Pontocho Kaburenjo
Kawaramachi, Kyoto
Source: kamogawa-odori.com, checked 11 Oct 2026.
The Pontocho Kaburenjo is the geisha district's own theatre at the Sanjo end of Pontocho, finished in 1927 and praised then as a modern building with an Eastern touch. Look up at the roof for the onigawara tile modelled on the Ranryo-o bugaku mask. Every spring the geiko and maiko stage the Kamogawa Odori here, a dance first performed in 1872.
Insider tip
The 2026 Kamogawa Odori ran from 5 to 22 May, with seats at ¥4,000 and ¥6,000, or ¥7,000 with tea made by a geiko before the show. The autumn Suimeikai recital runs from 15 to 20 October 2026. Tickets are sold online and by phone.
What's on at Pontocho Kaburenjo
Upcoming events at Pontocho Kaburenjo and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
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 Gion Shirakawa Cherry Blossom Light-up
祇園白川宵桜ライトアップ
Time 18:00 to 22:00 Station Gion bus stop (City Bus 206), 5 min walk
The cherries over the Shirakawa canal are lit from Kawabata-dori to Tatsumi bridge, about 220 m, with lanterns along the lane past the old teahouses.
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
- What is the address of Pontocho Kaburenjo?
- Pontocho-dori Sanjo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市中京区先斗町通三条下ル).
- How do I get to Pontocho Kaburenjo?
- The nearest station is Sanjo (Keihan). Pontocho Kaburenjo is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
- How much does Pontocho Kaburenjo cost?
- Pontocho Kaburenjo is mid-range, marked ¥¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Pontocho Kaburenjo?
- Plan for 1-2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Pontocho Kaburenjo?
- May, for the Kamogawa Odori.
Stay near Pontocho Kaburenjo
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