Kyoto Hanamachi
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| Map of Kyoto kagai | |
There are currently five active hanamachi in Kyoto (in Kyoto these are generally called kagai instead of "hanamachi"), sometimes referred to as gokagai (五花街?, 5 hanamachi); there were previously six, but Shimabara is now defunct, remaining as a tourist attraction.
- Gion (separated as Gion Kōbu and Gion Higashi)
- Miyagawa-chō
- Kamishichiken
- Ponto-chō
Defunct:
- Shimabara – also previous courtesans' district (only one in Kyoto, one of three in Japan)
These are primarily clustered around the Kamo river, from Sanjō Street (3rd Street) to Gojō Street (5th Street), particularly around Shijō Street – four of the five districts are in this area. Kamishichiken is separated from the others, being far to the northwest, while the defunct district of Shimabara is also located to the west. Narrowly speaking, districts are centered around their respective rehearsal halls (歌舞練場, kabu renjō?, lit. singing and dancing training space).