressed up as geisha or maiko, rather than the real thing (but still beautiful).
It's a funny street. Part tacky and everything thats wrong with over-touristed places, and also part beautiful. The tea houses etc and the street are actually pretty beautiful. I have a like/hate relationship with it! I have given it a 4 out of 5 stars only because its quick & easy to see and it's actually really nice when the crowds aren't there at night. (I stayed at Kyoto Gion Hotel which was great and 3 mins away). I'd give it a 2 or 3 when it's crowded.
If you are in Gion (and you should be if you're in Kyoto) you should see it. It will take only 15 mins to walk up and down. My only advice is to do it really early in the morning or ideally late at night, around 9pm onwards. This way you'll beat the crowds and it can actually be quite a quiet, peaceful place with a lot of atmosphere.
It's also the best place to see real maiko or geisha. The best time to see them is 6pm onwards. Just remember to respect them. They are not paid Gion attractions and they are just people doing a job (which doesn't involve us harassing them). I believe it's ok to take photos, but do so from a distance and without flash, and then move on. Don't stalk them. During the day you're most likely seeing tourists dressed up as geisha or maiko, rather than the real thing (but still beautiful).
Written June 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kormensandiego
Manila, Philippines757 contributions
Nov 2019
We stayed in a ryokan in the Gion area so we got the opportunity to walk around here at night as well. It's a lovely walk and best of all, rid of all the hoards of tourists. If you're going to spot geishas or maikos, come around 4 or 5pm, which is the best time. But honestly with the hoards of tourists running after the geishas, it gives a really bad name to visitors to the area. Instead, enjoy a slow walk after all the tourists have left. If you walk by late at night, you'll also find an occasional maiko or two who's headed back after their evening engagements. You get to appreciate the normal life here and see them in their normal environment. They are also more relaxed compared to the afternoon when they go to work as they try to avoid the tourist groups who hang out to "hunt" them. We didn't even realize at first but we saw a couple of them, with full makeup and dressed in their kimonos just outside the restaurants. There are also dim lights outside of the wooden houses, which gives a nice warm glow to the area.
Written November 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlyingwithRice
Stanford, CA33 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
It is very famous street, so you will surprise to see thousands of tourists in during the day. However if you go there like 6:30am through 8am, you won’t see that much people and you can take beautiful pictures. Also there are few Breakfast restaurants around there, so I recommend to have Japanese breakfast in Gion and walk around Hanamikoji street in the early morning.
Written July 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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