A Look at Kyoto and Its History

This video, titled “The Night Scene of Kyoto (SONY a7S2 4K Pilotfly H2 Gimbal)” (京都の夜動画 - The Night Scene of Kyoto (SONY a7S2 4K Pilotfly H2 ジンバル)), was released by “video channel.”
It showcases the scenery of Kyoto at night in 4K ultra-HD resolution.

What does Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, look like at night?
Kyoto originally prospered as the capital of Japan from the Heian Period (794-1185 A.D.), with many shrines and temples, such as Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizudera Temple, and Kodaiji Temple, and Mt. Inari was a symbol of mountain worship.
Kyoto is a city for adults where you can experience the flow of time differently from other big cities.

Gion – A Beautiful Nightscape in Kyoto

Photo：Gion, Kyoto

There are many tourist attractions in Kyoto, but Gion is the place to be to see Kyoto at night.
Gion is the name of the area in front of Yasaka Shrine, and it has developed into a historic red-light district.
It is also famous as a nightlife district for adults, where tourists and business tycoons from Kyoto and abroad come to have fun at night.
You can see geiko walking around the area at 1:14 in the video.

Kyoto's Gion area alone is full of popular tourist attractions, but the slope that appears throughout the video is Nineizaka, the approach to Kiyomizudera Temple.
There is a dangerous legend that if you fall on Nineizaka, you'll die within two years, so please be very careful when sightseeing! Another famous approach to Kiyomizudera Temple is Sanneizaka.
The slope is lined with many stores, cafes, and restaurants, making it a great spot for eating, dates, and even going for a drive.

Hanamikoji Street in Southern Gion, Kyoto

Photo：Gion's Hanamikoji Street, Kyoto

The main nighttime sightseeing spot in the Gion area where you're most likely to see geiko and maiko is the 1km-long Hanamikoji Street, located on the south side of Gion.
Hanamikoji Street stretches from Sanjo Street to Kenninji Temple, centering on Shijo Street, which is bordered by Yasaka Shrine's Nishiromon Gate.

Also along this street is the site of the annual "Miyako Odori," a dance festival where maiko and geiko compete in artistic competitions, and Tsudaro, a long-established restaurant with a reputation for its Kyoto-style cuisine.

Fushimi Inari Shrine's Omokaruishi (Heavy or light stone): Will Your Wish Come True?

Photo：The thousand torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

A tourist spot in Kyoto that is rapidly gaining popularity among foreigners is Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its shrine approach lined with vermilion torii gates.

At the inner shrine, there is a stone called "Omokaruishi," and legend has it that if you lift it and it feels lighter than you expected, your wish will come true, but if it feels heavier than you expected, your wish is not yet ready to be fulfilled.
Fushimi Inari is the head shrine of all the Inari shrines in Japan, and the shrine is dedicated to foxes as opposed to the usual komainu (guardian dogs).

Shinbashi Street - The Best Place To Enjoy the Old-Fashioned District of Gion

Photo：Gion's Shinbashi Street, Kyoto

Shinbashi Street (Shinbashi-dori) is an area where old fashioned streets and lanterns still remain.
This is the area that retains the strongest traces of Gion, which flourished as a red-light district during the Edo Period (1603-1868 A.D.), and is known as a good place for night sightseeing in Kyoto.

This street is also known as a famous location for viewing cherry blossoms and attracts many tourists in the spring.
Nothing can beat taking a midnight stroll through Kyoto under the illuminated cherry blossoms during the cherry blossom season.

Summary of Kyoto’s Popular Sightseeing Locations

Photo：Yasaka-no-To and Kyoto Tower, Kyoto

In addition to the Gion area, there are many other tourist attractions in Kyoto.
There's the famous Yasaka-no-To, a three-storied pagoda which is the symbol of Kyoto, Kyoto Tower, which offers a panoramic view of Kyoto from its observation deck, and Shogunzuka's Seiryuden Hall, a new landmark built in 2014 at the top of Higashiyama.
One of the most popular power spots for finding love, especially among women, is "Ryu no Atago" (龍の愛宕池, Dragon Pond) located at Arashiyama Station off the Keifuku Dentetsu Arashiyama Line.
To get here, you must pass through Kimono Forest, where 600 Kyo Yuzen pillars line the street.

Kyoto is a beautiful tourist destination, and in order to protect the scenery of the city, there are rules and regulations that prohibit littering, eating, drinking, and smoking outside of designated areas, so please be sure to follow these rules and enjoy your time sightseeing in Kyoto at night!

【Tripadvisor】Kyoto’s Gion District
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d321451-Reviews-Gion-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html