All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

I'm glad I was able to talk with the maiko! The lunch dishes were also very delicious. The only downside was that there was a thick pillar right in front of me, and I could hardly hear the cute voice of the maiko, either because the background music was too loud or the microphone wasn't working well.

舞妓さんとお話し出来てよかったです！ランチのお料理もとても美味しかったです。残念だったのは、目の前に太い柱があったことと、可愛い舞妓さん声がBGMが大きかったのか、マイクの調子が悪かったのか席ではほとんど聞こえなかったことです。

I imagined there would be few Japanese participants, but I was surprised to find that the ratio was 100%. Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for the food, but it turned out to be from a famous kaiseki restaurant in Kyoto, and it was quite luxurious and fulfilling. I enjoyed it very much. The additional drink prices were also relatively reasonable. During the Q&A session, I was able to ask various questions directly about the private lives of the maiko and their motivations for becoming maiko, which deepened my understanding of maiko and Kyoto culture. The experience of playing traditional games with a raised hand also seemed fun. It was a little over an hour that flew by quickly.

日本人の方は少ないのかなと想像しての参加ですが、日本人率100%でびっくりしました。お料理は正直、期待していませんでしたが京都の有名料亭のもので、なかなか豪華で充実した内容。とっても美味しく頂きました。追加のドリンク代も比較的リーズナブルな価格です。質問コーナーでは舞妓さんの私生活のことや、舞妓さんになった動機など直接色んな質問も出来て、舞妓さんや京文化に対する理解が一層深まって良かったです。挙手してのお座敷遊び体験も楽しそう。あっという間の1時間強ですね。

Given the price, I didn't expect much from the atmosphere of the place, but the setup in the shared building was just as I thought it would be. The performance by the maiko was a great experience, as it's something you don't get to do often. However, it was disappointing that a group of 5 or 6 people arrived 30 minutes late, and we had to wait while the staff attended to them. Moreover, they spent time allowing that group to participate and take photos, which made me wonder about the fairness for those of us who were waiting. If it were just a 5-minute delay, it would be one thing, but since they emphasized "punctuality, please arrive 10 minutes early," shouldn't those arriving 30 minutes late be excluded?

値段が値段だけに場所の雰囲気などは期待していませんでしが、雑居ビル内の１室で思った通りのセットアップ。
舞妓さんのパフォーマンスなどは、普段なかなか経験出来ないことだけに、良い体験をさせていただけたと思います。
ただ、5、6人のグループ参加の方々が30分遅れで入場してきて、スタッフの方々が対応している間待たされたのが残念です。しかもそのグループの方々を参加させ、写真撮影などに時間を費やし、待ってる側としてはどうかな？と思いました。5分遅れならともかく、「時間厳守、10分前までに到着願います」と歌っていれば、30分遅れの方は不参加とするべきでは？

This is the best way to see Japanese Traditional dance/drama, An hour program fully packed with Thrill.I enjoyed with my family and would recommend to my family circle and friends
Thanks very much Veltra team

I enjoyed the maiko's dance, chatting, taking photos, and playing games. There was also dinner included, but I had so much fun that I didn't have time to eat. Next time, I want to go with my friends.

舞妓さんの踊り、お喋り、写真撮影、ゲームなど楽しませて頂きました。
ディナーもついてましたが食べる時間が無いほど楽しかった。
次回は友人と行きたいと思います。

The boat staff provided great service, and the food and drinks were delicious! During the cruise, there were a couple times when we were allowed up on top of the boat, to look at the Tokyo Skytree and also near the Yokohama Marina area. And there was also a traditional Japanese "lion dance", the first of which I had ever seen in person. It was a unique opportunity to bring the boat guests and crew together.
My wife and I were celebrating our 6-month anniversary, and so during the last part of the cruise, the MC came up to our table to invite us in front of everyone to announce why we were celebrating, and everyone cheered for us. It was a lovely memory for us, and I appreciated the opportunity so much.

The views were wonderful. The meal was great and the staff were excellent.

I had a wonderful time experiencing the Maiko dance, the Q&A session, traditional games, and photo opportunities. The dinner included was also reasonably priced.

I had mistakenly thought the event would be held in a more traditional Japanese dining setting, but it was actually on the second floor of a building (with a cleaning shop on the first floor), resembling a rental kimono shop.

