All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

This event was all in all a great insight in traditional Japanese Geiko and Maiko art. Singers, dancers and artists were awesome and let to some moments of getting goose pimples ;-)
Unfortunately the previous tea ceremony was a bit disappointing as the room was quite small and not everybody could observe the women preparing tea. Additionally you had to rush as the next group of people was already waiting outside.

What a nice experience in Tokyo. The hosts did not speak a lot of English, but this did not take away from the dinner at all. We felt welcome during the cruise, and all of the guests were friendly.

Easily exceeded our expectations!

The performance was very authentic and a wonderful experience. Exchanging Veltra voucher for tickets was incredibly easy. Highly recommend.

Very friendly and helpful instructors, easy to learn activity.
This was my first time and I loved it

I feel it goes without saying that this was a truly magical experience. I feel privileged to have been visiting Kyoto at the time of the Gion Odori and thank VELTRA for making the experience of organising tickets pain-free.

When in Kyoto, tourists walk the streets of Gion, in the hope of spotting Maiko and Geisha. Some will try and take photos inconspicuously of them as they walk by, while others will pay over $200 for a dinner in order to see a Maiko perform 1 dance. This experience which is only available each year for about 10 days in November, will give you everything you need when it comes to seeing true geisha. It’s affordable, you get to see many geisha and maiko and they perform 10 acts during the 1 hour show. You can even take a photo with 2 maiko for a small donation.
There is also a tea ceremony you can be apart of if you turn up at 1pm. It’s a rush job and really confusing because of the language barrier, but basically you sit down, put the pink ticket on the table in front of you and they give you something to eat (little glutenous bun with red bean paste inside) and some matcha tea. You also get to keep the little pink plate the treat is served on. According to the kids (who were trying to be funny), you get to keep the plate because it saves on washing. It was a bit of a production line so we just folded up our treat to go, sipped our tea quickly and left to make room for the next groups of people waiting.
Thanks to Veltra, getting our tickets was super easy and our 7 seats were in the front row. Initially we were worried we might be too close but the seats were great.

My friends from abroad and their fiancé came to Japan, and since they had just gotten engaged, I thought it would be a nice memory to gift them this plan. The staff at the store spoke English, so there was no need for interpretation each time, and the location was convenient, being close to Senso-ji Temple. Both of them were able to wear a kimono for the first time, and they said it was a wonderful experience and a great memory. I believe it would also be a good memory for Japanese people, but this time I felt I was able to provide a wonderful hospitality, and I'm glad I chose this option.

外国から友人とそのフィアンセが来日し、婚約したばかりだったので、その記念にと思い、このプランをプレゼントしました。お店の方々は英語もできたのでその都度通訳をする必要も無く、またお店の位置も雷門から近く便利でした。二人とも初めて着物を着ることができ、すごく良い経験、そして良い記念になったと言って喜んでいました。日本人でも良い思い出になるかと思いますが、今回は素敵なおもてなしができ、選んで良かったなと思いました。

Nos encantó esta actividad aprendimos mucho sobre la
Cultura Japonesa, las personas muy amables y respondieron a todas nuestras preguntas. Aprendimos cómo preparar el famoso té japonés, sobre caligrafía japonesa, disfrutamos de un lindo baile con una bailarina profesional, nos vestimos todos con kimonos y nos enseñaron origami! Muy divertido se los recomiendo

I was very happy to find a facility where I could interact closely with maiko, who usually feel like they belong to a distant world. I believe it's because of the moderate number of participants. The flow of activities, including food, dance, talk (Q&A time), games, and photos, kept everyone engaged. Most of the guests were foreigners, but I think anyone, regardless of age, who has even a slight interest in maiko would be satisfied.

普段遠い世界の舞妓さんと、このような形で身近に触れ合える施設があるのはとても嬉しく感じました。程良い人数の参加者だからこそではないでしょうか。
料理、踊り、トーク(質問タイム)、遊び、写真が飽きない流れで展開し、ほとんどの客は外国人でしたが、舞妓さんにちょっとだけ興味のある人なら年齢問わず誰でも満足出来るのではと思います。

Seeing a maiko dance live was always one of my lifehood dreams. This dream came true that night with a magnificent performance! Accompanied by a traditional Japanese dinner of high quality, it was a pleasure having been able to attend this evening. The garden walk and the mountain view were stunning as well!

