Walking in Gion, my latest article for Chris Rowthorn’s Inside Kyoto, is now available online. For this piece I took a daytime tour of Gion’s main sites and historical landmarks, taking in some craft and antique shops and sweet shops on the way. I spent a long time on Hanami-koji, trying to get a decent shot of the Ichiriki Chaya unobscured by face-masked pedestrians and tourists with selfie sticks. This was the final result of my persistence.
![The Ichiriki Chaya](https://www.deepkyoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/walking-gion-5.jpg)
My favorite spot though is away from the busy streets and in Kennin-ji, Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple. This temple complex is pretty big, but doesn’t get so crowded, and you get a real sense of peace from the raked stone gardens. Here are a couple of pictures from Kennin-ji that I didn’t have space for in my article.
![Kennin-ji... As I passed a monk was chanting sutras in this little sanctuary.](https://www.deepkyoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_8761-Medium.jpg)
![The Toyobo tea house (1587) has resided at various locations around Kyoto but now is situated at the back of Kennin-ji gardens across some stepping stones. You have to put some slippers on to reach it.](https://www.deepkyoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_8755-Medium.jpg)
You can read the article here: Walking in Gion
See also:
Kyoto Samurai
Toka Ebisu