Upgrading to the S seats was about 500 yen, which I opted for, but it seemed that almost everyone chose to upgrade. Out of the six rows, the first five rows were S seats, and there were no designated seats, which was first-come, first-served. I think it would be better for those who want to see or take photos from the front to wait at the bottom of the stairs to enter early.

I attended with my university student son, and we had a very enjoyable time. Next time I come to Kyoto, I would like to experience a more authentic traditional setting, so I recommend this as a great introductory experience.

　舞妓さんの踊り、質問コーナー、お座敷遊び、写真撮影などが出来、楽しい一時を過ごせました。夕食付きで、お値段的にもお安いです。
　私も勝手に思い込んでいたのですが場所がたぶん、食事処のような和風な感じのところでの開催かと思っていましたがビルの2階（１Ｆクリーニング店）
レンタル着物屋さんのような店舗です。
座席のＳ席へのランクアップが500円くらいなので私も付けましたが参加の方はほぼ付けるようで全6列の内、前から5列目くらいまでＳ席で席は指定されておらず早いもの順なのは如何なものかと思いました。
前のほうで見たい方、撮りたい方はＳ席＋早く入場できるように階段の下で待機された方が良いかと。
　大学生の息子と共に参加しましたが、とっても楽しい時間を過ごせました。
今度、京都に来た際には本格的なお座敷を体験してみたくなったので、今回の参加は導入体験として良かったのでお勧めです。

If you are in Kyoto during the Festival, I highly recommend going to see the Maiko dance. Because we gave them a little money for a cause, we also got our picture with 2 maikos. We really enjoyed listening to the music and seeing the delicate dances. The tea before the show was rushed and we could have skipped that but definitely go the show.

It's good if you like historical and traditional performance. But for foreigner who does not understand the language. It is just mere some repetitive songs and dance. Some of the dance quite okay and colorful while other is not that interesting.

This was my second time participating. I was able to experience an extraordinary night in Tokyo. There were about 40 of us, celebrating birthdays, business launches, and milestone anniversaries, along with participants from abroad. It was truly a festive gathering where we sang and danced together, making it a wonderful celebration. This is the perfect experience for those who want to celebrate in style or invite guests from overseas.

The tempura served during the meal was also prepared with consideration for my family member's allergies, taking into account the order of frying.

2回目の参加。東京に居て非日常の夜を体験できます。
総勢40名程の方と一緒でしたが、
誕生日のお祝い、起業のお祝い、還暦のお祝い、そして外国からの参加など
めでたい方々と"芸"の時間で一緒になって歌って踊って、まさに宴。
お祝いをぱぁ～っとされたい方や外国の方を招くには最高の体験。

食事の天ぷらも、アレルギー持ちの家族に合わせて揚げる順番を考慮してくださいました。

Everything was amazing! The food, the hospitality, and the night view made my mother and me keep saying how happy we were. Thank you very much.

なにもかも最高でした☆ 料理も おもてなしも夜景もずっと母と幸せだね〜って話してました。
ありがとうございました。

Loved Gion Odori experience.
When I purchased the ticket was not sure how will work.You don't have an assigned a seat, so you don't know where they are going to put you, but the site was good, at the top, so I could enjoy the show. It is a pity that no photographs can be taken at any time. I would have liked to keep a graphic memory, even if there could be only in a final part of the show.
Upon arrival you must enter directly through the great door and show the paper of the purchase, inside they have your ticket prepared with your name in an envelope. If you only have the show ticket, you don't have to stand in line, just enter the room and wait for a worker to take you to your seat.

Our hostess was charming and friendly. She was able to demonstrate and explain the art of calligraphy very clearly and we had a great time practicing our words and names and then producing a copy to take home and frame. My son and I were the only ones in the class so had her undivided attention. She was very complimentary about all our efforts.
As a bonus we asked for the recommendation for any nearby sushi restaurants, and she sent us to a sensational place.

I just finished reading a manga about Prince Shotoku, which made my visit to Horyu-ji and Chugu-ji very interesting. At Jiko-in, I enjoyed tea and sweets in a wonderful garden, and since it was tea time after lunch, it was very nice.