The geisha was so amateur, she was shaking while dancing. Nobody explained the way we should eat the traditional food.
On the way back, the tour leader was just speaking Japanese and didn’t care about foreigners attendants. She was speaking Japanese all the way back, and sometimes they were laughing or clapping and we as foreigners just waiting for some explanations but nothing.
In my idea it was a dishonor to non-Japanese guest. The tour provider company should provide the same Facilities for all guests. In General it was an expensive activity with poor facilities!

Choosing the bus tour was definitely the right decision. It covered attractions that are far from the center of Nara, and the guide was organized and thorough, providing satisfaction beyond the cost. The beautiful Buddha statues and treasures were explained using photo materials on the bus beforehand, making it easier to understand and leaving a lasting impression. The guide's personality was also great—refreshing and friendly. They even helped us get goshuin (temple stamps) and took commemorative photos with my companions, providing excellent service. I have participated in various bus tours before, but if you're sightseeing in Nara, I highly recommend this tour. Meals are available for an additional fee (around 1000 yen) if requested in advance. There were a few places to eat during lunch time. The walking distance is quite considerable, and the schedule is tight, so it might be tough for those with mobility issues or lacking physical stamina to handle a full-day tour.

バスツアーにして大正解でした。奈良の中心部から離れている見所を網羅して、計画的、かつ丁寧にガイドしてくださり、金額以上の満足感です。美しい仏像や宝物について、事前にバス中で写真付の資料を使って解説されていたので、より分かりやすく印象に残りました。ガイドさんの人柄も良く、さわやかで気さく。御朱印もかわりにもらっていただけたり、連れとの記念写真を取ってくださったりと、至れり尽くせり。これまで、色々なバスツアーに参加してきましたが、奈良で観光するならこのツアーはおすすめです。食事は別料金（1000円位）で事前にお願い出来ます。昼食時間に各自で食べるお店は多少ありました。歩く距離はさすがに結構ありますし、スケジュールがタイトなので、足の悪い方や体力に自信のない方は１日ツアーは辛いかも。

I made a reservation for dinner on the last day of a 3-night, 4-day trip with my mother and daughter. It was raining on and off that day, so I had given up on seeing the sunset, but I was able to catch glimpses of it through the clouds a couple of times, which was nice.

For the meal, we chose the best steak course, but honestly, it was just "average," and I was a bit disappointed. Also, many of the servers were foreigners, and while they were very dedicated in their service, there was one person with a strong perfume. I think it would be better if they were educated to tone it down in dining situations, even though it might be common in their culture.

母・娘で3泊4日の旅の最終日のディナーで予約しました。
当日は雨が降ったり止んだりだったのでサンセットはあきらめていましたが、2.3度雲の隙間から見ることが出来たので良かったです。
お食事は一番良いステーキのコースにしましたが、正直「普通」で少しがっかり。あと、サーブしてくれるのが外国の方が多かったのですが、サービス自体は一生懸命されていて良かったけれど、香水がキツイ方がいて、（外国では当たり前なのかもしれませんが）食事の場では控える様に教育された方がいいのではと思いました。

There is a little time for practice. However, if you extend the practice time, the actual performance will just be shorter.

During practice,
- Aim to create a straight and deep line.
- Without fear, slowly and firmly press the rotary file against the glass.
- Ensure the grooves are beautifully shaped like a V.

Once you grasp these tips, it's better to quickly move on to the actual draft and carving. If the V-shaped grooves are not deeply carved, they won't cast shadows, resulting in a flat finish that lacks the beauty of Edo Kiriko.

Although I booked this tour to earn points, I was able to take home a finished product that I can use, making it a fun experience that was worth more than the price. If I make it again, I’m sure I can do it even better... I think...

練習時間は少しあります。ただ、練習時間を延ばすと本番が短くなるだけです。
練習では、
・まっすぐに深めの線を作る。
・怖がらずにゆっくり強めに回転ヤスリをグラスに押し当てる。
・溝がキレイなV字型に。
なるように心がけて、少しコツを掴んだらすぐに本番の下書きと削りに入った方がよいです。
溝のV字型が深く彫れていないと、影ができずにのっぺりとした仕上がりになり江戸切子の美しさが出ません。
ポイント消化のためと予約したツアーでしたが、成果品も持ち帰れて使っていけますし、お値段以上の楽しいツアーでした。
もう一度作ればきっともっと上手にできる…と…思います…。

On the last night of our 3-night, 4-day trip, we made a schedule. The best part was the wonderful weather, and we were able to see a stunning sunset, which made for a truly amazing time. There was also a fun guitar performance concert, and the food was delicious, creating a lively atmosphere. Among the people on the boat, there was a child celebrating their birthday, and I believe it became a memorable birthday for them as we all celebrated together. I thought it would also be great for anniversary events.

