What a Geisha Show in Kyoto is Like

[Update March 2023]: Gion Hatanaka is permanently closed but you can still interact with maikos and geishas at other locations in Kyoto including Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya Kyoto.

Kyoto is one of the best places to experience the traditional geisha culture of Japan. To see a geisha show, there are a few options you have including buying a ticket for a show in Gion Corner, a cultural center located in the Gion district that showcases traditional Japanese performing arts, attend a private teahouse geisha performance, or, do what we did and join a multi-course kaiseki dinner combined with a geisha show.

We attended a Geisha and Maiko Dinner in the Gion district of Kyoto and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Gion Hatakana offers a kaiseki dinner with a maximum of 12 people in a private room where you can interact with both geishas and maiko (geishas-in-training). Dinner was a traditional and sophisticated kaiseki set meal with many small, artfully presented dishes highlighting seasonal flavours and ingredients.

There was a translator on hand to guide us through the experience and we played various games with the geisha and maiko. There was a dance performance and drinking games (alcohol is all-you-can-drink). The translator also explained the history of this tradition. We learned that maikos are usually between the ages of 15 and 20, while geisha can be in their 20s, 30s, or even older. Maikos wear more elaborate and colorful makeup and dress in more ornate and elaborate kimonos than geisha. Their hairstyles are also more elaborate and include a distinctive hair ornament called "kanzashi."

We also had a chance to talk to the maiko one-on-one and ask them what their days were like and how they decided to become maikos. Maiko undergo a rigorous training period, typically lasting five years, during which they learn traditional Japanese dance, music, tea ceremony, and social skills. Maiko mainly serve as apprentice geisha and perform at banquets, tea ceremonies, and other events to practice their skills and gain experience. Geisha, on the other hand, are established entertainers who entertain clients at high-end events and are known for their sophisticated conversation, music, dance, and other cultural arts.

Overall, the experience was a wonderful way to step back in time and experience the beautiful and enchanting world of geishas and maiko. If you have an evening free and are looking for a unique experience in Gion, Kyoto, I highly recommend a Geisha dinner and show. Although it wasn’t cheap (~18,000 yen per person), it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.