View allAll Photos Tagged shijo
(c) Alwyn Greer 2025
21 April 2025
Whilst walking down one of the main shopping streets in Kyoto, I saw this girl and her friend walking toward me so I asked if I could take their portraits (see the other photo I posted earlier). I love the goth punk look and these girls nailed it.
Shijō Street (四条通, Shijō-dōri) runs in the center of Kyoto, Japan from east to west through the commercial center of the city. Shijō literally means Fourth Avenue of Heian-kyō, the ancient capital.
The eastern end of the street is Yasaka Shrine and the western end is Matsunoo Shrine. The street is particularly busy with pedestrians and traffic from the east end to Karasuma Street. The east end passes through the courtesan's district of Gion, with the historic street of Hanami Lane branching off to the south, with the famous Ichiriki Chaya at the corner. It then crosses the Kamo River at Shijō Bridge, and from there to Karasuma Street (Shijō Karasuma) the sidewalk is covered (except at major streets) and features several department stores, such as Daimaru and Marui. The center of this area is the intersection with Kawaramachi Street (Shijō Kawaramachi), a very busy shopping area.
The city of Kyoto has enforced a smoking ban on this street, on the busy section from Yasaka Shrine to Karasuma street, and in the surrounding districts.
During the Gion Matsuri in the month of July, the Naginata-hoko, the Kanko-boko, Tsuki-hoko, Kakkyo-yama and Shijō-Kasa-Boko are built on the street. The street is also part of the route of the Yamaboko Junkō parade.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shij%C5%8D_Street
japonismo.com/blog/itinerarios-centro-de-kioto
La calle Shijō (四条通, Shijō-dōri) discurre en el centro de Kioto, Japón, de este a oeste por el centro comercial de la ciudad. Shijō significa literalmente Cuarta Avenida de Heian-kyō, la antigua capital.
En el extremo oriental de la calle se encuentra el Santuario Yasaka y en el occidental el Santuario Matsunoo. La calle es especialmente transitada por peatones y tráfico desde el extremo este hasta la calle Karasuma. El extremo este pasa por el distrito cortesano de Gion, con la histórica calle de Hanami que se ramifica hacia el sur, con la famosa Ichiriki Chaya en la esquina. Luego cruza el río Kamo en el puente Shijō, y desde allí hasta la calle Karasuma (Shijō Karasuma) la acera está cubierta (excepto en las calles principales) y cuenta con varios grandes almacenes, como Daimaru y Marui. El centro de esta zona es la intersección con la calle Kawaramachi (Shijō Kawaramachi), una zona comercial muy concurrida.
La ciudad de Kioto ha impuesto la prohibición de fumar en esta calle, en el concurrido tramo que va desde el santuario de Yasaka hasta la calle Karasuma, y en los distritos circundantes.
Durante el Gion Matsuri, en el mes de julio, se construyen en la calle el Naginata-hoko, el Kanko-boko, el Tsuki-hoko, el Kakkyo-yama y el Shijō-Kasa-Boko. La calle también forma parte del recorrido del desfile Yamaboko Junkō.
The famous red entrance gate of Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) at the eastern end of Shijo Street (四条通り) in Gion (祇園), Kyoto (京都) Japan.
Congrats to Kyoto City to be voted as World's Best and Most Intriguing City by the famous "Travel + Leisure" travel magazine, for the second year in a row.
Camera Information:
Model: Sony ILCE-6000 (A6000), Focal Length: 24mm
Lens: Sony 24mm f/1.8 Wide-Angle Prime Lens Alpha E-mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar Optics (SEL24F18Z).
Gion (祇園 o 祇をん) es un distrito de Kioto, Japón, originado en tiempos equivalentes a la Edad Media europea. Este lugar está ubicado frente al Santuario Yasaka y es mundialmente famoso por la existencia centenaria de las geishas. Es también conocido por el Gion Matsuri, un festival tradicional que toma su nombre del barrio.
