Hard-to-Read Place Names in Kyoto

How to use this list of 50 hard-to-read Kyoto place names

This list introduces 50 hard-to-read place names in total, dividing Kyoto City into six areas and grouping the other municipalities of Kyoto Prefecture into one. Each item takes the form "kanji (reading): notes on location and origin."

Readings have been checked against official lists of town names, station name spellings, postal code data, and similar records, and only origins that could be confirmed are given. Where there are several theories, this is noted. Place names marked "(detailed entry)" have their own page in this dictionary.

Street names in central Kyoto (7)

In the grid of central Kyoto, street names are also used in addresses. Many names that came from the town's history, such as temples and shrines, craft guilds, and famous springs, still survive.

• 不明門通 (Akezu-dōri / Akezu-no-mon-dōri, あけずどおり／あけずのもんどおり): A north–south street in Shimogyō Ward running from the gate of Inaba Yakushi-dō (Byōdō-ji) to Shiokōji-dōri. The name is said to come from the gate of Inaba Yakushi-dō at its northern end, which was always kept shut ("akezu" means "never opened") (detailed entry)
• 烏丸通 (Karasuma-dōri, からすまどおり): A major north–south street through central Kyoto that often appears in intersection names and addresses (detailed entry)
• 釜座通 (Kamanza-dōri, かまんざどおり): A north–south street in central Kyoto. It is named after the Sanjō Kamanza, a guild of casters who made temple bells and tea kettles, and the town name is also 釜座町 (Kamanza-chō, かまんざちょう)
• 醒ケ井通 (Samegai-dōri, さめがいどおり): A north–south street in Shimogyō Ward, named after 佐女牛井 (Samegai), a well famed for having the finest water in the land
• 柳馬場通 (Yanagi-no-banba-dōri, やなぎのばんばどおり): A north–south street in central Kyoto. One theory traces the name to Nijō Yanagimachi, a pleasure quarter lined with willows (yanagi); another says willows were planted for a parade of horses (baba/banba is a riding ground) at the Hōkoku Festival
• 衣棚通 (Koromo-no-tana-dōri / Koromotana-dōri, ころものたなどおり／ころもたなどおり): Named after the many shops that sold monks' robes and similar garments from shelves. There are two readings
• 御前通 (Onmae-dōri, おんまえどおり): A north–south street named because it passes in front of (onmae) Kitano Tenmangū

Town names in central Kyoto (Kamigyō, Nakagyō, Shimogyō) (8)

Central Kyoto has many town names that come from temples and shrines, the Gion Matsuri, and old words.

• 先斗町 (Pontochō, ぽんとちょう): A hanamachi (geisha district) in Nakagyō Ward stretching between the Kamo River and the Takase River. There are theories such as a Portuguese origin, but the etymology has not been settled (detailed entry)
• 天使突抜 (Tenshi-tsukinuke, てんしつきぬけ): A town name in Shimogyō Ward with blocks 1 to 4. It comes from a road built through (tsukinuke) the grounds of Gojō Tenjin-gū, known as "Otenshi-san," during Hideyoshi's reshaping of the city. The street name is 天使突抜通 (Tenshi-tsukinuke-dōri)
• 都市町 (Toichi-chō, といちちょう): In Shimogyō Ward, southwest of Gojō Ōhashi Bridge. The name is said to come from the market stalls of the Eastern and Western Markets opened here the year after the capital moved to Heian-kyō, and from the otabisho (temporary shrine) of Ichihime Jinja that stood here
• 笋町 (Takanna-chō, たかんなちょう): In Nakagyō Ward. 笋 (takanna) is an old word for bamboo shoot, and the name comes from the town's role as the home of Mōsō-yama, a float of the Gion Matsuri
• 百足屋町 (Mukadeya-chō, むかでやちょう): A town name in Nakagyō Ward. 百足 (literally "hundred legs") is read mukade, meaning centipede
• 悪王子町 (Akuōji-chō): In Shimogyō Ward. Named after the Akuōji shrine that once stood here, dedicated to the fierce spirit (aramitama) of Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The official town name list spells the reading あくおおじちょう, but it is also sometimes written あくおうじちょう
• 二帖半敷町 (Nijōhanjiki-chō, にじょうはんじきちょう): In Shimogyō Ward, south of Shijō Karasuma. One theory says a head priest divided the former Gojō-dera temple in half between two disciples
• 皂莢町 (Saikachi-chō, さいかちちょう): In Kamigyō Ward. Named after a large saikachi (Japanese honey locust) tree that stood there. It is sometimes also written 皀莢町

Rakuhoku (Kita and Sakyō wards) (6)

Rakuhoku, which stretches from the upper Kamo River and the foot of Mount Hiei to mountain villages, has hard-to-read place names connected with nature and mountain paths.

