Discovering Nishijin: Local Insights on Area and Attractions (1) Boundaries

In the history section, we discussed the origin of the name "Nishijin." But what exactly is Nishijin as a place?

Interestingly, there is no official geographic designation called "Nishijin" in Kyoto. However, you'll find many establishments with the name, such as Nishijin Post Office, Nishijin Hospital, and Kyoto Bank Nishijin Branch. Hearing the term "Nishijin" immediately evokes a shared understanding of a specific area in Kyoto. While it isn’t a formally demarcated region, Nishijin is widely recognized as an area with a distinct identity shaped by its long history.

So, where exactly is Nishijin? There’s no precise boundary, but based on historical context, it is generally understood as the areas outlined below: the inner line represents the narrower definition, while the outer line represents the broader definition of the Nishijin area. As you can see, the range varies significantly.

Rui Arts and Crafts, which sells Nishijin-ori, is also located in the Nishijin area. Based on the narrower definition, our company is just within the boundary of what can be considered Nishijin.