El origen de las casas de té de Gion data de los tiempos del shogunato de Toyotomi Hideyoshi (finales del Siglo XVI); Cuando Hideyoshi ascendió al poder, lo trasladó al pueblo de Fushimi. Pero debido a los deseos de divertirse en la ciudad de Heian-kyō (la actual Kioto), un nuevo lugar ocupó su antigua ubicación: Gion. Se formaron posadas alrededor del Santuario de Yasaka, en la calle Shijo, que al principio fueron simples tabernas llamadas nizukakejaya hasta llegar a transformarse en casas de té. Y esta zona se convirtió en lo que acabó siendo como Gion Kobu.
Esta parte de la ciudad de Kioto tiene dos distritos donde hay geishas (los llamados Hanamachi): Gion Kobu y Gion Higashi. Aún por la considerable declinación en el número de geishas en Gion en los pasados 100 años, sigue siendo famoso por la preservación de la arquitectura tradicional japonesa, así como de los modos y artes de entretenimiento.
Hay una creencia errónea acerca de que Gion fue un distrito de prostitución. Sin embargo, en realidad fue un distrito de geishas y puesto que una geisha es una artista del entretenimiento y no una prostituta, Gion no es ni ha sido nunca un distrito de burdeles. En Kioto, como en toda gran ciudad, sí hay y hubo prostitución, siendo el barrio de Shimabara en donde se encontraban las prostitutas.
Gion (祇園) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originating as an entertainment district in the Sengoku period, in front of Yasaka Shrine (Gion 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 is the Japanese translation (via Chinese Qiyuan) of the Buddhist term Jetavana.
The geisha in Kyoto do not refer to themselves as geisha, instead using the local term 'geiko'. While the term geisha means "artist" or "person of the arts", the more direct term geiko means essentially "a woman of art".
Gion houses two hanamachi, or geisha districts: Gion Kobu (祇園甲部) and Gion Higashi (祇園東). The two were originally the same district, but split many years ago. Gion Kobu is larger, occupying most of the district including the famous street Hanamikoji, while Gion Higashi is smaller and occupies the northeast corner, centered on its rehearsal hall. Despite the considerable decline in the number of geisha in Gion in the last century, the area is still famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.
Part of this 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.
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社 Yasaka-jinja), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社 Gion-jinja), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The Yasaka shrine is dedicated to Susanoo as its chief kami, with his consort Kushinadahime on the east, and eight offspring deities (yahashira no mikogami) on the west. The yahashira no mikogami include Yashimajinumi no kami, Itakeru no kami, Ōyatsuhime no kami, Tsumatsuhime no kami, Ōtoshi no kami, Ukanomitama no kami, Ōyatsuhiko no kami, and Suseribime no mikoto.
Initial construction on the Shrine began in 656. The Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers be sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō added three more shrines to Murakami's list. Three years later in 994, Ichijō refined the scope of that composite list by adding Umenomiya Shrine and Gion Shrine.
From 1871 through 1946, Yasaka Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
Shijō Kawaramachi, Kyoto, October 13th 2016. More pictures at jesussimeon.wordpress.com/2016/12/05/al-oscurecer-cafe-en...
Yasaka Sanctuary once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The dance stage with hundreds of lanterns get lit in the evenings. Each lantern bears the name of a local business in return for a donation.
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in Japan Kyoto
攝於日本京都
Teramachi Street (寺町通 teramachidōri) is a historical street in Kyoto, Japan, running north-south. The area extending from Shijō Street to somewhat above Sanjō Street is an arcade containing an assortment of shops and services, both traditional and modern. The street's name literally means "Temple Town", similar to English "Templeton", and reflects the large number of temples moved there during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's remodeling of Kyoto in the 16th century.
