All Reviews for Geisha & Maiko Shows

Had an awesome time and would highly recommend. The restaurant is gorgeous and the staff extremely hospitable. The kaiseki dishes were very well liked by the three of us and their proprietary sake was excellent.

Our interpreter Peter was super chill and knowledgeable. Lastly our maiko, Kana Sue was fascinating to watch - the makeup, hair style, kimono, and all the meanings behind each intention of dress; the couple of dances she performed; and the hospitality services. Not to mention learning of her and many other girls' extremely committed lifestyle choice and what that entails to become a geisha was an eye opening seminar.

I would have liked to see some singing and instrument playing, but perhaps requesting a geisha over a maiko would have been prudent. An interpreter is necessary unless your fluent. Overall it was a highlight of my trip and I would do again.

During my short stay in Kyoto, I looked for experiences that would allow me to savor Japan. International guests prefer tours that are not solely for overseas visitors; they enjoy tours that Japanese customers can also appreciate.

The riverside setting wasn't cool, but it was a very lovely location where I could enjoy watching the maiko, making it a truly valuable experience. It became a wonderful memory for my family.

京都での短い滞在期間で、日本を味わえるものを探しました。
海外からのゲストは、海外のゲストばかりのツアーは好みません
日本のお客様が楽しめるツアーを好みます。

川床は涼しくはなかったですが、とても素敵なロケーションで
舞妓さんの鑑賞もでき、とても価値のある体験ができ嬉しかったです。
家族のいい思い出になりました。

I will keep the name private, but the maiko was very cute and I had a great time. Thank you for the dance and the Q&A session. I was healed by your smile! ♪

お名前は伏せますが舞妓さんがとても可愛い方でとても楽しかったです。踊りも、質問タイムもありがとうございます。笑顔に癒されました♪

Everything was perfect. The beautiful, elegant ambiance, the service, the food and the Geiko performance. We spent a marvelous time. Thank you all.

A really memorable and amazing experience with this Maiko Dance and dinner tour. We were escorted to a beautiful and spacious dining hall at Shozan Resort Kyoto. It is an incredibly lovely resort with a beautiful Japanese garden. A traditional and a delicious Japanese dinner was served. (Menu: Saki dzuke “appetizer”, Ha sun “ha-sun assortment”, Otsukuri “sliced raw fish”, Ipoin “a dish”, Konami “small saucepan”, Agemono “fried food”, Gohan “rice”, Kounomono “pickle” , Mizumono “dessert”, While we were enjoying our dinner, a stunningly beautiful Maiko (her name is Kimisora, the meaning of her name is dream) came out onto the stage and performed a brief dance. Kimosora san talked about some geisha history and her own stories of how and why she becomes a Maiko. Kimosora san was fascinated about geisha and their stories when she was a kid and determined to become a geisha one day. She is a friendly and sweet and elegant lady. Her English is excellent. She also showed us her extraordinary beautiful kimono and her special makeup and hairdo. Surprisingly we were given an extra long Q and A time (at least 30 mins or so) with her and we could ask any questions. She answered every question attentively and precisely. At the end we could all take several photos with her. (A reminder to myself : never touch the geisha hands or their clothes and this is an absolute respect to a geisha). During the whole meeting I could also take many photos freely. Kimisora san gave us her name card at the end of the dinner. It was a really really wonderful and memorable evening. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to meet a maiko in an extremely relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. If I ever visit Tokyo in the future I would join this tour again. A great and joyful life experience. My best wishes to Kimisora san and thank you Veltra for making my dream come true.

We went into it without prior knowledge of the venue, the actual setup or the details of the experience, and i was at awe of the arrangement and the experience, truly a once of a life-time experience you cannot miss if you plan to visit Kyoto!

The venue was superb, the restaurant being reserved solely for us, a genuinely private experience. However, I have to note that the initially, it wasn't a pleasant start due to a misunderstanding by the host restaurant staff. As the lead of the group I approached the front door of the venue, only to be shouted at by an elderly male saying that this is private and i have to leave. I tried to approach him to show him my reservation as i was trying to explain that we are the ones who booked the venue but his attitude got more aggressive and did not want to hear anything i had to say. I was not going to start the experience with conflict so i left and got in touch with the emergency number on the voucher, who immediately resolved the issue and the man later apologized for his behavior. I understand that tourist have been a bit of a hassle lately for Kyoto and hence do not take it personally, however for future reservations, please note of this and don't let it ruin your day.

