Recommended Gion Date Course for a Rainy Yukata Date in Kyoto
If you were looking forward to your Kyoto sightseeing date, you’ll find that Kyoto is bustling with festivals in the summer.
Starting with the Gion Matsuri, along the Kamogawa River near Gion in Kyoto, you’ll see the Kamogawa Noryo Yuka, a summer tradition, and Kyoto will be filled with the spirit of summer.
Let’s enjoy the summer atmosphere together in yukatas. And even if it happens to rain, we’ll introduce some fun Kyoto date spots that you can enjoy in the rain!
If you’re interested in female travel information rather than couples, check out this article!
> Recommended Kimono Walking Information for Those Renting Kimonos for a Kyoto Girls’ Trip
Rent Yukatas for a Date When Visiting Kyoto’s Gion in Summer
In Kyoto’s Gion, you’ll find tea houses, a flower district where traditional Kyoto townhouses remain, and various scenes that embody Kyoto’s charm.
When visiting Kyoto’s Gion in the summer, yukatas are the perfect choice to blend in with the atmosphere!
If you’ve come to Kyoto as a couple, consider renting yukatas together for a fun date!
Indoor Date Spots in Kyoto’s Gion for Enjoying Even on Rainy Days
It’s disappointing when you’ve rented a kimono in Kyoto, but it starts to rain. You might wonder what to do in such a situation.
However, there are many spots in Kyoto’s Gion where you can enjoy your kimono even in the rain. Kyoto in the rain also has its unique charm.
World Cultural Heritage: Kennin-ji Temple
If it’s just light rain, we recommend visiting Kennin-ji Temple nearby. It’s only about a 5-minute walk south from Hanamikoji, which runs north-south through Kyoto’s Gion.
Kennin-ji Temple belongs to the Rinzai Zen sect and is the third-ranked temple among the Kyoto Gozan. It was founded by Eisai.
The temple grounds feature an array of buildings lined up in a straight line, and their size is astonishing. Not only the buildings but also many cultural assets are well-preserved here.
Among them, the “Souryuzu” painting on the ceiling of the Hattou (Dharma Hall) is particularly famous. The painting gives the impression that the two dragons are about to come to life and devour you. It’s spread across an area equivalent to 108 tatami mats, with one dragon having its mouth open and the other closed, symbolizing the “A-un” concept.
Inside the important cultural property “Hojo” (abbot’s quarters), there are sliding door paintings, and one of them depicts the “Fujin Raijin-zu” (Wind God and Thunder God) painting. It measures 154.5cm in height and 169.8cm in width, and since it’s a reproduction, it’s okay to take photos of it. The original is carefully preserved at the Kyoto National Museum.
Kanji Museum
Originally, this place used to be Yaei Junior High School until 2011, and then it was repurposed to become the Kanji Museum and Library in June 2016.
When you hear “kanji,” you might imagine a difficult museum, but it’s completely different. It’s a museum where you can enjoy kanji.
The interior is two stories, with the first floor primarily being an exhibition space and a place to experience and enjoy the history of kanji.
When you enter the museum, you’ll find this year’s kanji displayed prominently. There’s also a massive 30-meter-long panel called the “Kanji History Scroll” in the exhibition space.
Additionally, there’s an exhibition of tools that were used for writing kanji and an introduction to what materials kanji were written on throughout history. Initially, characters were written on materials like sand, soil, tortoise shells, animal bones, stones, bronze items, wood, bamboo, silk, paper, and other materials before evolving with the times to be displayed on monitors.
As part of the history of writing, you can use stamps for the Manyogana to stamp your name and learn about the differences between oracle bone script and modern kanji using the experience sheet you receive at the entrance.
On the second floor, there’s a playful space with plenty of fun activities related to kanji, such as investigating difficult-to-read kanji used in Kyoto’s place names (for example, “Ikko” – “いもあらい”) and a game called “Kanji Rotating Sushi” focusing on fish-related kanji.
There’s also a library where you can spend some leisurely time.
Yasakaikan Gion Corner
This spot allows you to watch seven traditional performing arts. The Yozakai-kan is a building located right next to the Gion Kaburenjo, and its exterior stands out, resembling a white egret castle. It looks like a castle!
The traditional performing arts include Kyoto dance, tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arrangement), gagaku (court music), kyogen (traditional comedy), bunraku (puppet theater), and koto music.
Many of these are not something you see every day, so it’s a great opportunity to stop by and watch them. You can also view year-round events in Kyoto’s five hanamachi (geisha districts) through videos.
The exterior, featuring a mix of Japanese and Western-style architecture reminiscent of Japanese castles, is said to be fantastic. However, the Imperial Hotel is planning to renovate it and use it as a hotel, scheduled for completion in 2020.
If you miss it now, you might not get to see it anymore!
Kitaza Building “Kitaza Gion Omoide Museum”
In the Edo period, Gion had seven playhouses, but today, only the Minami-za Theatre remains.
Across Shijo Street from Minami-za Theatre, where the Kitaza Building stands today, there used to be the Kita-za Theatre until Meiji 25.
On the first floor of the current Kitaza Building, you’ll find the Izu Hachihashi Honpo Gion Main Store.