寺町通（てらまちどおり）は京都市の南北の通りの一つ。北は紫明通から南は五条通まで。途中の三条通で以北に比べ以南は西に少しずれており、真っ直ぐではないのが特徴。三条以北は平安京の東京極大路（ひがしきょうごくおおじ）にあたる。
都の東端の大路であったが、右京の衰退や相次ぐ戦乱等によって京都御所が移転してきたため、現在は京都御苑の東を限る通りとなっている。豊臣秀吉による京都改造によって天正18年、通りの東側に寺院が集められたことからこの名前になった。本能寺もこの時、現在の中京区元本能寺南町からこの通りに移された。寺町三条にある通りのずれは、ここに大寺である誓願寺が現在の上京区元誓願寺町から移されたため生じた。
寺を集めた目的は、税の徴収の効率化と京都の防衛であった。東の御土居に沿うように寺を配置することで東から進入する軍勢の戦意の低下をねらったと言われる。急遽移転させられた寺院の負担が大変であったことがフロイスの『日本史』に書かれている。鴨川に近く、狭隘な敷地が多かったためしばしば水害や火災に見舞われた。この頃、洛中北部にも、聚楽第の北辺を守る形で京都改造の一環として同じく寺院集中地区である「寺之内」が形成されたが、寺町と違って水害の不安の無い高燥地で、法華寺院のしかもいずれも大寺が配置されたため、寺町との環境の差は歴然としていた。このため、寺町の寺からは「奉行の前田玄以が法華宗だからいい場所を法華寺院に与えた」との不満が出たと伝えられるが、実際は寺町にも本能寺や妙満寺などの法華寺院が移されていた。相次ぐ火災に見舞われて江戸時代中期以降には寺地を寺町から洛東に移す寺院もあり、例えば真如堂も元禄の大火の後、寺町今出川付近から現在の左京区に移っている。
寺町通（teramachidōri） 是日本京都的一條歷史街道，南北走向。從四條通到三條通的一段是一個商場，包含的經營項目既傳統又現代。在16世紀，豐臣秀吉改建京都時，將市內的大量寺廟集中搬遷至鴨川西岸的寺町，該街的街名即反映這一段歷史。
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社 Yasaka-jinja), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社 Gion-jinja), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The Yasaka shrine is dedicated to Susanoo as its chief kami, with his consort Kushinadahime on the east, and eight offspring deities (yahashira no mikogami) on the west. The yahashira no mikogami include Yashimajinumi no kami, Itakeru no kami, Ōyatsuhime no kami, Tsumatsuhime no kami, Ōtoshi no kami, Ukanomitama no kami, Ōyatsuhiko no kami, and Suseribime no mikoto.
Initial construction on the Shrine began in 656. The Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers be sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō added three more shrines to Murakami's list. Three years later in 994, Ichijō refined the scope of that composite list by adding Umenomiya Shrine and Gion Shrine.
From 1871 through 1946, Yasaka Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社 Yasaka-jinja), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社 Gion-jinja), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The Yasaka shrine is dedicated to Susanoo as its chief kami, with his consort Kushinadahime on the east, and eight offspring deities (yahashira no mikogami) on the west. The yahashira no mikogami include Yashimajinumi no kami, Itakeru no kami, Ōyatsuhime no kami, Tsumatsuhime no kami, Ōtoshi no kami, Ukanomitama no kami, Ōyatsuhiko no kami, and Suseribime no mikoto.
Initial construction on the Shrine began in 656. The Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers be sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō added three more shrines to Murakami's list. Three years later in 994, Ichijō refined the scope of that composite list by adding Umenomiya Shrine and Gion Shrine.
From 1871 through 1946, Yasaka Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
Ponto-chō (先斗町) es un distrito Hanamachi de Kyoto, Japón, conocido por las geishas y hogar de muchas casas de geishas y casas de té tradicionales. Como Gion, Ponto-chō es famoso por la preservación de las formas tradicionales de la arquitectura y el entretenimiento.
El nombre Ponto-chō se dice que es un acrónimo del inglés palabra "punto" o el portugués la palabra "ponto" (también con el significado "punto") y la palabra japonesa "-cho" cuyo significado es ciudad, bloque o calle.1
Ponto-chō se centra en torno a un largo y estrecho callejón empedrado que va desde Shijō-dori a Sanjo-dori, una calle al oeste del río Kamo (Kamo-gawa). Este es también el lugar tradicional del inicio del kabuki, y una estatua de Okuni sigue en pie en el lado opuesto del río.