ちょうど、聖徳太子のまんがを読んだばかりで、法隆寺、中宮寺を興味深くまわることが出来ました。
慈光院では、素晴らしいお庭でお茶とお菓子をいただき、昼食後のタイミングでのお茶ということもあり、とても良かったです。

江戸切子のレッスンはすべて英語で行われました。ドイツからのオフィスの交換同僚がいて、説明や指示は非常にわかりやすかったです。

良い点：
- 駅から近い会場
- 英語での指示が理解しやすい
- 選べるグラスがたくさんある
- 当日に自分の「アート作品」を持ち帰れる
- 切ったり彫ったりする作業があるものの、とても安全
- みんなが完成した作品にとても満足していた
- 写真映えする
- 食事を楽しめる興味深い場所がたくさんある（良いロケーション）
- とても楽しく、美しい

悪い点：
- 当日の支払いは現金のみ
- 2回目以降の割引はあるのか？
- 一度に6人以上のチームにはあまり向かないかもしれない（切断機が6台しかないため）
- 90分では1つ以上作りたい場合は十分な時間ではないかもしれない

The Edo Kiriko lesson was done all in English.
We had office exchange colleague from Germany and the explanation/instructions were very easy to follow.
Pros:
-venue close to the station
-easy to understand instructions in English
-lots of glasses to chose from
-can take your "art work" home on the day
-though it involves cutting and carving, it was very safe
-everyone was very happy with the finished work
-very photogenic
-many interesting places to eat out afterwords (good location)
-lots of fun and it is beutiful
Cons:
-could only use cash for paying on the day
-any discount prices for second time on words?
-many not be so good for a team of more than 6 at a time since they only have 6 cutting machines
-90 min may not be enough time if you want to make more than one

Initially, I had booked the Saturday show but it was unavailable. Veltra was able to let me know and gave me a couple of different options to choose from as an alternative. I was able to change my reservation to the Sunday lunch. I would recommend paying extra for the front row and for the lunch. The lunch was a nice selection of Kyoto cuisine. Also, if you get sake, the Maiko will serve it to you. The Maiko was lovely and charming. Her performances were breathtaking and she was very thorough with her answers to out questions. It was also fun playing games with her. I had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend it if you have a couple of hours to spare.

I participated alone.
It was great because I could get around efficiently!
I hardly remembered anything from when I saw it on a school trip long ago, but the guide's explanations and support were thorough, which made me feel at ease and enjoy myself.
Next time, I want to join with friends.

ひとりで参加しました。
効率よく回れてとても良かったです！
昔、修学旅行で見た記憶はほとんど無かったけど、ガイドさんの説明や対応が丁寧で安心して楽しめました。
次は友人と一緒に参加したいです。

I participated with my mother to celebrate her birthday. It was our first time, and I was worried about whether we could do it well, but the instructor was very kind, and both of us were able to create beautiful glasses. We could take the glasses home, and I think the price is very reasonable. It was a great experience.

母の誕生日お祝いに、母と2人で参加しました。初めてで、うまくできるか不安でしたが、インストラクターの先生がとても親切で、2人ともとても素敵なグラスを作成することができました。グラス、お持ち帰りができ、この価格はコスパ高いと思います。とても良かったです。

Everything went smoothly! Check-in process was efficient and we were warmly greeted and taken to out seats. Smooth sailing, great food and drinks, and very professional staff. I will go again with a bigger group of friends next time. It was awesome! Plus, it was my birthday and the group all sang to me. Thank you!

I participated alone. Everyone else was in pairs, making a total of four groups. The small number of participants allowed for thorough explanations. At the beginning, there was practice time to dig three stars, and then we used our favorite glass for the actual event. For the design, we chose our favorite from the samples on the table. It was difficult to replicate the samples perfectly, but the staff helped cover up any major mistakes. There is an additional charge for colored glasses.

一人で参加しました。私以外はペアで参加していて、全部で4組です。
少人数で説明も丁寧でした。初めに星を3つ掘る練習の時間があって、好きなグラスで本番です。デザインは机上のサンプルから好きなデザインを選びます。なかなか見本のようにできませんが、大きな修正はスタッフの方がごまかしてくれました。
色付きのグラスは追加料金が発生します。

The food was delicious, the ship was clean, and the staff's response was warm, which I thought was great. I requested a cruise for the day we arrived, but we couldn't make it due to traffic. I called several times, and while they provided guidance over the phone, the tone and attitude conveyed through their voice felt very intimidating. It was disappointing, as it felt like they were talking to a friend. Of course, it was our fault for not making it on time... Even though we were told to hurry through the traffic, we barely arrived on time, and when we got there, we were given a second opinion. We paid an additional fee and rescheduled for the next day. The experience was very satisfying, and we had a wonderful time. I would like them to provide larger notices regarding the meeting time. After 4 PM, the traffic becomes unmanageable, so I recommend acting early!

