Gion developed as a monzen-machi (a town established around a prominent temple or shrine) of the Yasaka-jinja Shrine (called Gion-sha Shrine until the end of the Edo period) along Shijo-dori Street from the Kamo-gawa River (Yodo-gawa River system) to the Yasaka-jinja shrine on Shijo-dori Street.
八坂神社（江戸時代までは祇園社）の門前町として鴨川_(淀川水系)から東大路通・八坂神社までの四条通沿いに発展した。