As for the main experience, there are no words to summarize how magical, pleasant and lovely the rest of the evening was. The translator, an expert in Geisha Tradition was superb, providing us with a detailed history of the tradition and guiding us on how to enjoy the experience as it plays out. The shimasen, Gecko, Geisha and Maikos made us feel like honorary guests and provided us with the most authentic and personal experience we have ever enjoyed, a lovely mix of dance, song, food, entertainment and conversation. Although i say it is a once in a life-time experience, i will definitely book when i visit the country again!

The explanation from the microphone was loud (a common opinion among 13 customers). I wonder why it couldn't be done in English since the maiko spoke softly when addressing us. Although we didn't participate, most of those who experienced the matcha ceremony proceeded without proper explanations, leaving them confused. It hardly felt like a traditional cultural experience. As someone who has practiced tea ceremony for many years, I hope they can find ways to "convey" the true purpose of tea ceremony rather than just scratching the surface. It was nice that we were able to take a group photo.

マイクの説明がうるさい( 13人のお客様共通の意見　舞妓さんに話しかける時は少しソフトなのでなぜ英語でできないのか疑問。　私たちはしませんでしたがお抹茶体験の方のほとんどは何をどうして良いのか適切な説明がないままさっさと進行しわけわからない　伝統文化体験とは到底言えない感じでした。
茶道を長年している者として　表面的ではなく真の茶道の目的を「伝える」よう工夫して欲しい。
グループ写真取れたのは良かったです。

The meal, dance, and game were all incredible. Our translator was great and provided fun facts and history of Geisha culture.

The location of the restaurant was impressive as well as the room, and the kaiseki dinner was really delicious.
Of course, the highlight of the evening was the performance of the amazing maiko san.
It was a unique experience to have maiko san dance just for us and have a talk with us.

Everything was great, we played and won with Maiko.

Todo fue genial , hemos jugado y ganado con Maiko

I was able to enter at the designated time. It was fun to ask questions to the maiko and play games with them. If you lose, you get to drink alcohol. I thought it was a good strategy to lose, so I did. However, since you can also drink if you win, I think it's better to win. You shouldn't miss the maiko's dance either. For the final photo opportunity, it's good to bring two cameras. Since there were only a few people that day, I was able to experience everything. At the end, the maiko waved goodbye as I took a taxi home.

入店の時間で入場することが出来ました。舞子さんに質問したり、舞妓さんとのゲームが面白いです。負けるとお酒がのめます。負けるが得策に思い負けました。しかし、勝ってもお酒が飲めるので勝つのが良いと思います。又舞妓さんの踊りも見逃せません。最後は記念撮影はカメラを２個持っていくと良いです。この日は少数でしたので全体験することが出来ました。最後に舞妓さんのタクシーで帰る所につき手を振ってくださいました。

Thank you very much for this valuable experience! Meeting a maiko has been a dream of mine for many years, and I was so happy to finally meet one! I truly appreciate your kind and attentive service! I hope to have the opportunity again in the future!

この度はご貴重な経験をさせていただき本当にありがとうございました！
舞妓さんに会うことが長年の夢だったのですが、お会いできてとても嬉しかったです！とてもご丁寧なご対応ありがとうございました！
また機会がありましたらよろしくお願いいたします！

I was assigned to the second row, but since the first row had empty seats, I ended up in the front row. I was moved to see the maiko up close. The maiko was cute and had a wonderful smile. The experience was quite fulfilling with tea ceremony, photo opportunities, a Q&A session, traditional games, and performances. Both photos and videos were allowed. However, I was surprised by the strong tone of the host when addressing foreign guests, even though their English was fluent.

2列目指定でしたが1列目が空席でしたので結果的に最前列でした
すぐ近くで舞妓さんを見れて感動しました
舞妓さんは可愛くて笑顔が素敵でした
お点前、写真撮影、質問タイム、お座敷遊び、舞
とかなり充実していました
写真も動画もOKでした
ただ司会の方が流暢な英語なのですが外国の方を注意する時の口調が強くてびっくりしました

I was able to interact with a real maiko in Kyoto. It was truly a fulfilling experience and has become a lifelong memory.

