Every Wednesday morning, trash pick-up continues in the Gion Shopping Arcade in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward. The initiative, initiated by shop owners with the belief that "town development starts with cleaning," has strengthened local ties and even attracted participation from other areas. Purifying this world-famous tourist destination and concluding with a visit to Yasaka Shrine is popular, as it's seen as a "refreshing start to the day." New participants are also welcome, expanding the circle of people involved.
The clean-up activity was started by the Gion Shopping Arcade Promotion Association in 2023. Positioning the area as "a town where you can encounter Japanese aesthetics," the clean-up is seen as a step toward developing it into a high-quality tourist destination.
Every morning, starting at 7 a.m., participants sweep Shijo Street and Shirakawa-suji with bamboo brooms. On November 26, approximately 25 people participated, brushing dust off the sidewalks and picking up cigarette butts. They also cleaned up the area around garbage bags that were likely ransacked by crows.
After clapping their hands in front of the main hall of Yasaka Shrine at 8:00 a.m., participants enjoyed tea at the sushi restaurant "Izu Shige." Izu Shige owner and association chairman Norio Kitamura (57 years old) said, "New restaurants have also joined, which has given us an opportunity to become more integrated into the local community."
Other participants included office workers and students from outside the area. Yuko Semoto (59 years old), a hotel staff member from Kyoto's Kita Ward, learned about the activity while passing by and now participates weekly. "I've gotten to meet a lot of people while cleaning up this traditional town." Chairman Norio Kitamura also welcomed the wide-ranging cooperation, saying, "It will be more fun if more people get involved in the community."
Following the event on December 10th, the next one will be on December 17th. Gather at the foot of the Gion Stone Steps at 7:00 a.m. Look for the blue happi coats (happi coats). No registration is required. Cancelled in case of rain, closed on December 31st.
