Gion in Japanese — 祇園
Gion is a landmark in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 祇園, read ぎおん. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
祇園
| Kana | ぎおん |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Gion |
| English | Gion |
| Category | Landmarks & districts |
| Location | Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Prefecture 東山区 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 祇園
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 東山区, 京都府.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
District names cover a wide area, so drivers will ask for a corner of it. The card gets you into the right neighbourhood; add a building or intersection in the note field to finish the job.
Nearby places of the same kind
- 先斗町 — Pontochō, Nakagyō Ward
- 錦市場 — Nishiki Market, Nakagyō Ward
- 哲学の道 — Philosopher's Path, Sakyō-ku
- 嵐山 — Arashiyama, Ukyō Ward
- 梅田スカイビル — Umeda Sky Building, Ōyodo-Naka
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 祇園?
祇園 is read ぎおん, romanised Gion. English-language sources usually write it Gion. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Gion to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 祇園 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Gion?
For a well-known landmark the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This landmark is in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.