The Perfect 2-Day Gion Itinerary｜How Choosing the Right Base Changes Your Kyoto Trip

After checking in at Hotel Gion Ichirin and leaving your luggage behind so you can move lightly, head straight out into the streets of Gion.
First, settle your mind in a refined Japanese-style space, then slowly switch into the Kyoto journey that begins here.

From Hotel Gion Ichirin, head northeast for about 8 to 10 minutes on foot, and start with Chion-in Temple.
Chion-in Temple, the head temple of Jodo Shu, or Pure Land Sect, is known for its Sanmon Gate, one of the largest wooden structures in Japan.
The feeling of being drawn deeper into the temple grounds with each step up the stone stairs is an exceptional experience even among Kyoto’s shrines and temples.

After leaving Chion-in Temple and passing through the grounds toward Shijo-dori Street, you will arrive at Yasaka Shrine in about five minutes.
Located at the eastern end of Shijo-dori Street, Yasaka Shrine has long been beloved by residents as “Gion-san” and is also the stage of Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival), which began as a prayer to ward off epidemics.
Take in the deep history contained in each building.

From Yasaka Shrine, walk along Hanamikoji-dori Street for just under 10 minutes.
After passing through the stone-paved streets lined with lattice doors, the Sanmon gate of Kenninji Temple will soon come into view.
Said to be Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple, this temple is a place filled with a stillness that makes you forget the bustle outside.
Within the temple grounds, you can view a high-resolution reproduction of the national treasure Wind God and Thunder God Screens up close.

By the time you leave Kenninji Temple, the sky will begin to take on a faint orange hue at dusk.
Take a leisurely stroll along Hanamikoji-dori Street as it quietly begins to change into night.

Continue on to dinner around Hanamikoji-dori Street.
The surrounding area offers a wide range of choices, from famous Kyoto cuisine restaurants to casual izakaya, or Japanese-style pubs.
Enjoy Kyoto’s food culture to the fullest, including yudofu tofu hot pot and Kyoto kaiseki cuisine.
Popular restaurants are best reserved in advance, so it is a good idea to do some research beforehand.

After dinner, try taking a walk through Gion at night.
At night, when there are fewer tourists, it is a time when you can stroll in a calm atmosphere while avoiding crowds.
Walk slowly on your way back to the hotel while enjoying the night scenery of Gion.

After returning to the hotel, head to the mist sauna and bathroom.
For tired legs after a day of walking, the mist sauna is ideal.
Raise your core body temperature in the high-temperature mist sauna, then slowly reset with cooling air.
Because it helps reset your body after a day of walking, you can start the next day’s sightseeing comfortably.

For breakfast, enjoy a Japanese breakfast set slowly in your guest room.
Shinnosuke rice from Niigata, known for its rich sweetness, is complemented by colorful obanzai, Kyoto-style home cooking, made with Kyoto vegetables and carefully selected ingredients, with each dish carefully prepared.
If you leave your luggage at the front desk before checking out, your later movements will be smoother.

After breakfast, head from the hotel toward Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
If you visit first thing in the morning, there are fewer people, allowing you to fully enjoy the quiet temple grounds and scenery.
The view from Kiyomizu Stage is one of the finest scenic views in Kyoto sightseeing.

The stone-paved walking paths that continue from Kiyomizu-dera Temple are full of Kyoto atmosphere.
Souvenir shops, long-established Kyoto sweets stores, and cafes serving matcha sweets line the area, making it enjoyable for shopping and walking while eating.
Since the stone paving continues and there are many stairs, sightseeing in comfortable shoes such as sneakers is recommended.

Return to the hotel once between sightseeing stops and check out at a relaxed pace.
Because sightseeing can be completed within the Gion area, it is also nice that there is no major loss of time from transportation.
After checkout, if you ask, the hotel can hold your luggage only for that day, allowing you to continue sightseeing lightly.
It is also possible to use the hotel’s partner delivery service or Kuroneko Yamato to send your luggage to your next hotel or destination for a fee.

Move from Gion to Nishiki Market to bring your trip to a close.
At this lively shopping street known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” you can enjoy ingredients and gourmet foods unique to Kyoto, such as fresh fish, Japanese pickles, Kyoto tofu, and yuba, or soy milk skin.
It is also an ideal place for your final souvenir shopping, making it a perfect spot to conclude the trip.