People have been fascinated by the life and work of geisha for a long time. And if you travel to Japan, you can still see some of them in person, especially in Kyoto. Make sure to be respectful and follow the rules when you do find them.
Table of Contents
- Meeting Geisha in Gion District
- The Five Geisha District Festivals
- Experiencing Kyoto with Geisha
- Takeway
Geisha, if you aren’t already familiar, are professional performers in Japanese traditional arts, mainly music and dance, but also calligraphy, poetry, and others. You can find geisha in several cities across Japan even today. And they are quite easy to spot if you know where to look - geisha are known for their traditional dress, white-painted faces, and elaborate hairdos. Most tourists travel to Kyoto to get their glimpse of - or to attain the services of - geisha.
Meeting Geisha in Gion District
Gion in Kyoto is no doubt the best place to meet with or spot a geisha. Gion district in Kyoto is famously known for cultivating and preserving the geisha culture even to this day.
Please respect their privacy - no snooping around geisha houses or stopping geisha for selfies and photos. A geisha decked out in full regalia walking on the streets is usually heading to an appointment. Stopping them for a photo opportunity is not only super rude but will get them in trouble for being late.
※ The Guardian, “Geisha selfies banned in Kyoto as foreign tourism boom takes toll”
Strolling through these areas of Gion, especially in the evenings, may yield a higher chance of spotting a geisha on the way to a dinner appointment.
Hanami-koji Dori is a street of traditional Japanese shops. Strolling down the street during the evening, you may encounter a geisha. Whilst you’re at it, the beautiful historical street also makes for a nice night stroll. Several tea shops along the street also offer opportunities to book a geisha performance and opportunities to chat with them.
Shimbashi Street is extremely famous for its cherry blossoms in spring but also a great spot to catch sight of a geisha. The picturesque historical street with old-fashioned buildings make for a wonderful strolling experience.
Gion Higashi or West Gion is the eastern side of Hanami-koji Dori. Although a small area, it offers opportunities to meet geisha. Annually in November, Gion Odori where geishas and maiko perform, is held here.
Gion Kobu is the western side of Hanami-koji Dori. A large number of geishas and maiko are said to reside here. Please respect their privacy and don’t go peeking into houses just to spot them.
Gion Corner holds daily performances in the evening at 18:00 and 19:00. For 3,150 yen (for adults), this is a considerably cheap price to watch not just a maiko & geiko performance but also other traditional arts like bunraku (puppet theater). There is also a gallery, which acts as a museum of sorts, to watch video performances and look at the accessories geishas use.
For more about Gion, check these articles:
Gion: In the Past and Now of Kyoto
Discovering Gion through Yasaka Shrine
Writer's Pick
The Five Geisha District Festivals
There are five major geisha districts in Kyoto that perform annual performances. This is one of the best ways to not just see a geisha but to watch them dance. Here are five renowned geisha festivals:
Miyako Odori
Held in the Gion Kobu area, Miyako Odori has a history dating back to the 1800s. The annual dance festival lasts almost the whole month of April. It features a large gathering of geiko & maiko (even up to 30 or more) and musicians. One of the grandest geisha performances, it attracts tons of locals and tourists.
Kitano Odori
Held in the Kamishichiken area, the Kitano Odori is dedicated to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine’s deity, Sugawara no Michizane. What makes this performance unique is that it not just contains dance, they also perform a short play, and always end with a serenade. The Kitano Odori is held at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre in the last week of March and first week of April for 2 weeks.
Kyo Odori
Held in the Miyagawa Cho area, Kyo Odori lasts the first 2 weeks of April. It is performed at Kyoto Prefectural Center for Arts and Culture. Its unique point is its similarity to Kabuki theater. The story play incorporating geiko & maiko dances are written afresh each year, even the song, to ensure a unique experience each time. The highlight is the final dance where all the performers gather on stage together in a grand finale.
Kamogawa Odori
Held in the Pontocho area, Kamogawa Odori is held for three weeks in May. It is performed in Pontocho Kaburenjo Theatre that also holds another event called Suimeikai which is Kabuki performed by geishas. Kamogawa Odori also includes a drama play segment followed by a traditional dance segment.
Gion Odori
Held in the Gion Higashi area, Gion Odori is one of Kyoto’s highlight autumn events. Unlike the other annual odori held early in the year, Gion Odori is a 10-day event in November. The highlight is of course the theme of autumn that is incorporated into the performance and the dance that includes all of Gion Higashi’s geisha & maiko.
Other Festivals
Aside from the great 5 festivals above, year-round there are many festivals that call on geisha to perform. These include Setsubun in Yasaka Shrine, Gion Festival, Heian Shrine Spring Festival, and more.
Experiencing Kyoto with Geisha
Although it may cost quite a bit, a private booking with a geisha is quite an experience. Aside from enjoying a private performance and being served tea, geisha & maiko are trained in the art of communication which means pleasant conversations. Experiences may include:
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Tea ceremony
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Lunch show
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Dinner show
You will also get to spend time with the geisha playing games, enjoying authentic Japanese meals, taking photos of and with, and more.
If you are interested and don’t mind paying, try Maikoya. Experiences including an English guide so you won’t need to worry about your Japanese skills.
Takeway
The Geisha profession is the embodiment of elegance, tradition, culture, and history. Their dedication to the Japanese arts is what keeps them alive today. Meeting and watching a geisha perform is an honor and a one-of-a-kind experience.
If you’d like to bring your experience to another level, you can also try a Makeover Experience to feel what it’s like being a geisha.
For those on a budget, there are also walking tours to learn about the history of geisha. These tours will bring you to spots where geisha are frequently spotted.