ご飯も美味しく、船内も綺麗で スタッフの方の対応も暖かく、よかったと思います。
到着したその日のクルーズをお願いしたのですが、渋滞で間に合いませんでした。 何度かお電話して頂き、電話での案内をしてくれたのですが、 言葉遣いや態度が声から伝わってきて、すごく怖かったです。 友達と話しているかのような対応で、残念でした。 もちろん時間に間に合わなかったのはこちらの原因ですが…
渋滞の中急げと言われても間に合わず、ギリギリ時間に着いたのですが、 着いた時にセカンドオピニオンを言われました。 プラス料金を払って 次の日にして頂きました。 内容は大満足。 とても楽しい時間を過ごせました。
もう少し大きく、集合時間についての案内を書いて欲しいです。16時を過ぎると渋滞で動かなくなるので、お早めの行動をおすすめします！

A privilege to watch such a beautiful traditional performance. We were given a warm welcome by English speaking hosts and had excellent seats.

The other customers were kind, and it was fun.

The weather was great, which was absolutely wonderful. If I have the opportunity again, I would love to participate through Beltora.

Thank you for your help.

他のお客様も親切で
楽しかったです

お天気が良かったのが、さいこうに良かったですね
また、機会がありましたら、ぜひベルトラさんを通して参加させてくださいね

お世話になりました

If you're going to Tokyo, I recommend trying something you've never done before, like a traditional yakatabune (houseboat). The delicious food and the fun guide, along with the boat staff, made the one-and-a-half-hour cruise fly by.

The view of the Tokyo Skytree from the boat was also great. I was able to take some fantastic photos.

Next time, I want to ride while enjoying the cherry blossoms or fireworks.

東京に行くなら、やった事ない事やってみようって事で、初屋形船です。
美味しいお料理と楽しいガイドさん?船のお姉さんと一緒のクルーズ一時間半あっという間でした。

船からのスカイツリーも良かったです。
写真もバッチリ撮れました。

今度は桜の季節か花火見ながら乗りたいな。

This was a lovely performance by the Gion Geiko and Maiko. Keep in mind this isn't a traditional performing art; in Japan Geisha usually "perform" in private settings for very wealthy individuals. You could book a geisha dinner for several hundred dollars per person, or you could go to one of these shows if you are lucky enough to be in town while one of these performances is going on and get a taste of Geisha art in a theater setting. It was a beautiful performance!

We welcomed customers from Taiwan and had a wonderful experience with Japanese culture. They were very pleased. Thank you very much.

台湾からのお客様をお迎えし楽しい日本文化体験が出来ました。大変喜ばれていました。ありがとうございました。

It started to rain partway through, but I was able to visit many temples. The temple tour was very fulfilling, and the guide's explanations were easy to understand, which was great.

途中から雨になりましたが、たくさんのお寺を巡る事が出来ました。盛りだくさんのお寺巡りで、また、ガイドさんの解説も分かりやすく、良かったです。

Even though I couldn't cut it neatly, the teacher skillfully supported us, and we were able to create a proper piece. The advice was kind and thorough, and they patiently worked with me, despite my clumsiness. My friends, who came from afar to participate, were also very satisfied, and we're all saying we want to do it again together.

きれいに切れなくても先生がうまくフォローしてくださりちゃんとした作品に出来上がりました。アドバイスも親切丁寧、不器用な私にも根気よく付き合ってくださいました。
遠方からわざわざ参加した友人達も大満足で、皆でまたやりたいね、と言っています。

Maiko is cute, and I was happy to have enough time to enjoy a fun time. It's not often that I get the chance to talk with Maiko, so I was really happy to do so while having a meal, especially since she poured me some drinks. However, I arrived more than 30 minutes early and waited outside, but since there was no line, I ended up getting the last seat in section A. I recommend that those who arrive early line up in front of the stairs.

マイコさんはかわいいし　時間も十分あって楽しい時を過ごす事が出来て幸せでした。
なかなか、マイコさんとお話しする機会もないですし、それを食事しながら　しかもお酒も注いでもらえてハッピーでした。
しかし、30分以上早く行って外で待っていたが並んでなかったためA席のラストでした。早く行った方は階段前で並ぶ事をオススメします。