Ponto-cho started with the development of the areas along the Kamo-gawa River, building tea houses and hatago (inn with meals); geisha and shogi had settled in and been cracked down repeatedly, but the area was recognized as a work place for those in "Nijo-shinchi" (Nijo new development area) in Kawabatanijo and was separated from Nijo-shinchi in the early Meiji period.
江戸初期、鴨川(淀川水系)の周辺を開発しそこに茶屋、旅籠などが置かれたのが始まりですでに芸妓、娼妓が居住するようになり何度も取り締れていたが川端二条にあった『二条新地』（にじょうしんち）の出稼ぎ地として認められ、明治初期に独立をした。