Kimono rental at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The rainy season is humid and depressing. Some people feel reluctant to go out and tend to stay at home. However, there are many Instagrammable spots in Gion that you can enjoy even during the rainy season. Here are some recommended spots to rent a kimono and visit even on rainy days.

Recommended spots in Gion to rent a kimono and visit

Among the many tourist spots in Gion, we have compiled a list of Instagrammable spots that can be enjoyed even during the rainy season, and are especially attractive on rainy days.

Recommended spot 1: Yasaka Koshindo (Kongo-ji Temple)

Kongoji Temple, commonly known as Yasaka Koshindo, is popular for its Instagram-worthy photos, and is one of the must-see tourist spots when you come to Gion. The colorful and cute tied monkeys look great with kimonos, and you can take gorgeous photos that are sure to be Instagram-worthy. The temple is popular for its beautiful autumn leaves, but the contrast between the green maples and the tied monkeys during the rainy season is also attractive. Please note that the tied monkeys are like amulets with other people's wishes written on them, so be careful not to touch or pull them carelessly when taking photos. The cute, round tied monkeys actually represent the shape of a monkey with its hands and feet tied. It is said that the monkeys represent human instincts, and that by suppressing one desire, one wish will be granted.

In addition to taking photos, why not buy a tied-up monkey and make a wish? Yasaka Koshindo is a little far from the nearest Gion-Shijo Station, about a 15-minute walk away, but there are plenty of popular gourmet foods in the area, such as coffee from "Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama" and dorayaki from "Kinakoya." We recommend enjoying a stroll through the tranquil and elegant Gion area while enjoying some food. If you want to avoid getting wet in the rain, take a city bus from Kyoto Station and get off at the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, which is about a 3-minute walk away.

Recommended Spot 2: Gion Shirakawa

Hydrangeas are at their best during the rainy season. In Kyoto, the hydrangeas at Fujimori Shrine and Mimuroto Temple are famous, but you can also see beautiful hydrangeas along Gion Shirakawa. There are particularly many hydrangeas blooming along Shirakawa between Yamatobashi and Tatsumibashi, and the elegant and gorgeous scenery that suits the atmosphere of the geisha district is sure to be Instagram-worthy. Sunny days are nice, but the vibrant beauty of hydrangeas wet with rain is exceptional. Gion Shirakawa is a popular photo spot for wedding photos and foreign tourists, so it is often crowded, but on rainy days there are fewer people and you can take your time taking photos. It is located about a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, so it is easy to access even in the rain, which is one of the recommended points.

Recommended spot 3: Ishibekoji

This is a retro spot in Gion that was built in the early Taisho period. The contrast between the stone-paved road, the gas lamps installed here and there, and the townhouse-style buildings is atmospheric in itself, but on rainy days it feels even more dreary. The winding alley is lined with inns, restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments, creating a truly Kyoto-like landscape. If you want to take more Instagram-worthy photos, be sure to go in the evening or at night. The gas lamps reflect in the puddles, creating a fantastic atmosphere that makes you feel as if you have wandered into another world. Ishibekomichi is located south of Yasaka Shrine, but be careful as it is a little difficult to find. Look for the street lamp at the entrance to the alley that says "Ishibekomichi."

Recommended spot #4: Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market, Kyoto's kitchen, is popular as a gourmet spot, but it's also a great spot for taking photogenic pictures on Instagram. Located just north of Shijo Street, this market is an arcade with about 130 stores lined up along a 400m street between Teramachi-dori and Takakura-dori, making it a great spot for sightseeing on a rainy day. The colorful ceiling is also a highlight, but the biggest attraction of Nishiki Market is the abundance of Instagram-worthy food to eat on the go. There is a wide selection of food to eat on the go that tastes and looks good, such as the round soy milk matcha soft serve ice cream, the cute hedgehog buns with spikes, and takotamago, a small octopus head with a quail egg inside. It's delicious to eat, photogenic, and visually pleasing, making it the ultimate spot. One thing to note is that it is very crowded as it is popular with foreign tourists. Nishiki Market is crowded with people even on weekdays, and on weekends and holidays it gets so crowded that it's difficult to move around, making it a no-brainer to leisurely enjoy eating your way around. If you can only go on weekends, it's best to visit around 10 am. It's also recommended to choose a restaurant that has an eat-in space.

