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Kyoto’s entertainment district

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

You Gotta Love Kyoto

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district is the perfect place to stay when visiting this great city. At one end of the street you cross the river & at the other end is Yasaka Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine.

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYasaka Shrine is also known as Gion Shrine, one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine is located between the popular Gion District and Higashiyama District, and you can simply walk between the two districts.

Locals & tourists like the dress up as Geishas.

Kyoto’s entertainment district

There are many shops all over Kyoto when you can hire the traditional dress.

One of the larger hire shops.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtIt really is nice seeing all the ladies dressed in traditional outfits.

Blending in with the atmosphere.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtGion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district is one of Japan’s most popular destinations.

Mercedes-AMG GT C

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYou should have heard the magnificent sound coming from this fabulous vehicle. The awning you can see on the right is the APA Hotel where I stayed, a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

APA Hotel.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtA good size room for Japan.

If you are travelling from Kyoto station to Gion forget the train just take either bus 100 or 110 from the station.

A small shrine in the main street.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtSomething to see around every corner.

Gion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district Yakitori is one of the cuisines.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtWhat amazing food is on offer in this wonderful country.

So many fascinating old buildings.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtThere is so much to see in this great city.

Another great looking restaurant

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district The most difficult thing is deciding where to eat. 🙂

Drinking with the locals.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtI enjoyed a nice hour or 2 drinking with the locals in a tiny side street bar.

One of the many bars in close by Pontocho.

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoFor many more bars & restaurants just follow THIS LINK.

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1g Duck

 

This gallery contains 3 photos

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

August 24, 2013 by David Herd

Fabulous Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travellers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.

Gion shop

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

A great window display.

Wonderful Japanese garden in Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

In my eyes this is perfection.

The magnificent Kinkakuju temple.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later. Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.

Hanami-koj St Gion.

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Part of the Gion district has been declared a national historical preservation district. Recently, the City of Kyoto completed a project to restore the streets of Gion, which included such plans as moving all overhead utilities underground as part of the ongoing effort to preserve the original beauty of Gion.

Gion

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Gion is my favourite part of Kyoto.

Nijo Castle.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan
The castle is an excellent example of social control manifested in architectural space. Low-ranking visitors were received in the outer regions of the Ninomaru, whereas high-ranking visitors were shown the more subtle inner chambers. Rather than attempt to conceal the entrances to the rooms for bodyguards (as was done in many castles), the Tokugawas chose to display them prominently. Thus, the construction lent itself to expressing intimidation and power to Edo-period visitors. The building houses several different reception chambers, offices and the living quarters of the shogun, where only female attendants were allowed. One of the most striking features of the Ninomaru Palace are the “nightingale floors” (uguisubari) in the corridors. To protect the occupants from sneak attacks and assassins, the builders constructed the floors of the corridors in such a way as to squeak like birds when anyone walks on them.

Check out the Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple.

So many wonderful restaurants in Gion.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Good food & beautiful faces, what more could you ask for?

 Jyuunidanya restaurant in Gion

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Probably has not changed for hundreds of years.

Kyoto Tower

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Kyoto’s iconic landmark is a very convenient place to stay, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

 Kyoto railway station

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto

Best station I have ever seen.

Japan is full of surprises

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

In this country there is the ancient & the new. 🙂

  A beautiful Japanese lady

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

This is Ake and she provided me with a real surprise. It was a wet Monday evening so I found a small bar to enjoy a few drinks and a light dinner. An hour or so later Aki came in with 2 of her friends, they all said hello to me and joined me at the bar. After a couple more drinks they invited me to join them at another bar where they were meeting friends. I said “please wait a minute while I pay my bill here”, Ake said “don’t worry I have already paid it”.  You could have knocked me over with a feather, so off we went and the night got better and better. 🙂

Aki’s friends Jun and Alice

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

  It’s always great meeting the locals. 🙂

My 3rd visit in 2018

Gion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district

Certainly one of my favourite cities in Japan.

Make sure you visit the Pontocho Entertainment District 

Thanks for visiting my Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto photo blog.

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1g Duck

Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

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Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

Click here to see another Japanese post

 

A very quaint Tokyo street

 

You gotta love the Ginza

 



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