"Las geishas han existido en Ponto-cho por lo menos desde el siglo 16, al igual que la prostitución y otras formas de entretenimiento. Hoy en día, la zona, iluminada por lámparas tradicionales por la noche, contiene una mezcla de restaurantes muy caros, a menudo con comedor al aire libre junto al río en los patios de madera; casas de geishas y casas de té, burdeles, bares y restaurantes baratos.
El área es también el hogar del Teatro Kaburenjo al final de la calle Sanjo-dori. Este teatro funciona como una sala de prácticas de geisha y dos veces al año desde 1870, las geishas de Kyoto efectúan el Kamogawa Odori, un baile del río Kamogawa, una combinación de danzas tradicionales kabuki, como el teatro, el canto y la interpretación de los instrumentos tradicionales; ofreciendo una rara oportunidad para la gente común para ver las actuaciones de las geishas reales."
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponto-ch%C5%8D
japonismo.com/blog/el-hanamachi-de-pontocho-en-kioto
Ponto-chō (先斗町) is a hanamachi district in Kyoto, Japan, known for its geisha and maiko, and is home to many of the city's okiya and traditional tea houses. Like Gion, Ponto-chō is famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.
The name "Ponto-chō" is said to be a portmanteau of the Portuguese word "ponte" (bridge) and the Japanese word "-chō", meaning town, block or street.
Ponto-chō as a district is for the most part constructed around a long, narrow alleyway, running from Shijō-dōri to Sanjō-dōri, one block west of the Kamo River. This location is also known as the traditional location for the beginning of kabuki as an art form, and a statue of kabuki's founder, Izumo no Okuni, stands on the opposite side of the river. The district's crest is a stylized water plover, or chidori.
Geisha (known locally as geiko) and maiko have existed in Ponto-chō since at least the 16th century, as have prostitution and other forms of entertainment. Today, the area, lit by traditional lanterns at night, contains a mix of exclusive restaurants — often featuring outdoor riverside dining on wooden patios — geisha houses and tea houses, brothels, bars, and cheap eateries.
The area is also home to the Ponto-chō Kaburenjō Theatre at the Sanjō-dōri end of the street. This theatre functions as a practice hall for geisha and maiko, and has functioned as the location for the annual Kamogawa Odori — a combination performance of traditional dance, kabuki-like theatre, singing and the playing of traditional instruments — since the 1870s.
In the 1970s, American anthropologist Liza Dalby visited Kyoto for a year as part of her doctoral studies into the institution of geisha in modern Japanese society, eventually unofficially becoming a geisha as part of her research. Dalby later wrote a well-received book, Geisha, about the experience.
Yasaka Shrine’s welcoming entrance gate is a famous landmark and also a popular photo spot with tourists. The stairs leading up to the two-story rōmon gate are often filled with people trying to get their best shot with the well-known site. Statues of Zuishin warriors are enshrined on both sides of the gate to guard the grounds. Though it’s the shrine’s western entrance rather than its “main” entrance, this gate, flanked by large komainu lion dog statues, stands at the end of the busy Shijō Street and is more often used.
Izumoya, night view from the Shijo Bridge.
Gion, Kyoto, Japan.
The famous Izumoya restaurant with showcase windows lit up at night and people dining inside. The restaurant is next to the Shijo bridge over the Kamo River and close to the Gion-Shijo Station.
Yasaka Shrine, once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The Yasaka shrine is dedicated to Susanoo in the tradition of the Gion faith as its chief kami, with his consort Kushinadahime on the east, and eight offspring deities (yahashira no mikogami) on the west.
Gion Matsuri is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It is held for a month at the begening of summer in Kyoto. Initially Gion Matsuri began to eliminate an epidemic disease which spread out in Kyoto, in the 9th century and has been held annually since 10th century. It contains a ritual tone of purification. After the sacred boy, at the centre, cuts a rice straw rope, in a hoko, which representing to cut a division between this world and that world, the marching of a range of other hokos began on Shijo street.
