Takase River Ichinofunairi
Kawaramachi, Kyoto
Source: ja.kyoto.travel, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Ichinofunairi is the boat basin at the head of the Takase canal, where flat-bottomed takasebune unloaded goods brought up from Fushimi and Osaka. Suminokura Ryoi dug the canal around 1611, and his family lived beside this basin, running the boats and taking a fee from every carrier. At its busiest more than a hundred boats worked the canal, and the basin is now a designated historic site.
Insider tip
It's at the top of Kiyamachi-dori, just south of Nijo-dori, and five minutes is enough. Kyoto City Hall, a short walk south-west at Teramachi and Oike, has a model of a takasebune inside.
What's on near Takase River Ichinofunairi
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Takase River Ichinofunairi, 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 Takase River Ichinofunairi?
- Kiyamachi-dori Nijo-sagaru, Kamikoriki-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 中京区木屋町通二条下る上樵木町).
- How do I get to Takase River Ichinofunairi?
- The nearest station is Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line). Takase River Ichinofunairi is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
- How much does Takase River Ichinofunairi cost?
- Nothing. Takase River Ichinofunairi is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Takase River Ichinofunairi?
- Plan for 15 min.
- When is the best time to visit Takase River Ichinofunairi?
- Daytime.
Stay near Takase River Ichinofunairi
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