Kiyamachi-dori
Kawaramachi, Kyoto
Kiyamachi-dori follows the Takase canal, which Suminokura Ryoi dug in the 1610s so flat-bottomed boats could carry freight between central Kyoto and Fushimi. The street is named for the timber merchants who set up along it, and willows now line both banks of a canal that stopped carrying boats in 1920. Mori Ogai set his story Takasebune on one of those boats.
Insider tip
Start at Nijo, where the Ichinofunairi boat basin and the site of the Suminokura house are, and walk south along the water towards Shijo. Kyoto City's page on the canal also sends you to Zuisen-ji, just south of Sanjo on Kiyamachi.
What's on near Kiyamachi-dori
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Kiyamachi-dori, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kamogawa Noryo-yuka Riverside Terraces
鴨川納涼床
Station Sanjo or Gion-Shijo (Keihan Line)
From 1 May the restaurants along the river in Kiyamachi, Pontocho and Saiseki serve on outdoor terraces looking across the Kamogawa to the Higashiyama hills, until 15 October. Some stop at the end of September, and breakfast, lunch and hours vary by restaurant.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Pontocho Suimeikai Dance Recital
第111回 水明会
Time 15:30 (doors 15:00) Station Sanjo (Keihan), 5 min walk
Pontocho's geiko have staged this dance recital since 1930, named after the clear water of the Kamo River, with tokiwazu, kiyomoto and nagauta pieces. Reserved seats are ¥10,000 or ¥8,000 and unreserved ones ¥5,000.
Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kamogawa Odori
鴨川をどり
Time 12:30, 14:20 and 16:10 Station Sanjo (Keihan Line), 5 min walk from exit 6
Pontocho's geiko and maiko in a dance drama and then a set of pure dance, in the 1927 Pontocho Kaburenjo by the river. First staged in 1872, it's been performed more times than any other Kyoto geisha show.
Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Suimei-kai Recital of Pontocho
水明会（先斗町）
Time 15:30 (doors 15:00) Station Sanjo (Keihan), 5 min walk
Pontocho's geiko recital, held since 1930 and named after the clear water of the Kamo River. Reserved seats were ¥10,000 and ¥8,000 and unreserved ones ¥5,000 in 2026.
Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kanikakuni-sai Tea Gathering in Gion
かにかくに祭
Time 11:00 to 15:30, seatings every 30 minutes (last entry 15:00) Station Gion-Shijo (Keihan), 10 min walk
Gion Kobu remembers the poet Yoshii Isamu at his stone by the Shirakawa stream, where white chrysanthemums are laid each year, and you can book a seat at the tea served by geiko and maiko. Each group gets one photo with them, and it goes ahead in rain.
mrhayata, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nearby
Around Kawaramachi
Downtown Kyoto, between Nishiki Market and the Kamo River
Kawaramachi is downtown Kyoto, the shopping streets round the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing. The Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades run north from Shijo-dori, Nishiki Market runs west from them, and east of Kawaramachi-dori the Takase canal and Pontocho squeeze in before the Kamo River. You'll come here to eat, mostly. Some of the tea, incense and paper shops date from the Edo period.
Kawaramachi has 26 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 5 shops, 4 cafes, 4 restaurants, 3 shrines and temples, 3 landmarks, 2 bars, 2 neighbourhoods, 1 park or garden, 1 market and 1 bathhouse. Read the Kawaramachi guide.
Good to know
- How do I get to Kiyamachi-dori?
- The nearest station is Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu), Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line). Kiyamachi-dori is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
- How much does Kiyamachi-dori cost?
- Nothing. Kiyamachi-dori is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kiyamachi-dori?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kiyamachi-dori?
- Early evening.
Stay near Kiyamachi-dori
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