If you are under 20, please refrain from entering.
Gion is the district that opens up once you cross Shijo Bridge heading east. Kyoto City's tourism association describes it as the area holding two hanamachi, Gion Kobu and Gion Higashi.
By rail, Keihan's Gion-Shijo Station is the gateway, with the Keihan Main Line and the Oto Line stopping there, and Keihan's page also points riders to the Hankyu Kyoto Line, which a different company runs. If you start at Kyoto Station, the tourism association's suggested route is city bus 86, 106 or 206, boarding at Kyoto Ekimae and alighting at Gion.
Hanamikoji and its side lanes are lined with ochaya teahouses and restaurants, as the Kyoto City tourism association puts it. On the association's English site Gion appears next to Pontocho as an example of a Kyoto hanamachi, a place where you may sometimes spot maiko or geiko on foot.
No venue is listed for Gion yet. Any that join later will show up on this page; for now this site keeps all of its Kyoto Prefecture listings together on the Kyoto page.
Kyoto City brought its ordinance against touting and similar soliciting into force on 1 April 2015 and designated the Gion-Kawaramachi district as a zone where such touting is prohibited. The city says it gives guidance and takes similar steps against people who break the rule there.
Gion is generally fine for a night out. The main risk is bottakuri, a padded bill at the end. Stick to venues that post their prices, skip street touts steering you into ‘free’ bars, and confirm the set fee plus any nomination or bottle charges before you order.
Payment methods vary by venue. Check the listing and confirm with the venue before booking.
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