• 深泥池 (Midorogaike / Mizorogaike, みどろがいけ／みぞろがいけ): A pond in Kamigamo, Kita Ward. There are two readings. The town name 上賀茂深泥池町 is read Kamigamo Midoroike-chō (かみがもみどろいけちょう)
• 柊野 (Hiragino, ひらぎの): In Kita Ward, around the left bank of the Kamo River north of Kamigamo Shrine. The name is said to come from the hiiragi (holly) that once grew thickly there
• 雲母坂 (Kirarazaka, きららざか): In Sakyō Ward, a mountain path leading up to Mount Hiei from between Manshu-in and Shugakuin Imperial Villa. The name is said to come from the mica (雲母, read unmo; kirara is another word for it) in the soil
• 上終町 (Kamihate-chō, かみはてちょう): Kitashirakawa Kamihate-chō in Sakyō Ward. 終 is read hate (end)
• 鹿ケ谷 (Shishigatani, ししがたに): An area name in Sakyō Ward used in many town names such as Shishigatani Goshonodan-chō. 鹿 (deer) is read shishi here
• 花脊 (Hanase, はなせ): An area name in northern Sakyō Ward, found in town names such as Hanase Bessho-chō and Hanase Ōfuse-chō

Rakusai (Ukyō and Nishikyō wards) (7)

Along the Randen tram lines, hard-to-read place names that people see every day as station names are clustered. Nishikyō Ward also has old place names that survive in town names.

• 太秦 (Uzumasa, うずまさ): In Ukyō Ward. Closely linked with the ancient Hata clan, and explained through a legend about silk being piled high (uzutakaku) and presented as tribute (detailed entry)
• 西院 (Sai / Saiin, さい／さいいん): In Ukyō Ward. The Randen station is read Sai, while the Hankyu station and the town name are read Saiin (detailed entry)
• 帷子ノ辻 (Katabiranotsuji, かたびらのつじ): A Randen station in Ukyō Ward. The town name, 太秦帷子ケ辻町 (Uzumasa Katabiranotsuji-chō), is written with ケ instead of ノ (detailed entry)
• 化野 (Adashino, あだしの): In Saga-Toriimoto, Ukyō Ward. Known, along with Toribeno and Rendaino, as a place for funerals and burials (detailed entry)
• 蚕ノ社 (Kaiko-no-yashiro, かいこのやしろ): A station on Randen's Arashiyama Main Line in Ukyō Ward
• 車折神社 (Kurumazaki Jinja, くるまざきじんじゃ): A station on Randen's Arashiyama Main Line in Ukyō Ward. 車折 is read Kurumazaki
• 樫原 (Katagihara, かたぎはら): An area name in Nishikyō Ward, used in many town names such as Katagihara Ikenoue-chō

Higashiyama and Yamashina (7)

From the foot of the Higashiyama hills to the Yamashina Basin, place names derived from imperial tombs, temples, and trees remain. Some are also station names on the Tōzai subway line.

• 蹴上 (Keage, けあげ): An area name that is also a station on the Tōzai subway line. There is no "Keage" in official addresses. A legend connected with Minamoto no Yoshitsune is told about its origin (detailed entry)
• 轆轤町 (Rokuro-chō, ろくろちょう): A town name in Higashiyama Ward. The many-stroked characters 轆轤 are read rokuro (potter's wheel or pulley)
• 今熊野 (Imagumano, いまぐまの): In Higashiyama Ward. In the official town name list, names such as Imagumano Ikeda-chō are read Imagumano
• 御陵 (Misasagi, みささぎ): In Yamashina Ward. The name is said to come from the Yamashina Mausoleum of Emperor Tenji located there. Nishikyō Ward also has a 御陵, read Goryō (ごりょう), said to come from the tomb of Takano no Niigasa, mother of Emperor Kanmu (detailed entry)
• 椥辻 (Nagitsuji, なぎつじ): In Yamashina Ward. The name is said to come from a large nagi tree that once stood there (detailed entry)
• 勧修寺 (Kajūji / Kanshūji, かじゅうじ／かんしゅうじ): In Yamashina Ward. The temple is read Kajūji, while the surrounding place names are read Kanshūji
• 上花山 (Kamikazan, かみかざん): In Yamashina Ward, found in town names such as 上花山旭山町. 花山 is read kazan

Fushimi (7)

Fushimi Ward has hard-to-read names among Keihan station names and among town names toward Yodo and the Katsura River.