京都へ行って本物の舞妓さんと触れ合う事が出来た事
本当に充実した体験になりました。
一生の思い出になりました。

On the fourth day since her debut as a maiko, Kanrin came to visit. We enjoyed watching the dance and took individual commemorative photos. Although I quickly lost at the games in the Hanamachi, it was a lot of fun. I would like to use this service again.

舞妓さんデビューして、４日目の叶鈴さんが来てくれました。踊りを鑑賞したり、個人記念撮影など、花町遊びもすぐ負けましたが、楽しかったです。又、利用したいです。

この体験は全体的にとても素晴らしかったです。舞妓に質問をするのが面白く、彼女のパフォーマンスを見ることもできました。彼女の千社札（名刺）を受け取るのもユニークな体験でした。英語のサポートがあるとは思っていなかったので、これは大きな助けになりました。リストには翻訳があるとは書かれていなかったので、私は日本語を話し、グループのために翻訳するつもりでした。

さて、いくつか改善できる点があったと思います。SS席には誰も座っていなかったので、イベントが始まる前に購入の機会を提供してほしかったです。予約をしたときにそのオプションがあった記憶はなく、可能であれば購入していたと思います。また、参加者の中には失礼な行動をする人もいました。一人の男性の携帯電話がずっと鳴っていて、子供たちが歩き回っていました。スタッフが彼らに携帯電話を静かにするようにお願いし、座っているように促してほしかったです。

それ以外は素晴らしい体験で、また来たいと思います。

This experience was overall pretty great - it was interesting to ask the maiko questions and to see her perform. Receiving her senjafuda (business card) was also a unique experience. I didn’t expect English support as the listing gives no indication that they will be translating everything - I speak Japanese and planned on translating for my group, so this was a big help.

Anyway, a few points I thought could have been better. Nobody was sitting in the SS seats, so I wish they had offered the opportunity to purchase them before the event began - I don’t remember having the option when I booked the reservation, and I would have bought them if possible. Additionally, some of the attendees had some rude conduct - one man’s phone kept chiming throughout, and some children were walking around. I wish the staff had asked them to silence their phone and remain seated.

Otherwise, it was a great experience and I’d come back again.

I thought there would be a large number of people, but there were just a little over ten, so it didn't feel too cramped. The Kyoto cuisine was delicious, and the performances by the geisha were entertaining, which made me very satisfied. If I have the opportunity to go to Kyoto again, I would like to participate once more. I believe anyone who is interested should definitely join, as I think they will be satisfied.

人数が多いかと思ったが、１０人ちょっとであまり窮屈に感じなかった。
京都料理は美味しく、舞妓さんの芸も面白く、満足だった。京都に行く機会があれば、また参加したい。
参加すれば満足すると思うので、気になる方は是非参加すべきだと思う。

My relatives from abroad came to Japan. Since it was their first time in Kyoto, I wanted to create a special memory, so I made a reservation. My child and I had just traveled to Kyoto five months ago, so I thought it would be nice to experience something we wouldn't normally do on a typical trip. Since it was summer, we opted for a riverside dinner. I had always wanted to go to a riverside dining experience in Kyoto during the summer. I planned it as a surprise for my relatives without explaining the details of the dinner, as it was also a day when they could meet a maiko.

The sukiyaki we chose was very generous in portion. The meat was tender and delicious. The riverside was cool, and the sound of insects was refreshing. The lanterns reflected beautifully on the river surface, adding to the ambiance. The charming maiko greeted us with a smile, and we were able to take many photos. The staff were also quick to take pictures for us and were very accommodating with refills of tea and other requests. The bus driver was also very friendly. My foreign relatives and my child loved it, and it was a great decision. Being able to see the maiko's dance up close created wonderful memories. I would love to go again!