I had waited for a year to photograph Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto!! All the Kyotoners and travellers get out to a street to celebrate the festival and see the marching of hokos. I joined the festival with Kyoto based photographers and fully enjoyed a mood and intensity of the entire festival!!
(c) Alwyn Greer 2025
21 April 2025
Whilst walking down one of the main shopping streets in Kyoto, I saw this girl and her friend walking toward me so I asked if I could take their portraits (see the other photo I posted earlier). I love the goth punk look and these girls nailed it.
Ponto-chō (先斗町) es un distrito Hanamachi de Kyoto, Japón, conocido por las geishas y hogar de muchas casas de geishas y casas de té tradicionales. Como Gion, Ponto-chō es famoso por la preservación de las formas tradicionales de la arquitectura y el entretenimiento.
El nombre Ponto-chō se dice que es un acrónimo del inglés palabra "punto" o el portugués la palabra "ponto" (también con el significado "punto") y la palabra japonesa "-cho" cuyo significado es ciudad, bloque o calle.1
Ponto-chō se centra en torno a un largo y estrecho callejón empedrado que va desde Shijō-dori a Sanjo-dori, una calle al oeste del río Kamo (Kamo-gawa). Este es también el lugar tradicional del inicio del kabuki, y una estatua de Okuni sigue en pie en el lado opuesto del río.
"Las geishas han existido en Ponto-cho por lo menos desde el siglo 16, al igual que la prostitución y otras formas de entretenimiento. Hoy en día, la zona, iluminada por lámparas tradicionales por la noche, contiene una mezcla de restaurantes muy caros, a menudo con comedor al aire libre junto al río en los patios de madera; casas de geishas y casas de té, burdeles, bares y restaurantes baratos.
El área es también el hogar del Teatro Kaburenjo al final de la calle Sanjo-dori. Este teatro funciona como una sala de prácticas de geisha y dos veces al año desde 1870, las geishas de Kyoto efectúan el Kamogawa Odori, un baile del río Kamogawa, una combinación de danzas tradicionales kabuki, como el teatro, el canto y la interpretación de los instrumentos tradicionales; ofreciendo una rara oportunidad para la gente común para ver las actuaciones de las geishas reales."
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponto-ch%C5%8D
japonismo.com/blog/el-hanamachi-de-pontocho-en-kioto
Ponto-chō (先斗町) is a hanamachi district in Kyoto, Japan, known for its geisha and maiko, and is home to many of the city's okiya and traditional tea houses. Like Gion, Ponto-chō is famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.
The name "Ponto-chō" is said to be a portmanteau of the Portuguese word "ponte" (bridge) and the Japanese word "-chō", meaning town, block or street.
Ponto-chō as a district is for the most part constructed around a long, narrow alleyway, running from Shijō-dōri to Sanjō-dōri, one block west of the Kamo River. This location is also known as the traditional location for the beginning of kabuki as an art form, and a statue of kabuki's founder, Izumo no Okuni, stands on the opposite side of the river. The district's crest is a stylized water plover, or chidori.
Geisha (known locally as geiko) and maiko have existed in Ponto-chō since at least the 16th century, as have prostitution and other forms of entertainment. Today, the area, lit by traditional lanterns at night, contains a mix of exclusive restaurants — often featuring outdoor riverside dining on wooden patios — geisha houses and tea houses, brothels, bars, and cheap eateries.
The area is also home to the Ponto-chō Kaburenjō Theatre at the Sanjō-dōri end of the street. This theatre functions as a practice hall for geisha and maiko, and has functioned as the location for the annual Kamogawa Odori — a combination performance of traditional dance, kabuki-like theatre, singing and the playing of traditional instruments — since the 1870s.
In the 1970s, American anthropologist Liza Dalby visited Kyoto for a year as part of her doctoral studies into the institution of geisha in modern Japanese society, eventually unofficially becoming a geisha as part of her research. Dalby later wrote a well-received book, Geisha, about the experience.