runs in the center of Kyoto, Japan from east to west through the commercial center of the city. Shijà  literally means Fourth Avenue of Heian-kyà Â, the ancient capital.
The section between Shinkyà Âgoku street and the vicinity of the east side of the Tenjingawa river corresponds to the Shijà  à Âji Avenue (Ã¥ÂÂæ¡大路) of the Heian-kyà Â. After the road was widened in 1911, it developed as an important traffic artery.
The Shijà  school of art derives its name from this street, since many artists were located there.
The eastern end of the street is Yasaka Shrine and the western end is Matsunoo Shrine. The street is particularly busy with pedestrians and traffic from the east end to Karasuma Street. The east end passes through the courtesan's district of Gion, with the historic street of Hanami Lane branching off to the south, with the famous Ichiriki Chaya at the corner. It then crosses the Kamo River at Shijà  Bridge, and from there to Karasuma Street () the sidewalk is covered (except at major streets) and features several department stores, such as Daimaru and Marui. The center of this area is the intersection with Kawaramachi Street (Shijà  Kawaramachi), a very busy shopping area.
The city of Kyoto has enforced a smoking ban on this street, on the busy section from Yasaka Shrine to Karasuma street, and in the surrounding districts.
During the Gion Matsuri in the month of July, the Naginata-hoko, the Kanko-boko, Tsuki-hoko, Kakkyo-yama and Shijà Â-Kasa-Boko are built on the street. The street is also part of the route of the Yamaboko Junkà  parade.
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The street is one of trunk routes of the city bus. Beneath the street are the tracks of the Hankyu Kyoto Line railway with the stations at Kawaramachi Street (Kawaramachi Station), Karasuma Street (Karasuma Station), à Âmiya Street (à Âmiya Station) and Nishià Âji Street (Saiin Station). The Keihan Main Line (Gion-Shijà  Station), the Karasuma Line subway (Shijà  Station), the Keifuku Arashiyama Main Line (Shijo-Omiya Station and Sai Station), the Sanin Main Line (no nearby station) and the Hankyu Arashiyama Line (Matsuo-taisha Station) are the railways crossing the street.
The Shijà  Line of Kyoto City Tram operated on the street (between Gion and Shijà  à Âmiya) from 1912 to 1972. The extension of the tram westward from Shijà  à Âmiya was built as a trolleybus line to Nishià Âji Shijà  in 1932, to Umezu in 1958 (replacing existing Umezu Line tram) and to Matsuobashi in 1962. The trolleybus was discontinued in 1969.
(Gion intersection, Higashioji Shijà Â, eastern end)