Gion is a historic district located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It originated during the Sengoku period as an entertainment area situated in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was initially established to provide for the needs of travelers and visitors who came to the shrine.
Over time, Gion evolved into one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in Japan. The name Gion is the Japanese translation of the Buddhist term Jetavana, and Yasaka Shrine remains the central site of the Gion faith within the district.