The southern portion of Kyoto city (including Minami-ku) is sometimes referred to as Rakunan.

Instead of restaurants and clubs, portions of the land near the Kamo River are lined with factories and industrial buildings.

This area is particularly working-class, and home to a relatively large number of Korean nationals and other working class members of Japanese society.

The Minami-ku ward office is located on Route 1, near its intersection with Kujō Street.

The Kyoto City Disaster Prevention Center is also in Minami-ku, near the intersection of Route 1 and Jujō Street.