Pontochō in Japanese — 先斗町
Pontochō is a landmark in Nakagyō Ward, Kyoto Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 先斗町, read ぽんとちょう. 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
先斗町
| Kana | ぽんとちょう |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Pontochō |
| English | Pontochō |
| Category | Landmarks & districts |
| Location | Nakagyō Ward, Kyoto Prefecture 中京区 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 先斗町
- 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: 中京区, 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
- 錦市場 — Nishiki Market, Nakagyō Ward
- 祇園 — Gion, Higashiyama-ku
- 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 先斗町?
先斗町 is read ぽんとちょう, romanised Pontochō. English-language sources usually write it Pontochō. 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 Pontochō to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 先斗町 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 Pontochō?
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 Nakagyō Ward, Kyoto Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.