Recommended spot 5: Yasaka Pagoda

Located halfway between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda is officially called Hokan-ji Temple and is a popular landmark of Gion. The best spot is the slope going up from Higashioji to the east, where there are many shops lined up, so you can enjoy a stroll and take some Instagram-worthy photos. The scenery, which is typical of the ancient capital of Kyoto, where the old townscape and the five-story pagoda match perfectly, is very charming.

Recommended spot ⑥ Kodaiji Temple

Kodaiji Temple was built by Kodai-in, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, who was also known by the alias "Nene." Located close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Shrine, Kodaiji Temple is famous for its autumn leaves, but the green leaves wet with rain are also beautiful, making it a great spot for Instagram. There are several recommended spots for taking photos within the temple grounds, but if you're wearing a kimono, we highly recommend the Daidokoro-zaka slope from Nene-no-michi to the temple grounds. Your colorful kimono will look great against the fresh green leaves soaked with rain. Concerts are also held on Saturdays from May to September, so why not enjoy them as well?

Recommended spot 7: Kenninji Temple

This temple is located at the end of Hanamikoji, the main street of Gion. Many temples and shrines in Kyoto do not allow photography, but Kenninji Temple allows it. There are many Instagrammable exhibits, such as the dazzling bright blue sliding door painting "Funade" and the impressive ceiling painting "Two Dragons". Another recommended Instagrammable spot is the "Circle, △, □ Garden". The garden is surrounded by a corridor, so you can take photos from various angles. On rainy days, the moss in the garden gets moist, making the scenery even more lush and deep.

Instagrammable Gourmet in Gion

Gion has a lot of delicious, Instagram-worthy gourmet food. If you get tired of walking around, why not stop by for a break?

Gion Mame Tora

The restaurant has the atmosphere of a Gion teahouse, making it the perfect place to visit in a kimono.

The lunchtime bean sushi set features cute, small and colorful temari sushi that are sure to look great on Instagram. Of course, it's not just the look, it's also guaranteed to taste great.

Keys Cafe

Located in an excellent location right in front of Yasaka Pagoda, this cafe is semi-underground and has a hideaway-like atmosphere. The coffee menu with latte art of the five-story pagoda is very popular as it looks great on Instagram. The Kyoto Hon Kuzu Ice, also decorated with Yasaka Pagoda, is photogenic and attractive. It is made by melting and freezing kudzu starch, so it does not drip even when it melts, and there is no need to worry about staining your kimono.

Soiree

Soiree, located in Kawaramachi, is a cafe with a charming Western-style retro atmosphere. Its Taisho-era romantic atmosphere goes perfectly with kimonos. This cafe specializes in sweets made with jelly, such as jelly yogurt and jelly wine, but the signature dish, "jelly punch," is breathtakingly beautiful and perfect for Instagram. Colorful jellies in yellow and green float in slightly sweet soda, creating a fantastic appearance and a bouncy texture that you can enjoy.

Recommended spots in Gion to rent a kimono and visit

There are many rainy days during the rainy season, and going out can be a hassle. However, Gion has many Instagrammable spots that can be enjoyed even on rainy days. We recommend relaxing in covered areas such as Nishiki Market and Kenninji Temple, and taking pictures of the mellow, atmospheric rain at Ishibekoji and Kodaiji Temple is also a good idea. Rainy days can often make you feel depressed, so why not rent a gorgeous kimono in Kyoto and enjoy a stroll around Gion?