3泊4日の最後の夜にスケジュールを組みました。
お天気に恵まれたことが一番大きかったですが、みごとに夕日を見ることができ、本当に素晴らしい時間でした。
ギター弾き語りのコンサートもあって楽しく、お料理もおいしく、盛り上がりました。
同船している人の中に、子供が誕生日の方がいたのですが、みんなでお祝いしながら、きっとその子にとっては思い出に残る誕生日になったと思います。
記念日のイベントにもとてもいいかと思いました。

When I visited Nara for the first time, I wanted to see everything, but it's not easy to tour efficiently on your own. I participated on a hot day, and traveling by bus was fantastic. Especially, enjoying matcha while looking at the beautiful garden at Jiko-in brought me peace of mind. I would love to join again in a different season if I have the chance.

初めて奈良に行きあれもこれも見たいと思っても個人では効率よく観光はできません。暑い日に参加しましたがバスでの移動は最高でした。特に慈光院での綺麗なお庭を眺めながらの抹茶をのみ、心が落ち着きました。また、きかいがあったら違う季節に参加したいと思います。

It's a valuable experience where you can choose from lunch and dinner options and immerse yourself in the high culture of maiko. Foreign visitors are very pleased, and I always visit with foreign guests.

ランチや夕食の選択が出来、敷居が高い舞妓さんの文化に触れられる貴重な体験です。外国人の方々にもとても喜ばれ、外国人のお客様といつも訪問させていただいております。

I was able to enjoy the wonderful sunset and the magnificent views of Okinawa from the vast ocean!

I participated with my 4-year-old son, and he was thrilled and having a great time. The staff were also very kind and even gave my son a balloon as a gift.

The live music was lovely, and at the end, everyone present got really excited with the island song, creating a wonderful memory!

素晴らしいサンセットと大海原からみる沖縄の雄大な景色を堪能できました！

４歳の息子と一緒に参加しましたが、息子も大喜びではしゃぎまくっていましたが、スタッフの方も親切にしてくださり、息子に風船のプレゼントもしてくれました。

ライブミュージックも素敵で、最後に島唄でその場にいた全員が大いに盛り上がり、素敵な思い出になりました♪

The maiko were adorable, and it was a fun experience where I could ask various questions and play games, rather than just watching. As for the food, I think there might be some differences from the photos, so it might be better not to have too high expectations!

舞妓さんも可愛らしくて、質問でいろいろ聞けたり、ゲームなどができ、ただ見るだけのものより、楽しい体験でした。料理は、写真とは、違う事もあると思うので、あまり期待しすぎないほうがいいかも！

Even though we can still feel the summer heat... I had the chance to meet a maiko, often referred to as a moving traditional craft (or perhaps an art piece?).

In Kyoto, there are five districts where maiko can be found: Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Pontocho, Miyagawacho, and Kamishichiken. This time, I met Kanohisa from Gion Higashi.

The guests were quite diverse, coming from Chinese-speaking, English-speaking, and Japanese-speaking backgrounds (laughs). The emcee spoke in both Japanese and English, but there was a middle school girl from Shanghai at our table who was fluent in Japanese. She was interpreting the emcee's comments and Kanohisa's responses for everyone, completely overshadowing the group’s Chinese guide! It was surprising! But it’s wonderful that foreign guests can feel interest and familiarity with the Japanese language and traditional culture, right!?

While enjoying our meal, we were treated to two dance performances, explanations about the maiko, a Q&A session, and traditional games (like Konpira Funafuna). Of course, we could take two-shot photos as long as we weren't bothering others, so it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

While there are many activities like this at night, daytime options are limited, making this activity a low-threshold and reasonably priced recommendation for first-timers! ^ ^

まだまだ夏の暑さを感じる中・・・動く伝統工芸品（美術品か？）とも呼ばれる舞妓さんに逢ってきました～。
京都に舞妓さんの居る街は五つ（祇園甲部・祇園東・先斗町・宮川町・上七軒）ありますが、今回は祇園東・叶家の叶久（かのひさ）さんでした。

