All Reviews for Shows and Entertainment

Great experience! A real geiko and maiko show in pontocho

I really enjoyed this experience. A large group of attendees were served tea and a tea sweet while a beautifully dressed maiko performed the tea preparation part of the tea ceremony. Then we could take pictures of two maiko. The performance included a play and a series of dances that were beautifully performed in gorgeous costumes. Even though I don't speak Japanese, I still had a pretty good idea of what was going on from the dance movements. I had an excellent seat. Wonderful experience.

We will not forget this performance. It was exciting to watch from beginning to end. The performers, the show direction, the sets were all fantastic. The costumes were magnificent. There was a small downside, and that was the tea ceremony was very rushed. We were herded in and herded out, and this made us wonder why this was significant in any way.

We had a good time at the show. It was a small theatre and the show was not particularly grand, but it was a really nice and cosy performance. Loved it!

The overall experience went well. This is basically the traditional Japanese play, it only happens in a few days in May, and it's not very touristy. Most people going were actual locals, dressed in kimono. There were a few tourists, dressed more casual, but very few.
We knew that we wouldn't understand any of it. But the play itself, more the second part with the traditional dancing, was very pretty, and didn't involve much dialogue.
The tea ceremony was very rushed, and you are expected to eat the sweet and drink your tea very fast, and couldn't enjoy properly the act of the geisha actually "preparing" it.
Overall, I am glad we did it, and it was an experience to remember. But if you expect a long tea ceremony, please go elsewhere. This one was no more than 5min.

The tea ceremony was rushed and a non-event but the tea was real macha with a delicious cake. You keep the cake plate as a souvenir.
We did the photo op after the tea ceremony - it was OK.
The performance is outstanding and well worth the price of admission. Very professional, exquisite costumed and live orchestra.
Highly recommend this if you are in the Gion area.

If you are lucky enough to be in Kyoto while this is on, go! Fabulous!

It was one of the best cultural experiences. Even though i dont understand Japanese I enjoyed it thoroughly. You can buy the English synopsis of the play at the theatre itself. I faced no problem and I just went to the ticket counter and exchanged the voucher.

I'm glad I got to experience the Kamogawa Odori, a traditional event in Kyoto, for the first time. The maiko and geiko were beautiful. It's not often that you get to see real maiko and geiko, so the women I was with were also moved by it.

京都の風物詩の鴨川踊りを初めてでよかった。舞子、芸子さんのきれいなこと。なかなか、本物の舞子、芸子さんを見れないので、同席の女性も感動されていました。

We understood the Web page to be offering a demonstration of the Sado (tea ceremony) by Maiko. This was not to be. What we dis see was a superb performance of Maiko dances and period orchestra with voices performing a tribute to Japan's new era just commenced the week we were in Kyoto. Awesome talent and display of Maiko skills in song, dance and artistry of the animated gesture. The 182nd annual performance by this group. A mempry to treasure.

Un très beau spectacle, émouvant dans sa seconde partie avec notamment l'orchestre à gauche de la scène.

Outstanding geisha performance and tea ceremony. Exchange vouchers for tickets an hour before tea and show. Well organized.

Overall it was a positive experience, especially with regards to the show.
The photo session and the tea ceremony, a joke for tourists, was disappointing
I recommend buying tickets only for theater and geisha dances

There was no issue in finding the location and to get the ticket at the booth with the voucher from Veltra. I purchased Special Seat without the tea ceremony.

Thereafter, we were ushered into a hall where the tea ceremony was held. I did not know it was that when I was in the queue. When they serve tea, they realized that I didnt purchase with it and they asked me to purchase a separate ticket for it (though it was in my intention to opt out). There was no briefing during the tea ceremony as to what was supposed to happen in the process.

After that we went into a room while waiting to enter the performance hall. Although I bought a special seat unfortunately I was given the second last row of the hall. There were staff walking around with signs in Japanese which I figured later they were renting out translator machines. The group of staff while walking around with those did not mention anything in English nor were there any signs in English whatsoever.

The performance was split into 2 sections. The first was like a drama and it was difficult to enjoy the show without translation. The srcond brief was more on dance and it wad quite beautiful.

Staff could be more conversational in English throughout. A lot of foreign tourists were lost in their way from the tea ceremony to the performance as well.

Once again my husband 69th years bday, was excellent and we would absolutely consider booking with you again in the future.
We had an amazing perfect day and really appreciated your skills and friendly proffessionalism dealing with Me & My husband.Exclusively for His bday !
We had a fantastic especial lunch magic show,
Thank you so much for providing the magical entertainment once again!
I just wanted to thank you for some great entertainment of my husbands bday! Thank U & more power!

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.

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!