海外からの親戚が来日。初めての京都ということで、何か特別な思い出になれば、と申し込みました。同行する私と子供は５ヶ月前に京都旅行をしたばかり。。私たちにとっても普通の京都旅行では経験しないことを、と思い、夏ということもあり、川床の夕食にしました。夏に京都に行くなら川床にいきたい、と常々おもっていました。舞妓さんにも会える日程ということで、親戚にはどんな夕食か詳しく説明せず、サプライズにしました。
選んだすき焼きはボリュームたっぷり。お肉も柔らかく美味しい。川床も涼しく、虫の声が涼しげ。川面に写る提灯も情緒たっぷり。そして可愛らしい舞妓さんがにこやかに応対してくれ、写真もたくさんとらせていただきました。スタッフのかたも写真を撮ってくれたり、お茶などのおかわりも、すぐ快く対応してくれました。バスの運転手さんもとても愛想のいいかたでした。外国人の親戚にも、子供にも大好評で、大正解でした。舞妓さんの踊りを間近で見ることができ、素敵な思い出になりました。またぜひ行きたいです！

I live in Kyoto and often have the opportunity to visit Gion and the geisha districts. This time, a friend from out of town wanted to meet a maiko, but since a real okiya experience costs several hundred thousand yen, I made a reservation for a beginner-friendly option. Surprisingly, the maiko's dance, the tea ceremony, and the traditional games were all very enjoyable and highly recommended for first-timers. Plus, it's affordable, so feel free to give it a try!

私は京都在住の者です　日頃から　祇園や花街に行く機会がありますが
　今回は地方からの友人が　舞妓さんに会いたいと言うものですから　本物のお座敷では数十万の費用が掛かりますので　初心者向けということで予約しました　ところが　案外と舞妓さんの踊り　茶道のお点前　そしてお座敷遊びなどなど　初めての方の入門編としてとてもお勧めです　おまけに安価ですので　お気軽に、、、、

The pillar was in the way.
I arrived a bit early and got in at the top, but there were already attendees from the previous program, and we ended up on the side. Additionally, the front seats required an extra fee. We also ended up with a group of students who stood right in front of us while we were sitting. Of course, there was no warning.

柱が邪魔でした。
また、少し早めに行ってトップで入りましたが、すでに前のプログラム入場者がいて、端の方になり、前の席は別途料金がいりました。また、学生の集団と一緒になってしまい、私たちが座ってる目の前で立たれました。もちろん、注意はありませんでした。。

It was very good.
I have experienced private dinners with maiko several times, but this option tour was excellent.
The sunset in Arashiyama was beautiful, the maiko were adorable, and the garden of the restaurant after the rain was very beautiful as well.
It was a tour that felt very reasonably priced.

大変良かったです。
舞妓さんと貸し切り夕食など、何回か経験しましたが今回のオプションツアーはとても良かったです。
夕暮れの嵐山も良かったし、舞妓さんも可愛かったですし雨上がりの夜の料亭のお庭もとても美しかったです。
とても割安感のあるツアーでした。

I used it for the first time.

The Q&A with the maiko, the maiko's dance, taking photos together, and the fun of playing games at the teahouse made for a very enjoyable event. It was a bit hard to see from the back seats, but I was glad to have moved to a better spot where I could enjoy it. The food might feel a bit insufficient if you're really hungry, but being able to see real maiko up close was worth it, and I was satisfied with the price. It’s easy to apply, so I would like to use it again.

初めて利用しました

舞妓さんの質疑応答、舞妓さんの舞、一緒に撮影、お座敷遊びでみんなで笑いがとれ、とても楽しいイベントになりました
後ろの席ですと観にくいですが、見えるところに移動したりするなどし楽しむことが出来たので参加して良かったと思いました
お料理は腹ペコですと少し足りないと感じるかもしれませんが、本物の舞妓さんを間近で観れましたし、金額に相違すると満足でした
気軽に申し込めるのでまた利用したいと思います

I reserved an SS seat (front row, 1,500 yen per person).

In the front row, there are three seats labeled A, B, and C from the right side of the stage, and we are in seat C. The stage is directly in front of seats A and B, so it’s not very visible from seat C.

Moreover, there is an aisle between seats B and C, which staff must use to serve the back row, so they frequently walk through that area. When trying to take photos or videos of the maiko, the staff keeps crossing in front of the camera. Although the staff tries to avoid getting in the way, they often end up in the frame.