The famous Kyoto specialty, higashi (dry sweets) in the shape of a koto (a traditional Japanese musical instrument), is said to be the origin of “hachihashi,” but nowadays, there are various types of higashi available, and the freshly made higashi also has a delightful aroma and taste.
You can purchase souvenirs here, but on the second floor, you’ll find the Itsuzu Tea Shop, where you can enjoy unique sweets that you can’t find anywhere else. One such sweet is called “Ekijuto” or “Eki-ju-to.”
It’s made with ingredients like honey, wasanbon sugar, Korean ginseng, and reishi mushrooms, and it seems like a healthy treat just from hearing about the ingredients. You can buy individual pieces to try it out.
On the fifth floor, there’s the “Kitaza Gion Omoide Museum,” where you can learn about the history of Gion. It provides various perspectives on the charm of literary figures and maiko (apprentice geisha) associated with Gion.
Also, the Kamogawa Noryo-yuka, which conveys the arrival of summer, is an excellent location to view it from here, across the river.
Kanzashi Making Experience
Hanabira Hitotsu is located north of Shijo Street, and at the Gion Main Store, you can experience making kanzashi (traditional hair ornaments) and accessories.
While there are many shops selling Japanese accessories, creating your own from a selection of materials will make for the perfect souvenir!
This experience involves using tsumami craft petals to make kanzashi, biais tape, and earrings. You can choose from dozens of different types of petals, so selecting ones that match your yukata for the day will be wonderful.
Rainy Day Shopping Without Getting Wet! Introducing Souvenir Spots
It can be challenging to walk around in the rain to buy souvenirs in Kyoto. If you’d rather not use an umbrella and want to explore various places indoors, consider visiting the spots we’ll introduce here.
Shijo Street
Shijo Street is the main street in the Gion area of Kyoto, and it’s lined with many shops.
There are roofs on the sidewalks, so you’ll be fine even in the rain!
You’ll find what you’re looking for here. For women, you might be familiar with the “Yojiya” shop, which sells oil blotting paper, located at the intersection of Shijo Street and Hanamikoji.
By the way, if you ever get lost in Kyoto, try looking for the names of intersections.
One distinctive feature of Kyoto is that the north-south and east-west streets form a grid-like pattern like a game board.
Most intersection names are made up of two street names that intersect, making it easy to figure out where you are just by looking at the name. Feel free to use this trick when searching for shops.
Shinkyogoku
When you come to Kyoto for a school trip, Shinkyogoku is a popular spot to buy souvenirs.
If you walk west on Shijo Street from Gion in the direction of the north for about 10 minutes, you’ll reach Shinkyogoku Street. It’s a shopping street established in Meiji 5, and it has an arcade, so you can enjoy it regardless of the weather.
Not only for shopping, but you’ll also find Seigan-ji Temple, the birthplace of rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling), and Honno-ji Temple, where Oda Nobunaga met his fate, nearby.
Nishiki Market
While walking along Shinkyogoku, if you head west on the road called Nishiki Koji Street, you’ll reach Nishiki Market.
You’ve probably heard of it, but it’s right here in the heart of Kyoto. It’s a shopping street about 400 meters long, with a very retro and colorful arcade, so continuing from Shinkyogoku is a good idea.
While you came to buy souvenirs, you might end up doing a lot of food tasting here.
Kyoto Souvenir: Yatsuhashi
Yatsuhashi is a famous Kyoto specialty, but did you know there are various shops selling it?
As mentioned earlier, the Kitaza building houses Izu Hachihashi, but there are also other shops like Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi, Seigoin Yatsuhashi, Otabe, and Motoyoshi Yatsuhashi Tamechika Shop.
Each shop has its own unique characteristics and flavors, so it’s best to choose according to your preference, but here’s a brief introduction to each. Seigoin Yatsuhashi has created a new brand called “nikiniki” to promote Yatsuhashi to younger generations.
This Yatsuhashi goes beyond the traditional and resembles an art piece. It’s Yatsuhashi in colorful, cute bite-sized shapes like accessories or animals, making it a Yatsuhashi that you might want to display or keep as a souvenir.
The Yatsuhashi from “Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi” is known for being completely handmade and free from additives. Its shape is also different from others; it’s square instead of triangular.
It’s an ideal choice for those who are not fond of the traditional Yatsuhashi’s cinnamon flavor. “Otabe’s” fresh Yatsuhashi is popular among younger people, and they have a chocolate version called “Otabe Chocolat,” which doesn’t have the traditional cinnamon flavor.
Instead of cinnamon, cocoa is used, making it easier to eat. They also have “Kotabe,” which contains five pieces of Yatsuhashi and is perfect for souvenirs with its adorable name.
Creating Summer Memories in Kyoto Gion with Yukata Dates, Even in the Rain ♡
We’ve introduced various date spots in Kyoto Gion that you can enjoy even when it’s raining, so you won’t be disappointed when it rains on your Kyoto trip.
On a rainy day, you might even have more time to explore each spot thoroughly than on a typical day.
Don’t you think that exploring rainy Kyoto together can be quite charming?
Author of this article
Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2023, they served over 230,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
Kyoto Kimono Rental Rikawafuku
Kimono Rental Rikawafuku Gion Store
Kimono Rental Rikawafuku Arashiyama Store
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