All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

Great event, excellent experience (wish some of organizers spoke at least some English - but we came to enjoy their culture so have to expect... and have some patience - but after we settled everything was outstanding).

Tickets were waiting for us so we could skip the line. The event it self was totally worth it. We got decent seats, not the best...we booked 2 weeks in advance so I'd recommend booking earlier if you want the good seats.

Tea ceremony was worth it, it's a bit rushed and can't see much if you're not in the first 2 rows, so try to wait by the entrance to be the first ones in. You get a small amount of good matcha, a little sweet thing and you get to keep the saucer the it's served on.

We didn't pay any extra free for booking via Veltra so props to Veltra for this!

10/10 would book through Veltra again.

Beautiful! Very hepful English speaking staff. The music was also lovely.

I reserved my place weeks ago before the dance and when i came the womens from the office where not nice at all.
I went into the theather and i had to seat on A PLASTIC CHAIR. Really ?
I paid 4000 yens and everybody has a confortable seat and me not.
This is not possible. Yes it s touristic but please...

After that the dance was nice , i mean special. I recommaned because we can t see this everdays. The old womens who sang and played instruments for the geisha and meiko were really goods.

Thank , olivier Shaw.

This was an amazing experience even without understanding Japanese. The Geiko and Meiko performed dance/acting performance to a set theme and live music is also played. Some of the stage backdrops were very beautiful as well. At the end they threw signed a fabric with all the names of the performers out and we were lucky enough to catch one. I highly recommend going to a performance like this at least once!

Amazing. When I arrived I was directed to the counter where the reserved tickets were, I then went to watch the tea ceremony, which was amazing. Then we were led to the theatre, I was given a seat in the front row - the odori was amazing - great dancing, beautiful costumes, music and singing was amazing. If you are in Kyoto in early November please go to this.

Tout était parfait, l'accueil, le spectacle incroyable ! C'est l'un des meilleurs moments que nous ayons passés à Kyoto. Merci.
Je recommande à 200 % !

What a fabulous show, highly recommend seeing these amazing talented women. A cultural show not to be missed. Colourful, mesmerising and wonderful experience. You wanted to get up on stage and learn the dances.

We were invited into tea ceremony with some mochi dessert and a little
Spectacle was amazing despite no any Japanese language skills. Show is so unique that is worth it's price and time spent.

Ordering was easy, as was exchanging the voucher for the tickets. We had great seats on the 7th row and all in all this was a great experience.

This is legit, I printed voucher from home and presented it in Gion Kaikan 30 mins before tea ceremony and show. Tickets and seats were prepared and got good seats.
Show was okay, would've been better if they talked about the geisha culture prior to show start. Tea ceremony is okay, it's a classroom type arrangement and the geisha/maiko doesn't necessarily serve you.

My friend and I attended a performance of Gion Odori at the 1:30pm time on a Sunday. Getting to the theater is easy and there is nearby parking for anyone driving.

Upon arrival the ticket office immediately recognized us as having reservations (maybe it was me fumbling with the confirmation email) and produced our tickets and sent us into the theater almost instantly. The lovely usher sat us and we had the good fortune to get really good seats and they were together. The theater was quite packed so definitely get there on time.

The dance itself was very interesting. The free little flyer we got before entering the theater does give a little explanation on each dance in English, but it was a little sparse so try to do a little research before coming if you really want to understand the stories.

Otherwise, it was a full hour from entering to leaving of gorgeous dancing, costumes, and sets, with the traditional music accompaniment really clinching the feel of authenticity. If you're in town, definitely try to catch this performance!

Absolutely loved the evening. Great venue & amazing food. The Maiko & Geiko were delightful - loved watching them perform and was overjoyed at opportunity to talk to them and be able to ask questions. Had seen the Gion Adori (annual dance of Geisha) the day before and loved it but being even closer to them & experiencing the geisha hospitality was amazing.

I was a little disappointed with the difference in the food compared to the website. Other than that, the staff's response was good, and there was plenty of time, which was nice.

HPとの差(料理)に、少しガッカリ‼️ それ以外は、スタッフの対応も良く、時間も余裕があり、良かったです。

C était tres rapide. Et une photo pas plus, je n ai même pas pu prendre de photo avec mon fils.

Very good seat in the 3rd row through Veltra for the Gion Odori.
A fascinating look at a performance by geikas and maikos.

Not with the green tea ceremony but the show was amazing!

Visiting Hōryū-ji and Chūgū-ji individually often took a lot of time to move to Nishi no Kyō afterward. It was impossible to reach Tōshōdai-ji in one day. There were times when I arrived at Nishi no Kyō Station and it was already 5 PM! It was disappointing.