Even though it’s the front row, I felt like this seat doesn’t really qualify as an SS seat. The AB seats in the second or third row are much better. I suggest that the organizing company reconsider the pricing and arrangement of the seats, or at least make the seating layout clear at the time of booking.

SS席（最前列　1人１５００円）を予約。
最前列は舞台から向かって右からA・B・Cと3席あるが私たちはC席。
舞台はABの間の正面にあり、C席からはあまり見えない。

しかもBC席の間が通路になっており、後方席の配膳のためにスタッフが必ずそこを通ります。
舞妓さんの写真や動画を撮ろうとしてもスタッフが何度も横切る。
一応、スタッフは避けるそぶりは見せるが、結構カメラに写りこんでくる。

最前列ではあるがこの席でSS席なの？と感じました。
２、３列目のAB席のほうがよほどましです。
催行業者は席の料金設定や席の配置を再検討、若しくは席の配置が予約時にわかるようにしては。

In the evening, waiting outside in the unfortunate rain until the start time was a bit challenging. However, I was able to enjoy the Maiko's Kyoto dance and the traditional games. I think I was able to experience a bit of the atmosphere of Gion.

夜、あいにくの雨の中、開始時刻まで外での待機がちょっと大変でした。舞妓さんの京舞、座敷遊びは楽しく過ごすことができました。少し祇園の雰囲気を味わえたかなとおもいます。

I received a reminder email saying that the meeting time was pushed back by an hour, so when I arrived at that time, I was surprised to be told, "We're about to finish." This was a highlight of the trip I had reserved for my mother, and it was the last day. After checking, they said it was a mistake by the tour company's staff, not VELTRA. The staff on the phone apologized profusely, but this is the kind of mistake that a company like this should never make. I said I couldn't pay a cancellation fee for something like this, and after discussing it among themselves, they called me back and said they would arrange for a maiko to come again if I was still in Kyoto. I had to change my plans on short notice and decided to have it redone in the evening. When I arrived, there was one woman there, but there was no apology, and I was taken to the room with the maiko. The maiko was very nice, and it was a fun time as an event, but her kimono was plain, which made me think it was because she was called in suddenly. It's a small thing, but I really felt sorry for my mother, who was looking forward to this. Even when leaving, there were no words of apology. I will never use this company again, nor would I recommend it. It's the worst.

集合時間が1時間遅くなったというリマインドメールが来たので、当日その時間目指して行ったら「もう終わりますが」と言われてビックリ。母のために予約していた旅のハイライトでした。しかも最終日。先方が調べたら、ベルトラではなく催行会社従業員のミスとのこと。電話口のスタッフは平謝りでしたが、この手の会社が1番やっては行けないミスです。こんなの聞いたことない、キャンセル料なんて払えないと言うと、スタッフで協議した上で電話があり、まだ京都にいるなら舞妓さんを呼び直すと言って来ました。予定を急遽変更し気を取り直して夕方にやり直して貰う事に。到着すると女性が1人居ましたがなんの謝罪もなく舞妓さんの居る部屋に通されました。舞妓さんは大変良い方でイベントとしては楽しい時間でしたが、お着物が地味で、急に呼ばれたからかなと思わざるを得ませんでした。些細なことですが、本当に楽しみにしていた母が気の毒でなりません。帰るときも、ひとことも謝罪の言葉はありませんでした。2度とこの会社は利用しませんし、おすすめしません。最低です。

You have to wait outside until the designated time. Since you wait on the road, it's fine to arrive just in time, but it's a bit of a tricky location as it's on the second floor of the building. The lunch bento arrived, and the catering staff was at the reception. The maiko also arrived by taxi about ten minutes earlier. The seating consists of simple tables and chairs, with four people per row, and indeed, the seats closer to the maiko are better if you pay a higher amount.

Once the bento was brought to the table, the event started somewhat casually. The people who were there to experience the tea ceremony began, while those there for lunch started eating on their own, and then the maiko's tea ceremony began. After the ceremony, there was a Q&A session with the maiko, followed by a commemorative photo session with her. I wondered about the traditional games, but it turned out that the event was already over.

It ended surprisingly quickly.

