Kamishichiken
Kitano, Kyoto
Kamishichiken is Kyoto's oldest geisha district, the teahouse quarter on the east approach to Kitano Tenmangu. The name means "upper seven houses", after seven teahouses built from timber left over from repairs to the shrine in the 1400s. Its crest of five dumplings is for the mitarashi dango served to Hideyoshi at his great Kitano tea party of 1587.
Insider tip
You can see its geiko and maiko dance at the Kitano Odori each spring, the first of Kyoto's geisha dance shows of the year, or drink at the beer garden in the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo theatre from July to early September. The autumn Kotobukikai recital runs 12 to 18 November 2026 from 16:00 (¥10,000, and children under school age aren't admitted). On 25 February they serve tea at the Baikasai in Kitano Tenmangu's plum garden.
What the guides say about Kamishichiken
17. Kitano Tenmangu on the 25th. The Tenjin-san Market fills the approach all day, and after dark the shrine lights 350 stone and 250 hanging lanterns. Awamochi Sawaya has made millet cakes by the shrine since 1682, and yours will likely still be warm. City Bus 50 takes about 35 minutes from Kyoto Station. The Kitano guide covers Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district.
What's on at Kamishichiken
Upcoming events at Kamishichiken and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kamishichiken Kotobuki-kai Dance Recital
上七軒 寿会
Time 16:00 (doors 15:30) Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae or Kamishichiken bus stop (City Bus 50), 3 min walk
Kamishichiken, which grew from seven teahouses at Kitano Tenmangu's gate, holds its annual recital at the Kaburenjo, a programme of nagauta dances by its geiko and maiko. Tickets are ¥10,000, and children under school age aren't admitted.
mrhayata, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kitano Odori
北野をどり
Time 14:00 and 16:30 (doors open an hour before) Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop (City Bus 50, 51, 55, 203), 3 min walk
Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district, opens the spring dance season in the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo, a Japanese-style theatre that's not normally open to the public. Each show runs about 90 minutes.
mrhayata, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kamishichiken Beer Garden
上七軒ビアガーデン
Time 17:30 to 22:00 Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop (City Bus 50, 55, 203), 3 min walk
Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district, turns its kaburenjo theatre into a beer garden for the summer, and geiko and maiko in matching yukata come round and hand out their senjafuda name cards. The first set of draught beer and snacks was ¥2,500 in 2026, seats are in two-hour slots, nobody under 20 gets in, and it isn't open every night, so check the closed days.
mrhayata, CC BY-SA 2.0 Tenjin-ichi Market at Kitano Tenmangu
天神市（北野天満宮）
Time All day, lanterns lit from sunset Station Kitano-Hakubaicho (Randen Kitano Line), 5 min walk
The 25th is Kitano Tenmangu's monthly fair day, and stalls line the approach all day. From sunset the shrine lights its 350 stone and 250 hanging lanterns, and 25 January and 25 December are the busiest of the year, with about a thousand stalls.
z tanuki, CC BY 3.0 Plum Garden at Kitano Tenmangu
梅苑「花の庭」公開（北野天満宮）
Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop (City Bus 50), right by the stop
The shrine has about 1,500 plum trees of 50 kinds, and it opens its plum garden, with a tea stall and a viewing deck, while they flower. Opening depends on the blossom, usually early February, and the garden stays open to late March.
z tanuki, CC BY 3.0 Nearby
Around Kitano
Tenjin's head shrine, Kyoto's oldest geisha district and Daitoku-ji
Start at Kitano Tenmangu, head shrine of about 12,000 Tenjin shrines, founded in 947 for Sugawara no Michizane, the scholar students still pray to before exams. Come on the 25th, when the Tenjin-san Market fills the approach and the lanterns are lit after dark. Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district, lines the shrine's east approach, and Daitoku-ji's Zen temples are about 1.7 km north-east.
Kitano has 25 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 10 shrines and temples, 3 cafes, 3 shops, 2 restaurants, 2 bathhouses, 1 viewpoint, 1 neighbourhood, 1 museum, 1 bar and 1 market. Read the Kitano guide.
Good to know
- How do I get to Kamishichiken?
- The nearest station is Kamishichiken bus stop (City Bus 50, 55, 203). Kamishichiken is in Kitano, Kyoto.
- How much does Kamishichiken cost?
- Nothing. Kamishichiken is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kamishichiken?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kamishichiken?
- Early evening.
Stay near Kamishichiken
Browse live availability and compare prices around Kitano.
See hotels near Kamishichiken on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 17 October. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Kyoto earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.