However, the regular sightseeing bus tours allowed for a leisurely visit, and in addition, enjoying tea while viewing the garden at Jikō-in added one more delight to my experience in Nara. This time, I visited in autumn before the leaves changed color; next time, I would like to experience Nara in winter with its snowy scenery, and in spring with fresh greenery, all through this tour.

法隆寺・中宮寺を個人で拝観し、その後西の京への移動は時間が掛ることが多かった。唐招提寺まで一日では無理。ある時は西の京駅に着いたら、もう5時!
残念というときもありました。
　さすがに、定期観光バスのツアーそれぞれがゆっくり拝観できたことに加え、慈光院でお庭を見ながらのお茶、奈良の楽しみが一つ増えました。今回は紅葉前の秋、次は、雪景色の冬、新緑の春など季節に彩られた奈良をこのツアーで味わってみたいものです。

We went on the Yakatabune Dinner Cruise in late October 2018. The directions to the port were clear and easy to follow. Very easy to get to via the subway (Oedo Line - Kachidoki station). I made sure I printed the Veltra voucher emailed to me. When I got to the pier, I showed the attendant the voucher and he directed us to the boat.

Once everyone boarded, they explained everything in Japanese and English (although the English was not great, it was understandable). The food served was delicious. I tried some new things I would never have ordered if I were to pick from a menu. The food kept coming, they served six types of tempura, and it was filling. All you can drink beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) was good too. We had several rounds of sake.

At several locations the boat stopped for picture taking upstairs above the main eating area. It was nice that this was an option. Several people went upstairs to take in the sights during the dinner. The party I was with enjoyed ourselves and the meal, it looked like the other parties enjoyed themselves as well.

If I had the chance, I would go again and would specifically seek the Harumiya Yakatabune cruise because of the wonderful experience

I wanted to create a memorable item for my wedding anniversary with my husband, so I participated in this experience. It started with choosing a glass, and there were so many options that I could select my favorite. The experience included proper practice and clear explanations, which made me feel very at ease. I had no worries about cutting my fingers while handling the blades, so I could work comfortably. The adjustments were challenging, but if anything came up, the instructor was there to help, resulting in a very satisfying finished product. Choosing a difficult design took a bit longer, but they were very attentive without rushing me, and at the end, I was able to take photos at a beautifully lit spot that looked great for Instagram. When I posted the photos on Instagram, I received many inquiries from friends asking where I did this. Given the level of satisfaction, the price is very reasonable!

主人との結婚記念日に何か思い出の品を作りたいと思い、参加させていただきました。グラス選びから始まりましたが、種類もたくさんあり、好きなものを選ぶことができました。体験は練習もきちんとあって説明もわかりやすく、とても安心できました。刃を触っても指が切れたりする心配が全くないので安心して作業を行うことができます。加減は難しいですが、何かあったら先生が手直しもしてくださるので、とても満足できる物が仕上がりました。難しい柄を選んだことで少し時間がかかってしまいましたが、急かすこともなく丁寧に対応していただけましたし、最後にインスタ映えしそうなライトアップした撮影スポットでの撮影もさせていただけました。写真をインスタに載せると、友達からどこでやったのかとたくさん聞かれました。この満足度でこの値段はとてもお安いです！

The maiko was "Toshinami" from "Komaya" in Miyagawacho! She made her debut last November and is a first-year maiko... so innocent and adorable~♪ ^ ^ She came to our table to teach us about the tea ceremony when I was a bit lost, and she gracefully performed two songs: the classic "Gion Kouta" and "Momiji no Hashi" using a fan (though I was a bit unsure about that one). She also answered all our questions thoroughly, and during photo sessions, she was happy to respond to pose requests, making it a great value for the experience. So, for those of you who might think it's a bit intimidating (especially women), I highly recommend it!

舞妓さんは宮川町”駒屋”の『とし菜実』さんでした～！
昨年11月にお見世出し（舞妓デビュー）した舞妓初年生で・・・おぼこい、おぼこいぃ～♪ ^ ^
お茶のお点前もまごついてるとちゃんと席まで来て教えて貰えましたし、舞も定番の「祇園小唄」と扇子を使った「もみじの橋」←（やや自信なし）の2曲をしっとりと魅させて貰いました～。
Q&Aにもしっかりと答えて貰えますし、写真撮影時にはポーズのリクエストにも応えて貰えたりと非常にコストパフォーマンスが良いので・・・ちょっと敷居が高いんじゃ？な～んて思ってるそこの貴方（女）にもお薦めです～。

I attended a performance for the first time in June. The pre-show explanation provided an overview of the flow and the comedic moments, making it easy to get into the experience. After the show, the actors added further explanations, which deepened my understanding. There was also a photo opportunity, and during the part where the story was expressed through a traditional play, when I requested a ghost, they creatively acted it out, making for a very enjoyable time. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't that time this time. I will invite different friends to go see it again. Ten people might be difficult, though! (*^.^*)