時間迄外で待たされます。道路上で待つからギリギリで行ってもいい位ですがビルの２階だから少しわかりにくい場所ではありました。ランチの弁当が届き仕出し屋さんが受付していました。舞妓さんも10分位前にタクシーで乗り付けました。座席は簡単なテーブルと椅子席一列4人でやはり前の方が舞妓さんに近く金額をあげれば良い席になります。
テーブル席に仕出し弁当が運ばれて何となく開始して、お茶のお手前だけ体験する人達に合わせて、ランチの人はなんとなく勝手に食べ始め、舞妓さんのお手前が始まりました。お手前終わると舞妓さんへの質疑タイム、その後舞妓さんとの記念撮影して、アレお座敷遊びは？と思いましたが、もう終了との事でした。
びっくりする位早く終わりました。

The person in front spread their smartphone cover wide and blocked the aisle, with only about one-third of their upper body visible. I couldn't see the seated姿 at all.

I participated with the understanding that I was in the very back seat.

The maiko did their job well. Thank you.

I was left dissatisfied with the response from the organizers about "if you pay an additional fee..." Even if I pay the extra fee, I would still be blocked, right?

Is it acceptable for the person in front, who is being greedy, to be satisfied while those behind cannot see?

I've taken the time to come here, and I've paid money, so I want to see the performance.

I left, citing "I want to do some sightseeing" as my reason, but it was a waste of time.

What is a "sen-sha-fuda"? I did not receive one.

前の方がスマホをカバーまで広げて
通路まで遮り続け
舞う姿も上半身3分の1程度。
座った姿は全く見えず。

最初に1番後ろの席という事を納得した上で参加しました。

舞妓さんはしっかりお仕事をされていました。
ありがとうございました。

運営側の『追加料金を払えば…』という対応に不満が残りました。
追加料金を払っても遮られたままでしょ？

後ろの人は見えなくても
前の欲張りな上客が満足すればよろしいでしょうか？

時間を割いてきていますし

お金は支払っていますので
舞う姿は見たいですよ。


『観光したいので』と理由をつけて退席しましたが時間の無駄でした。

千社札？とは何でしょうか？
いただいていません。

The meal was an ordinary catering service. The maiko, who said she had only been in the profession for five months, seemed to tremble in her fingertips and around her knees while dancing. I felt sorry for her. I think it would be better to include a note in the experience recruitment stating, "This will take place in a section of a building," as it would change the expectations of those who apply. After the event, when I chatted with other participants, it seemed they had a similar impression.

食事はありふれた仕出し。入ってまだ5ヶ月と言ってた舞妓さんは、踊りの時には指先や膝付近が震えていました。可哀想な気がしました。体験募集の中で、「ビルの一画で行ないます」と断り書きを入れた方が、応募してきた方の期待の持ち方が違うと思います。終了後に他の参加者と雑談を交わしたら、同じような印象を持たれたようでした。

I was in the back seat, but I was very satisfied to be able to play with the maiko! I asked the staff to take a video of us while we were playing. I don't think there are many opportunities like this, so it was a very valuable experience. Thank you very much!

後ろの席でしたが舞妓さんとお座敷遊びできて大満足です！スタッフの方にお願いして、お座敷遊びしているところを動画を撮ってもらいました。こんな機会中々ないと思うので、とても貴重な体験をさせていただきました。本当にありがとうざいました！

I had a very enjoyable two and a half hours at the tea house, eating delicious kaiseki cuisine while chatting with the maiko and watching a dance performance. I might have made the proprietress a bit flustered because I got so caught up in the fun conversation that I ate slowly. I'm not sure what the typical maiko experience at a regular tea house is like, but being told that it was a special opportunity to enjoy a maiko performance, which is something you usually wouldn't get to see in a lifetime, was a rare and valuable experience.

お茶屋さんて美味しい懐石料理をたべながら舞妓さんと色々とお話をして、舞を一曲見たとても楽しい2時間半でした。
楽しい話に気を取られて食べるのが遅くなりちょっと女将さんを慌てさせてしまったかもしれません。
普通のお茶屋での舞妓遊びはどういうものなのかは知らないですが一言さんお断りと言われ、通常では一生垣間見る事のない舞妓遊びがアクティビティとして堪能出来たのはまたとない貴重な体験でした。