The town where maiko dance, the ancient capital where the world gathers! Gion, Kyoto, Japan, is bustling with many foreign tourists.

[4k video 60fps] When the evening light gently entangles the latticed windows of wooden houses, Gion, Kyoto, reaches its most shining moment of the day. The willows along the Shirakawa River sway, and the cobblestone road shines faintly as if polished. This is a place where the passage of time is dyed with unique shades of light and dark. It is a stage where tradition and tourism, tranquility and bustle show a mysterious harmony.

This area, which stretches from the vermilion-painted tower gate of Yasaka Shrine to the foot of Higashiyama, strongly retains the appearance of the "geisha district" that conveys the Edo atmosphere to the present day. Townhouses with insect cage windows and Kyoto lattices are lined up, and each one quietly speaks of the craftsmanship and aesthetic sense of the artisans. The sophisticated latticed bay windows, called "komayose", are not just decorations, but a delicate boundary between the inside and the visitors. When the lanterns hanging from the eaves are faintly lit, the town takes on deeper shadows, creating an atmosphere as if a single ink painting had come to life.

In the midst of all this, maiko appear from the corner of the stone pavement like delicate butterflies fluttering out. They are dressed in "sushibiki" attire, with gorgeous patterns dyed into their newly painted white collars. Seasonal flowers and delicate hairpins sway from their high-tied "shimada-mage". Their modest smiles, with their "ocho-guchi" pouting lips dyed vermilion, are slightly visible. Their every move is imbued with the "space" and elegance cultivated through rigorous training. The beauty of their obi ties as they walk by quickly captures the hearts of those who see them. They are the living cultural heritage of this town, walking works of art.

And in recent years, foreign tourists with a truly diverse background have brought new color and liveliness to this good old streetscape. From Europe, Asia, and the Americas. A ripple of various languages ​​creates a pleasant buzz in the alleys of Gion.

"Beautiful!" "Amazing!" "Wonderful!" -- words of emotion spill out of their mouths in various languages ​​as they hold up their cameras and smartphones. They follow the fleeting appearance of the maiko passing by with eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity. In front of long-established restaurants and tea houses, exclamations rise up at the stately presence and the craftsmanship that resides in the details. One group was gazing at the intricate beauty of the seasonal fresh sweets (namagashi) displayed in the display case of a Japanese confectionery shop, while another group of young people were quietly praying in front of the torii gate of a small shrine tucked away in a back alley.

Their presence was by no means a disturbance to the tranquility of the town. Rather, the fresh gazes of amazement and respect cast upon them from a different culture reminded us of the universal beauty and cultural value of this town. "It's like I've wandered into the world of ukiyo-e," muttered an elderly gentleman, to which the owner of a long-established local store passed by with a smile and a slight bow. Such small moments of international exchange make this place even more enriching.

Gion has a quiet presence during the day. The sounds of geisha and maiko practicing shamisen and drums can be heard faintly in the back of the townhouses, and there are few tourists on the main streets. However, when the sun sinks behind the mountain and the lanterns are lit, the town changes completely. Cars line up in front of restaurants and teahouses, and the cobblestone streets begin to fill with locals in yukata and tourists strolling around enjoying the cool evening air. In the alleys, where there is no flashlight and only the soft light of the lanterns illuminates the road, you may suddenly pass a maiko. At that moment, you are enveloped in a mysterious feeling as if you have transcended time and space.

Gion is by no means a museum closed off to the past. It is a "crossroads of living culture" where the backstage of breathing traditions and lively praise from around the world intersect. The momentary sparkle of the maiko, the shadowy appearance of the townhouses, and the astonished gazes of people from all over the world - all these things blend together to continue to carve out a unique "now" in the heart of this ancient capital, Kyoto.