Miyagawacho
Gion, Kyoto
Miyagawacho, by the Kamo River, is one of Kyoto's five geiko districts, with 27 teahouses in its association. Its name is said to come from the stretch of river below Shijo bridge where Yasaka Shrine's portable shrines are washed during the Gion Matsuri. The district's geiko and maiko dance the Kyo Odori each April, the 75th in 2026, in a new Kaburenjo that opened in 2025.
Insider tip
The autumn dances, Mizue-kai, ran 8 to 11 October in 2026. On 11 January, Miyagawacho maiko hand out lucky bamboo at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine from 20:00. Exit 1 of Gion-Shijo Station is about seven minutes' walk away.
What's on at Miyagawacho
Upcoming events at Miyagawacho and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kyo Odori
京おどり
Time 13:00 and 16:00, about an hour each Station Gion-Shijo (Keihan Line), 7 min walk
Miyagawacho's spring dances, written new each year, end with every geiko and maiko in the district on stage for the Miyagawa Ondo. Both ticket types include tea.
Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0 Mizue-kai Recital of Miyagawacho
みずゑ會（宮川町）
Time 16:00, plus 13:00 at the weekend Station Gion-Shijo (Keihan), 7 min walk
Miyagawacho's geiko and maiko show the classical dances they've been practising, and the finale is Miyagawa Kouta, a song of the district through the seasons. Seats were ¥10,000 downstairs and ¥8,000 upstairs in 2026.
Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0 Hatsuka Ebisu Festival
二十日ゑびす大祭
Time Eve 19 Oct from 16:00, main festival 20 Oct from 14:00 Station Shijo-Kawaramachi bus stop (City Bus), 10 min walk
The autumn counterpart of January's Toka Ebisu welcomes the god Ebisu back from the sea, and lucky bamboo branches, charms and talismans for business are handed out. The eve is on 19 Oct from 16:00 and the main festival on 20 Oct from 14:00.
masato_photo, CC BY-SA 2.0 Toka Ebisu at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine
十日ゑびす大祭
Station Shijo-Kawaramachi bus stop (City Bus), 10 min walk
Kyoto Ebisu Shrine's big New Year festival runs from 8 to 12 Jan, and around the 10th you can get lucky bamboo branches for business. In 2026 the shrine stayed open all night on the 9th and 10th.
masato_photo, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kuya's Dancing Nembutsu at Rokuharamitsu-ji
空也踊躍念仏
Time 15:00 on 13 to 15, 19, 20 and 26 to 30 Dec Station Kiyomizu-michi bus stop (City Bus 206), 7 min walk
The dancing nembutsu that Kuya, the temple's founder, started to drive away an epidemic in the Heian period is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It's held at 15:00 on 13 to 15, 19, 20 and 26 to 30 Dec, and the 31 Dec service is closed to the public.
Hikomi Moneru, CC BY 3.0 Nearby
Around Gion
The teahouse streets below Yasaka Shrine, best early or at dusk
Gion grew up as the town at the gate of Yasaka Shrine, and it's still where Kyoto's geiko and maiko live and work. Gion Kobu, the largest of the city's five geiko districts, keeps its teahouses along Hanamikoji-dori, and the Shirakawa canal runs through Gion Shinbashi to the north. Go early for the shrine and the temples behind it. Come back at dusk for the streets.
Gion has 25 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 6 shrines and temples, 4 shops, 4 neighbourhoods, 3 cafes, 2 landmarks, 2 restaurants, 1 bar, 1 museum, 1 park or garden and 1 bathhouse. Read the Gion guide.
Good to know
- How do I get to Miyagawacho?
- The nearest station is Gion-Shijo (Keihan). Miyagawacho is in Gion, Kyoto.
- How much does Miyagawacho cost?
- Nothing. Miyagawacho is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Miyagawacho?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Miyagawacho?
- April, for the Kyo Odori.
Stay near Miyagawacho
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