All Reviews for Geisha Shows in Kyoto

The maiko were elegant and adorable.

There was a Q&A session, as well as a tea ceremony, dance performance, and traditional games, all packed into a reasonable amount of time. The staff were kind, and I had a wonderful time. Photography and videos were allowed, and you could take pictures with the maiko.

(I’m not sure if I can post this here, so I’ll just include a photo of the matcha.)

舞妓さんが上品で可愛らしかったです

質問コーナーがあったりお手前、舞鑑賞やお座敷遊びなど程よい時間で盛りだくさんな内容でした
スタッフの方も親切で楽しい時間が過ごせました
写真や動画も自由で舞妓さんと一緒に撮影もできます

(ここに載せていいかわからないのでお抹茶の写真にしておきます

Most of the participants were foreigners, but I was moved to be able to experience a part of the traditional culture. I also thought it was wonderful to have the opportunity to ask questions to the maiko. I took this chance to ask my questions. Behind the glamorous facade, there are rigorous training practices, and hearing about that made me acutely aware of the challenges of preserving traditional culture. I hope they continue to do their best in the future.

外国人の参加が、殆どでしたが
伝統文化の一部に接する事ができ
感激しました。舞妓さんに質疑応答出来るのも素晴らしく思います。この機会と思い質問させて頂きした。華やかな影には、大変な習い事があり、その一面をお話しくださり伝統文化を継承する事の厳しさを痛感した共に今後も頑張って欲しいです。

I started planning the itinerary for my old friends, an American couple visiting Kyoto for the first time, and "Maiko-san's dance performance" was number one on their list of experiences they wanted to try. While searching online, I found Japan Cultural Experience An and immediately made a reservation.

At first, I was a bit anxious about booking online, but the staff was kind and the reservation process went smoothly. On the day of the event, we were greeted with smiles from all the staff, which made us smile as well. The explanations in English were easy to understand, and we had a very enjoyable experience together with the couple.

Thanks to this, I was able to create wonderful memories in Kyoto with my old friend, whom I hadn't seen in 30 years. Thank you very much!

京都訪問が初めての旧友の米国人ご夫婦の日程を考え始めて、「舞子さんの舞鑑賞」は体験したいリストのナンバー１でした。ネットで調べていると日本文化体験庵anが見つかり直ぐに申し込みました。
初めはネット申込みで少し不安でしたが、対応も親切でスムーズに予約ができました。
当日はスタッフの皆さんの笑顔でのお出迎えを受けてこちらもニッコリ、英語での説明も分かり易く、ご夫婦と一緒にとて楽しい体験ができました。
お陰様で、30年振りに再会した旧友と京都で良い思い出ができました。
ありがとうございました！

I have always wanted to meet and talk with a maiko in Kyoto, and take a picture together, and this time my big wish came true! I had a very enjoyable time. However, while I made it in time for the event, I was a bit confused because the venue was hard to find.

いつかは京都で舞妓さんと会って話してみたい、一緒に写真を撮りたいと考えていましたが、今回大願成就!
とても楽しい時間を過ごさせていただきました。
ただ、開催時間には間に合いましたが、会場の場所が分かりづらくて少し戸惑いました。

I signed up for the 1:00 PM session, and despite it being the middle of a holiday weekend, there were few participants, so I felt very fortunate to be almost directly in front of the maiko in the front row. The responses during the Q&A were very polite, and I was able to hear enjoyable and interesting stories. The maiko was very cute, and I, as an older man, couldn't help but feel a bit smitten. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity again if possible.

13:00からの回に申し込みました、連休の中日にもかかわらず参加者が少なく最前列の舞妓さんのほぼ正面でとても得した気分でした。質疑応答のお応えもとても丁寧で楽しく興味深い話が聞けました。とても可愛らしい舞妓さんだったので私の様なオジサンは鼻の下が伸びっぱなしでした。また機会があれば利用したいと思います。

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.

If you go to Kyoto during the time of year that the geisha houses perform, I would definitely attend one of these shows. The show is short enough that even though we didn’t understand Japanese, it was just a great visual experience (costumes, dance) and opportunity to listen to the music. Pro tip: Spring for the more expensive seating. We got standard, which was in the balcony, and it was super hot up there. Also, this would not be an activity for young kids, they would get bored. I would say older teens and up.

Highly recommend this experience if you are in Kyoto. The performance, costumes and sets were great and you even get the chance to take a picture with the Geisha.

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!

It was a beautiful performance, and definitely an unforgettable experience. While it is all in Japanese, the organizers prepared a handout in English, in which all the parts of the performance were explained. An educated audience (no mobile phones ringing, loud talks, late comings etc.) enhanced the positive experience. Highly recommended!

It was a weekday, and I observed from the regular seats on the second floor. There were no people in front of me, so I was able to enjoy the performance thoroughly, but it was disappointing that someone was sitting next to me despite there being plenty of empty seats. Additionally, I was surprised by the lack of an explanation booklet for the program, which showed a lack of consideration from the theater.

平日でもあり、2階普通席で見学。前の席に人もいなく、十分に鑑賞出来ましたが、席が十分に空いているにも係わらず、隣に人が座っていたのは残念でした。また、プログラムの説明書も全くなく、劇場側の不親切さには驚きました。

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。