Shijo Street, home to the Shijo Hanei-kai Shopping Street, is one of Kyoto’s most important downtown streets. Shijo Street is intimately linked to both Kyoto's old and new cultural history. It is a place bursting with energy and where people of all ages and occupations intersect.
Shijo Street runs almost through the center of Kyoto city from east to west. It starts from the symbolic torii shrine gate of Yasaka Shrine on Higashioji Street. The gate is called Sakura-mon which is often referred to as Ishidan-shita (below the stone platform) by the local people. The street stretches west all the way to Matsuo Shrine which is backed by the green steep slopes that border the western edge of the city. Historically, Shijo Street used to be known as Shijo-oji Street in the Heian-kyo capital of Kyoto, which Emperor Kanmu founded in 794.
The area known as the Shijo Hanei-kai Shopping Street, which lies between Karasuma and Kawaramachi, is Kyoto’s largest and most prestigious downtown shopping area. Everything from traditional craft shops and modern stylish shops to large department stores and international name brand businesses line both side of the street.
This area of Shijo Street is an important shopping street but it also serves at the main avenue for the annual Gion Festival (July), one of the three largest festivals in Japan. The Gion Festival is a gorgeous historical event that has been held in the month of July since Kyoto was founded. It is an annual festival that is intimately linked with Yasaka Shrine. The three largest festivals in Japan are the Gion Festival, the Tenjin Festival in Osaka, and Sanno (Kanda) Festival in Tokyo. In Kyoto, the three most important festivals are the Gion Matsuri, the Aoi Festival (May) associated with the highly important shrines of Kamigamo and Shimogamo, and the Jidai Festival (October) hosted by Heian Shrine.
The highlight of the Gion Festival is Yoi-yama, on July 15th and 16th, when people light lanterns along Shijo Street and traditional festival music is played. The festivals climax is on the 17th when massive and gorgeously decorated floats are pulled by many locals along Shijo from Karasuma to Kawaramachi before turning the corner and heading north to Oike Streets.
The eastern end of Shijo Street passes through the heart of Kyoto's most prestigious geiko and maiko flower town, Gion.
Shijo Street is a very attractive street and reflects many aspects for which Kyoto is world famous. When you visit Kyoto, don’t miss the chance to experience this exciting street and make your time in Kyoto unforgettable.