Gion, Entertainment district in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Gion is a historic neighborhood in Higashiyama-ku in eastern Kyoto, known for its preserved wooden houses and entertainment culture. The narrow lanes wind past two-story machiya buildings with latticed windows and hanging lanterns, while traditional tea houses and restaurants line the main Hanamikoji Street.

Gion grew as a monzenmachi, a district serving travellers and visitors to Yasaka Shrine (then Gion-sha), from the Sengoku period onward. It became one of Japan's best-known geisha districts, and in 1881 it split into Gion Kobu and Gion Higashi. The Shirakawa area was later designated a national preservation district for traditional buildings.

The name derives from Yasaka Shrine, which was formerly called Gion-sha and remains the religious center of the area today. Visitors can still observe geisha dancers in their formal kimonos moving between tea houses on their way to appointments, especially during evening hours along the lanes.

The lanes are mostly narrow and dimly lit at night, so sturdy shoes and a small flashlight are recommended for evening walks. Early morning hours offer quieter moments for photography before most shops open around ten o'clock.

The Shirakawa is a small river, not a canal, and the stretch before it joins the Kamo is a protected area. Its south bank is lined with traditional establishments that face the water directly, some reached by crossing bridges from the north side. The north bank's buildings were torn down during World War II as a fire-prevention measure, leaving a pedestrian street planted with cherry trees that are lit in the evening each spring.