Kyoto Geisha Experience

Kyoto – One Cradle of Geisha Culture

Concerning the origin of Geisha show, one persuading saying is that it is a way of restaurants around Yasaka Shrine to attract customers. In the 17th century, many businessmen opened restaurants around the Shrine. To attract more customers, the waitresses are trained to sing and dance. Later, other events are set up like playing instruments and tea ceremonies. Another case to prove Kyoto’s long history of Geisha is the “Thanksgiving Day of Geisha” on 1st August. In the morning that day, Geishas in Kyoto would visit their mentors who taught them singing and dancing.

Geisha in Gion, Kyoto

5 Gathering Area of Geisha in Kyoto – With Gion the Best

Other than being the cradle of Geisha culture, another reason for the high status of Kyoto for Geisha is that the City has 5 major Hanamachis - Geisha gathering areas including Gion Kobu (also commonly called Hanamikoji-dori), Potoncho, Kamishichiken, Miyagawa-cho, and Gion Hagashi. Among them, Gion area is the most famous Geisha area in the entire Japan for its glorious history. For example, in the prosperous 19th century, over 3,000 Geishas worked in Gion.

Geisha Shows All Year Around in Kyoto

In Kyoto, there are 4 ways to watch geisha performance:

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Daily theatre show	Easiest way	High prices
Private show in teahouse	nteract with Geisha in close distance; Easy Access	High prices
Theatre’s performance each month	Large-scale Geisha performance	High prices & Low performance frequency each month
Festival performance in shrines or parks	Mainly free to public	Crowds in shrines

You can also read our Kyoto Geisha Show Calendar to learn more.

Where to See Geisha Show

1. Daily theatre show – Gion Corner

Gion Corner is the most convenient way to watch Geisha show. You can watch 8 performance at once, not just Geisha show but also other events including tea ceremony and Ikebana – the art of flower arrangement. The performance lasts for 1 hour and the price is 5,500 yen.

Gion Corner Stage

2. Private show in teahouse – Various teahouses (restaurants) in 5 Hanamachis

3. Theater Geisha Performances Each Month

Geisha Gathering Area	Theaters
Gion Kobu	Gion Kobu Kaburenjo
Miyagawa-cho	Kyoto Prefectural Center for Arts and Culture
Potoncho	Pontocho Kaburenjo
Gion Hagashi	Gion Kaikan
Kamishichiken	Kamishichiken Kabukai

One important theater geisha show is Gion dori, which is held from 1st to 10th every November in Gion Kaikan. With 4 seasons as its theme, there are 2 shows each day. Other important geisha performances in Kyoto’s Hanmachis include Gion Kabu’s Miyako Odori for the first two weeks of April and Pontocho Kamogawa Odori for three weeks in May.

4. Festival performance: Not fixed

The site is not fixed, but one important is Setsubun held in early February in Yasaka Shrine. Setsubun is a festival to celebrate the end of winter, usually held on the day before spring. For 2 days, Yasaka Shrine would invite Geisha to perform. Then, these beautiful girls would dance and throw beans at worshippers, wishing people happy, healthy, and peaceful.

Enjoy Other Colorful Geisha Activities in Kyoto

1. Japanese Dancing, Singing, & Instrument Performance

The commonly used musical instruments by versatile Geishas include Taiko Drum and Shamisen. With melodious music, these girls would dance themed by sadness, loneliness, and nostalgia, with their hands holding a paper folding fan or a silk umbrella.

Geisha Dancing

Tea Ceremony

2. Watch Tea Ceremony

Tea ceremonies performed by Geisha are mainly held in teahouses. Usually, a tea ceremony consists of several procedures: showing the exquisite tea sets, cleaning them, injecting hot water, grinding matcha powder, making a cup of fragrant tea, serving tea to the guests with both hands, and the guests drinking tea.

3. Play Games with Geisha

In the private Geisha dinner show, the Geisha interact with the audience after the performance. For example, you can play finger-play or box-tapping games.

4. Talk with Geisha or Maiko

Chatting with Geisha is also very common in private dinner geisha show. You can ask them some questions. Usually, there is an interpreter, so don’t worry about language barrier.

Take Group Photos with Geisha

5. Experience Geisha Makeup & Costume

Apart from watching those beautiful Japanese artists dancing or singing, you can also experience “becoming” a Geisha or Maiko personally in Kyoto’s Geisha makeup experience stores.

Services	Makeup + costume + professional photographer taking photos + walking outside
Cost	20,000 – 30,000 yen each time

One Geisha experience per time ranges 2 – 3 hours. Time for walking outside for taking photos yourself is not long and some stores gives 20 minutes or 1 hour for that.

6. Visit Gion Kagai Art Museum

Gion Kagai Art Museum exhibits various items about Geisha, including cosmetic products unique to Geisha, performance props, and silk costumes. Among them, costumes can’t be missed for the various colors and delicate patterns like flowers and birds. Also, you can watch for Geisha show here or even take photos with performers.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 19:00 (entry before 18:15)
Ticket: 1,500 yen
Address: 570-2 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward

Something Important to Know about Geisha

1. During Geisha Performance, please don’t take photos.

There are strict rules that audience can’t take photos when Geishas are performing. Also, please avoid taking their photos casually in the streets.