６月 口真似をはじめて観劇しました。
前説で 全体の流れ、笑いどこを教えて頂いたので、入りやすかったです。
舞台終了後 役者の方が更に説明を加えて下さり
理解を深める事が出来ました。また写真撮影タイムがあったり、物語を狂言で表現してくださるところでは ゴーストをお願いしたら 工夫しながらも 演じて下さりとても楽しい時間が過ごせました。今回 その時間がなく少し残念でした
また 違う友人誘って 観に行きます。
10人は 難しいですが(*^.^*)

I had a great time!
I was able to have an experience that is hard to come by.
I also learned a lot about maiko!
If I have the chance to go to Kyoto again, I would like to participate!

とても楽しかったです❗
なかなか経験出来ない体験をさせてもらいました。
舞妓さんについてもくわしく知ることが出来ました‼️
また京都にいく機会があれば参加したいとおもいます❗

I reserved a 30-minute Kyoto dance course. It was finally possible to make a reservation during the tourist season, and everyone from abroad was very happy to experience Japanese culture up close. The interpreter also communicated well, so even though it was a short time, we were able to have a very meaningful cultural exchange. Thank you very much.

京舞踊３０分コースを予約しました。観光シーズンで漸く予約できましたが、外国からの皆さんは、日本の文化をまじかに感じることができ、大変喜んでおりました。通訳の方もしっかりコミュニケーション頂きましたので、短い時間でしたが非常に有意義な文化交流ができました。ありがとうございました。

The workshop was a really nice experience. Our teacher was a really friendly guy. I can definitely recommend it if you have time to do it!
The location is easy to find and just one stop from Ikebukuro. Our fake Ramen is a nice memory, that will us remind of our time in Japan.

This was one of the best things we did on our trip. Our instructor spoke great English and was so nice! We learned how to make lettuce and shrimp tempura and now I want to make so much more! Can't recommend it more!

I really enjoyed the activity. The teacher is really nice, very patient when explaining something. However I expect to learn from the very basic step, knowing that we tend to just stick one thing and another made me a little bit disappointed. Regardless, it was indeed a good learning experience for me. Thank you!

We missed the shuttle bus so taking a taxi was our only option. The Hotel Monterey Kyoto front desk was so kind and willing; she called the cab and informed the taxi driver where to drop us off which saved us a lot of time. The shuttle from the restaurant came out and met us about a mile away as the roads get narrow and difficult to find for drivers unfamiliar with that area. The cab fare came out to be about $35-40 from the Hotel (which was less than what I expected). I highly recommend catching the shuttle service on time (be there early as they will leave exactly on time!)-- not only it's more comfortable having someone drive you to the restaurant, but it will save you time and money.

The restaurant is located in a very secluded and quiet area, completely surrounded by nature. They will greet and walk you to your designated table. The guiding lights in the complete dark woods make the ambience more beautiful. All meals will come out in your eating pace... which is important because I eat pretty slow and sometimes course meals rush you to hurry up and eat. I wasn't sure how to eat fish properly (whether I was supposed to eat the whole entire fish or leave the head or tail), so the older lady came over and removed all the bones for me. Service was fantastic.

There were two Maikos that night-- both Maikos came around, very willing to take pictures and answer questions/ conversate with you. When they start their dancing, I couldn't help but to stare in awe. They look like walking dolls. They also had goodies before the show (i.e a fan, canvas bag, etc). It was a pleasant experience. I highly recommend this tour. I want to do this again if I travel back to Kyoto in near future.

The guide's explanations were easy to understand and great. I was drawn in by their engaging way of speaking that kept everyone interested. I would like to go on a different course next time. Thank you very much.

ガイドさんの
お話がわかりやすくて良かったです。
人を飽きさせない話し方に引き込まらました
また、違うコースで行きたいと思います
よろしくお願いいたします

From the drive out of Kyoto Center up the cool hills past traditional tiled roofed houses, to our evening end with our gracious hosts smiling behind us as we walked back over the rope footbridge with the twinkling Japanese lanterns lighting the lush green river - A Magical Evening indeed.
Arriving at sunset, you see the beauty of the hot spring resort with our tables overlooking the river and mountain forest. We ordered the snow course (full- larger Kayseki) dinner. Traditional hosts (who speak only a little English) took us to our low tables set with course 1, gift Japanese fans and menu's in English. Sake and beer is additional. We had 2 Maiko's that evening, each separately visited all the tables to take pictures. (they speak Japanese, but can answer a little of English questions) Food was fresh, delicious and so artistically presented course by course. The beautiful dance & musical entertainment was lovely in the intimate setting. Each group had their own tables and the room is not too large. Splurge and treat yourself to this special experience.