Walking Tours

Kyoto Gion Self-Guided Audio Walk: Shirakawa Willows, Hanamikoji Teahouses and Kennin-ji Temple

Walk Gion from a one-stone bridge over the Shirakawa, past willows and teahouses, to Kennin-ji and a tiny shrine.
See Tatsumi bridge, Hanamikoji and the Ichiriki teahouse, the 1913 Kaburenjo theatre and Kyoto's oldest Zen temple, by its own account.
Discover how Gion's spring dance began in 1872, and the Zen temple whose land became the teahouse quarter.
End at Yasui Konpira-gu, where people crawl through a hole in a paper-covered stone to cut a bad tie.
9 stops over 2 km, about 75 minutes, with English audio you start whenever you like.

Self-guided audio tour in English: 9 stops, 2 km, 75 minutes
Stops at Tatsumi bridge, Hanamikoji and the Ichiriki teahouse, 1913 Kaburenjo theatre and Kyoto's oldest Zen temple
GPS map and walking directions in your phone browser, no app needed
Lifetime access: start any day, at any hour, and replay it

Entry to Kennin-ji's halls, the Kaburenjo and Gion Corner
Live guide
Fixed start time
Museum and monument tickets

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Gion is a quarter of edges: a bridge one person wide, wooden lattice that sees out but not in, private lanes the residents ask you to leave alone, and a stone you crawl through to cut a bad tie. This walk crosses them one by one.
Start on Gyoja-bashi and follow the Shirakawa past the willows and teahouses of Gion Shinbashi to Tatsumi bridge. Cross Shijo-dori to Hanamikoji and the Ichiriki teahouse, whose head helped create the Miyako Odori in 1872, and walk on to the 1913 Kaburenjo theatre built for it. Learn how Kennin-ji, Kyoto's oldest Zen temple by its own account, gave up the land the quarter stands on, then end at Yasui Konpira-gu.
Nine stops, about 2 km and an hour, flat, at your own pace, in English. Entry to Kennin-ji's halls, the Kaburenjo and Gion Corner is not included.

What to bring

Booking number: Enter your booking number on the Roamer redemption page from your confirmation before you set off.

Phone and data: Bring a charged phone; use mobile data or open the tour on Wi-Fi before starting if you have no data.

Earphones: Bring earphones so you can hear the audio clearly while walking.

What's not allowed

Private teahouse: Do not try to enter Ichiriki-tei; it is a working teahouse open by introduction only.

Temple photography gear: At Kennin-ji, do not use tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, gimbals, or video.

Temple photo shoots: At Kennin-ji, do not do portrait, group, or kimono shoots and do not sketch inside.

Antique shops: In Shinmonzen-dori shops, always ask before photographing inside.

Museum luggage: At Gion Kagai Art Museum, do not expect luggage storage, as none is provided.

Private lanes: Do not enter or photograph the narrow lanes off Hanamikoji; stay on Hanamikoji itself.

Geiko and maiko: Do not touch, chase, or photograph geiko or maiko without permission.

Private homes and schools: Do not photograph private houses or local schoolchildren in Gion.

Shrine etiquette: At Yasui Konpira-gu, do not treat the stone's hole as a photo prop; respect it as part of a ritual.

Additional information

Tour access: The tour opens in your phone browser and needs no app download once you redeem it with your booking number.

Best start time: Start by about 15:00 if you plan to enter Kennin-ji so you can reach it before last entry at 16:30.

Kennin-ji hours: Kennin-ji's halls and gardens open 10:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:30, and its gates and free grounds close at 17:00.

Kennin-ji winter tip: One guide lists 16:00 last entry from November to February, so check winter hours in advance.

Kennin-ji after 17:00: After 17:00 or early morning, stay on the street and use the Yasui-kitamon-dori detour to reach the shrine.

Museum hours: Gion Kagai Art Museum opens 11:00 to 18:30 with last entry at 17:30.

Museum closures: Gion Kagai Art Museum closes mid-March to early May, at New Year, and on irregular days listed on its site.

Museum photography: Personal photography is allowed inside Gion Kagai Art Museum.

Museum stairs: The upper floor of Gion Kagai Art Museum is reached only by stairs.

Gion Corner schedule: Gion Corner shows run daily at 18:00 and 19:00 with seasonal closures and changes.

Gion Corner winter: From 1 December to 11 March, Gion Corner runs Tuesday to Friday and closes on national holidays.

Gion Corner closures: Gion Corner closes 16 July, 16 August, 26 December to 4 January, and on 11 and 23 February.

Schedule updates: Check Gion Corner's official social media for any schedule changes before you go.

Miyako Odori timing: Miyako Odori at stop 7 runs throughout April with several daily shows each afternoon.

Earphone guides: Earphone guides are available at Miyako Odori according to the official information.

Shrine opening: Yasui Konpira-gu is free and open 24 hours a day.

Shrine office: Yasui Konpira-gu's amulet office opens from 9:00 to 17:30.

Shrine charms: Paper katashiro charms at Yasui Konpira-gu are offered for a cash donation.

Antique street hours: Many antique dealers on Shinmonzen-dori open late in the morning and keep their own hours.

Neighborhood respect: Gion is a lived-in neighborhood, so follow Kyoto City's rules and respect residents' privacy.

Private lanes signs: Kosode-koji and Aoyagi-koji off Hanamikoji carry no-entry signs you should obey.

Lane penalty notice: Some lanes post a charge for entry, although the council notes it has no legal force.

Stone bridge safety: Gyoja-bashi is a narrow stone slab with no railings, so cross in single file and take care in rain or darkness.

Road crossings: You cross Higashioji-dori and Shijo-dori only at traffic lights along the route.

Shared streets: Shinmonzen-dori and Hanamikoji have no pavements and carry traffic, so keep to the edge of the street.

Photo shoots on route: The Shirakawa streets are popular for photo shoots, so give photographers space and keep the way clear.

Queue etiquette: At Yasui Konpira-gu's stone, wait your turn patiently and follow the ritual respectfully.

Tour flexibility: Your audio tour has lifetime access, so you can start any day, at any hour, and replay it whenever you like.