Gion, Hanamikoji and Pontocho
Gion, Hanamikoji and Pontocho are working hanamachi districts where people live, and many of the lanes behind the shopfronts are private roads. This guide covers only the rules the neighbourhoods themselves have posted — read it before you go.
A neighbourhood, not a theme park
Southern Gion is a place where people live and work, and its streetscape was built up over generations — it is not a set. Its shrines and temples are sacred to the people who worship there, so follow the notices at each site and keep out of restricted areas.
No photos on private roads
Many of the lanes turning off Hanamikoji are private roads, and the district flyer bans photography on them. If you see a no-photography notice, put the camera away — the same goes for shopfronts and the fronts of houses; do not frame a shot from someone's doorway.
Do not chase geiko and maiko
If you meet a geiko or maiko on the street, do not stop her, touch her, or follow her with a camera; touching can draw up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen under the prefectural ordinance. They are on their way to work, not performing for the street. To see Kyomai dance, go to a proper performance at Gion Corner.
Keep out of private property, keep the road clear
Anywhere other than shops and roads is private property: do not enter without permission, and trespass can draw up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 100,000 yen. Hanamikoji is not a pedestrian-only street, so do not wait around or stop for photos on the pavement, and do not walk in the roadway.
Take your rubbish with you, keep your voice down
There is nowhere in Gion to drop litter casually, so carry your rubbish away with you; the local ordinance sets a fine of up to 30,000 yen for littering. Keep your voice down on the street, especially late at night — the people who live here have ordinary mornings ahead of them.
Pontocho: its own local code
Pontocho is a hanamachi too, a narrow lane lined with homes and restaurants, and it has its own code, the Pontocho Machishikimoku, whose first article covers smoking on the street. The district also asks shops not to tout or hand out flyers on the street — as a visitor, just follow the notices you see.
Sources：祇園町南側地区住民・祇園甲部お茶屋組合・祇園芸妓組合・建仁寺・祇園町南側地区協議会 祇園町南側地区からのメッセージ（公式） ↗京都市・祇園町南側地区協議会・京都市観光協会 祇園町のお約束ごと（公式） ↗京都市観光協会 京都観光モラル 観光客向け行動基準（公式） ↗京都市観光協会 観光マナー啓発の取組（公式） ↗先斗町まちづくり協議会 RULE（公式） ↗京都市 先斗町地域景観づくり計画書（公式） ↗