Shinbashi Street

Shinbashi Street, the most beautiful traditional lane of Gion

Barely one hundred and sixty metres long, Shinbashi Street is like a time machine. Its traditional wooden houses, the machiya, line up along a cobbled roadway, in the Gion district. The Kyoto audio-guided tour lingers here to savour one of the most authentic and preserved scenes in the city.

A row of preserved machiya

Shinbashi Street keeps a remarkable row of machiya, the wooden townhouses typical of Kyoto, along a cobbled street. Linked to the Gion geisha district, it is among the best-preserved streets in the city, often cited as one of the most beautiful in Japan. Its wooden façades, its chochin lanterns and its hushed atmosphere make it a timeless setting.

What to see

People come here to admire the perfect alignment of the machiya, the lanterns and the cobbled street, especially at dusk, when the chochin come on. It is one of the most photographed places in Gion, where you feel all the beauty of traditional Kyoto. The street lends itself to a contemplative walk, away from the bustle, with respect for the place and its inhabitants.

Practical information

Shinbashi Street lies in the Gion district, in the centre of Kyoto, reachable on foot. It is a public street, freely accessible, to be walked on foot and with respect, as it is an inhabited district where geishas live and work. The end of the day offers the finest light; it is best to avoid the busiest hours and to preserve the tranquillity of the place.

Why is Shinbashi Street famous?

For its remarkable row of traditional wooden houses, the machiya, along a cobbled street in Gion, considered one of the most beautiful lanes in Kyoto.

What are machiya?

They are the traditional wooden townhouses of Kyoto, of which Shinbashi Street keeps a fine preserved row.