お客さんも中国語圏・英語圏＆日本語圏（笑）と多彩でした。
司会は日本語と英語なのですが、同テーブルの上海からって言う中学生くらいの女の子が日本語が流暢で、グループの中国人ガイドさん？そっちのけで司会の方や叶久さんの返答を皆に通訳してました～・・・ビックリ！
でも、外国の方たちにも日本語や伝統文化に興味や親しみを感じてもらえるって嬉しい事ですよね！？

食事をしながら踊りも二曲舞ってもらえて、舞妓さんの説明やQ&Aやお座敷遊び（金毘羅舟々）や、そしてそして2ショットはもちろん他の方の迷惑に無らなければ写真撮影も終始OKと至れり尽くせりです。
夜にこう言うアクティビティーは多いのですが昼ってのは少ないので、初めてって方にも敷居が低く且つリーズナブルなこのアクティビティーはお薦めで～す♪ ^ ^

Watching the sunset in Okinawa while cruising and dining was amazing! The slow pace was very relaxing! The staff's thoughtfulness provided excellent hospitality, making it a wonderful boat trip!

沖縄の夕日を見てクルージングをしながら食事は最高でした！
ゆっくり動きますのでかなり癒されました！
スタッフの方の気遣いも最高のおもてなしでサービスがとても良い船旅でした！

Everything about the dinner cruise was exceptional! The food was excellent and the views were amazing. There was a large assortment of beverages to chose from. It was the highlight of my trip to Tokyo! It was easy to find and taxi were waiting near by to return to your hotel.

This time, I made a reservation for my daughter's surprise birthday. When the song started playing, she looked surprised, but it became a wonderful memory.

今回は娘のサプライズバースデーで予約しました。
歌が流れてきたときは驚いた様子でしたがとてもいい記念となりました。

We had a wonderful time at this event. The beer was cold, the hotpot was tasty, and the maiko was very nice. I very much recommend this!

beautiful experience, very funny fir the kids as well, not too long snd adeguate for family . Il pranzo con la maiko è stata una bellissima esperienza che ha coinvolto anche i bimbi con il gioco , durato un ora e mezzo tempo adeguato per i bimbi per carpire il loro interesse , è stato veramente molto interessante

This was a great activity. The food and beer was delicious and filling and the entertainment was fantastic. We were able to talk with our Maiko for a few minutes and take a picture with her after her performance. We did not speak very much Japanese (only the very basics), but that did not diminish our experience. We had a great time, and it was nice we didn't have to spend a ton of money on one dinner like some other activities that are available with maiko. I would definitely recommend this if you'd like to meet a maiko and see her perform.

dinner was great, super good service. Make sure to wear mosquitos repellent

We participated as a couple. We had accumulated points on Veltra, so we decided to join this experience that we were interested in. The instruction was kind and thorough, and after some practice, we were ready for the real thing! Experiencing it deepened my appreciation for Edo Kiriko. The way to apply force and the difficulty of achieving uniformity were all refreshing, and enjoying a drink from the finished glass was the best!

夫婦での参加です。ベルトラでのポイントが溜まっていたので興味のあったこちらに参加しました。親切丁寧に教えていただき、練習してから本番！
体験してみて江戸切子の魅力がまた深まりました。力の入れ方、均一にする難しさ、何もかもが新鮮で出来上がったグラスで飲む晩酌は最高です。

I was satisfied as my purpose was to photograph the maiko. I used the 500 yen optional seat, but since I couldn't sit in the front, I would like to sit in the front for the next time to take photos.

舞妓さんの撮影が目的でしたので満足しています。
500円のオプション座席を利用しましたが
正面に座れなかったので、次回は正面に座って
撮影したいです。

I made a reservation for the lunch course! I took motion sickness medication and was fully prepared, but some people felt groggy (it seems the boat sways due to the waves from other boats during the day). Since it was everyone's first time on a boat, there were some unexpected events, but we had a great time taking commemorative photos with the Tokyo Skytree in the background on the deck✨

The food was the cheapest course, but the tempura was freshly fried one piece at a time and delicious.

ランチのコースを予約しました！
酔い止めを飲んで準備万全で向かいましたが、
何人かはグロッキーに
(昼は他のボート等の残波で揺れるそうです)
皆、初めての船だったのでハプニングもありつつも、
デッキでスカイツリーをバックに記念写真が撮れたり楽しく過ごせました✨

料理も1番安いコースでしたが、
天ぷらも1品ずつ揚げたてで美味しかったです