• 中書島 (Chūshojima, ちゅうしょじま): A station on the Keihan Main Line and Uji Line in Fushimi Ward
• 墨染 (Sumizome, すみぞめ): A Keihan Main Line station in Fushimi Ward. There are also the town names Sumizome-chō and Fukakusa Sumizome-chō
• 藤森 (Fujinomori, ふじのもり): A Keihan Main Line station in Fushimi Ward. It is read with a "no" (の) that is not written in the kanji
• 撞木町 (Shumokumachi, しゅもくまち): A town name in Fushimi Ward. 町 is read machi, not chō
• 納所 (Nōso, のうそ): An area name in Fushimi Ward, found in town names such as Nōso Izumiya and Nōso Ōno
• 羽束師 (Hazukashi, はづかし): An area name in Fushimi Ward, found in town names such as Hazukashi Shimizu-chō and Hazukashi Hishikawa-chō
• 久我 (Koga, こが): An area name in Fushimi Ward, found in town names such as 久我石原町 and 久我御旅町

Other municipalities in Kyoto Prefecture (8)

Outside Kyoto City, too, there are hard-to-read names among municipality names and district (ōaza) names.

• 一口 (Imoarai, いもあらい): Kumiyama Town, Kuse District. The name survives in Higashi-imoarai and Nishi-imoarai and is closely connected with the former Ogura Pond. There are several theories about the origin of the reading, and none is settled (detailed entry)
• 物集女 (Mozume, もずめ): Mozume-chō, Mukō City. The ruins of Mozume Castle, the base of the Mozume clan in the Sengoku period, are a national historic site (detailed entry)
• 鶏冠井 (Kaide, かいで): Kaide-chō (かいでちょう), Mukō City
• 八幡 (Yawata, やわた): The city of 八幡市 is read Yawata-shi (やわたし)
• 木幡 (Kohata / Kowata, こはた／こわた): Uji City. As an address it is read Kohata, while the Keihan Uji Line station is read Kowata
• 祝園 (Hōsono, ほうその): Seika Town, Sōraku District. There are the place names Hōsono and Hōsono-nishi
• 和束 (Wazuka, わづか): Wazuka Town (わづかちょう), Sōraku District
• 間人 (Taiza, たいざ): Tango-chō, Kyōtango City. The reading is said to come from the "go-taiza" (departure) of Empress Anahobe no Hashihito, mother of Prince Shōtoku (detailed entry)

Why does Kyoto have so many hard-to-read place names? Tips for reading them

The townscape of central Kyoto began with the construction of Heian-kyō in 794, and though it has changed through Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Tenshō-era land division and city improvements since the Meiji era, the old street names are still in use. Because names from long ago have been handed down, many place names are hard to guess using modern kanji readings.

Tracing their origins, you often find names tied to town life: temples and shrines (不明門通, 天使突抜, 御前通), guilds of craftspeople and merchants (釜座通, 衣棚通), famous springs (醒ケ井通), and Gion Matsuri floats (笋町).

• 通 (street) is usually read dōri and 町 (town) is usually read chō, but some town names, such as 撞木町 (Shumokumachi), read 町 as machi
• The small connecting characters ノ and ケ are sometimes written inconsistently (for example, 帷子ノ辻 Station and the town name 太秦帷子ケ辻町)
• Even with the same kanji, the reading can differ by place, facility, or railway company (西院, 木幡, 勧修寺, 御陵)
• If in doubt, check the town name list with readings published by Kyoto City, Japan Post's postal code search, or the railway companies' station name spellings

Other hard-to-read place names and detailed entries

Besides the 50 in the list, there are other hard-to-read place names such as 神足 (Kōtari) in Nagaokakyō City, 莵道 (Todō) in Uji City, and 安栖里 (Aseri) and 蒲生 (Komo) in Kyōtamba Town.

Of the 50 names, 39 have their own page explaining the origin and background of the name, with sources. You can reach them from the links below each area's list. For the 11 names 花脊, 上終町, 樫原, 轆轤町, 上花山, 藤森, 久我, 鶏冠井, 八幡, 木幡, and 和束, the origin could not be confirmed in reliable sources, so only the reading and location are given.