>Established in the mid-19th century as a teahouse district in front of Yasaka Shrine (Gionsha Temple), many teahouses can be found around the Hanamikoji footpath, which runs north and south. It is the largest of Kyoto's five entertainment districts. Geiko and Maiko are great masters of the performing arts and hospitality.

#Kenninji Temple/Located at the southern end of Hanamikoji, this is Kyoto's oldest Zen temple. Renowned for its Twin Dragons ceiling painting in the Hatto(Auditorium).

#Yasui Konpiragu Shrine/ A unique stone monument where you can pass through a hole to make or break a relationship is Instagram-worthy.

>After Emperor Shirakawa abdicated, he became the Emperor Emeritus and established a villa here to continue his rule. An old townscape remains along the Shirakawa River, which flows from Mt. Hiei into the Kamo River.

#Ajari Bridge/This narrow stone bridge (12m long, 0.6m wide) is across the Shirakawa River. A high-ranking monk from Mt.Hiei who has achieved 1,000-day ascetic training crosses the River on the last day of training, and he is called Great Ajari.

#Namikawa Cloisonne Museum of Kyoto/The museum commemorates Japan's leading cloisonné artist. Learn about the production process, including how to wash cloisonné glazes with water. The former art studio is like floating on the pond the water of which is introduced from the Lake Biwa Canal.

*The museum closes until April 2nd, 2026.

>During the 17th century, the wealthy merchant Suminokura Ryoi excavated the Takase River(Canal) west of the Kamo River. By drawing water from the Kamo River, he completed a waterway network connecting central Kyoto to Osaka. He collected tolls and recouped construction funds.

#Takasegawa Nijoen Garden/Suminokura built a villa around the water intake. Renowned landscapers renovated the garden in the 19th centuries, and it is used as a Japanese-style restaurant garden now.

#Pontocho/A 90-meter-wide area sandwiched between the Takase River and Kamo River, this area was used for lodgings serving the Takase River boatmen and passengers. It is now one of Kyoto's five entertainment districts. In the summer, some teahouses serve food and drink on decks built over the Kamo River (500m long,Kawayuka in Japanese).

#Nishiki Market/The market is 400 years old, with a length of 400m long, is known as the kitchen of Kyoto's culinary culture.