Miyagawa-chō

Miyagawa-chō (宮川町) is one of the hanamachi (花街, "flower towns") or geisha districts in Kyoto.

During the Gion Festival the mikoshi (divine palanquin) of Yasaka Shrine used to be purified in the waters of this river.

Miyagawa-chō trademark consists of three interlocked rings, symbolizing the unity of the shrine/temples, the townspeople, and the teahouses.

As kabuki was just then developing into a mass entertainment spectacle as known today, the area was very popular and Miyagawa-chō quickly grew into a full town of teahouses.

[3] Today, Miyagawa-chō has its own kaburenjō, or theater where geisha dances are performed.