All Reviews for Geisha Shows in Kyoto

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.

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!

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 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。

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.

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.

I was able to enjoy a delicious meal while watching the adorable maiko. They answered many of my questions, and above all, experiencing the coveted ozashiki play at this price is a lifelong memory! I lost at "shurashushu" (?), but having the maiko pour me a drink is something I probably won't experience again (laughs). The senjafuda was beautiful, and I was really happy to take pictures together.

可愛い舞妓さんを見ながら、美味しいお食事が出来ました。
質問にもたくさん答えていただけましたし、何より憧れのお座敷遊びがこのお値段で体験できたことは一生の思い出です！
しゅらしゅしゅしゅ（？）で負けてしまったのですが、舞妓さんにお酌していただいて飲める機会なんて、もうないんじゃないでしょうか（笑）
千社札も綺麗で、お写真も一緒に撮っていただけて、本当に幸せな体験でした。

At Jinmatsu-an, you have to pay 500 yen for seats close to the maiko, which felt unfair. I wish all the seats were chairs so that everyone could see the maiko up close. There was dissatisfaction with being seated far from the maiko and not being able to see them closely. It felt a bit profit-driven to have to pay 500 yen for that. I would also like more time for questions. Additionally, I would prefer if a microphone were used for explanations, as it was hard to hear. In short, I hope the company makes more efforts to ensure customer satisfaction.

甚松庵では舞妓に近い席は500円払わないといけないので、
不公平感があった。全ての席を椅子にして、全員が近くで舞妓を見れるようにして欲しい。席が舞妓より遠く、近くで見れない不満が残った。500円払わないといけないところなど、少し儲け主義なような気がした。質問の時間をもっと取ってほしい。また、説明はマイクを使って欲しい。声が聞こえにくかった。つまり、お客さんがもっと満足するよう企業努力してほしい。

This tour is "twice as enjoyable" not only because of the riverside setting but also because you can meet maiko. Three maiko came to visit us. They went around to each table, allowing us to enjoy friendly conversations. It was amazing to see the dance up close. Last time, we had sukiyaki for our meal, so this time I opted for kaiseki. The summer dishes like hamo sashimi and grilled sweetfish were delightful. Additionally, there was a lottery event (on the 3rd and 5th of the month), which added to the excitement! (Although I didn't win anything... (^^;))

川床だけでなく、舞妓さんにも会えるという「２度おいしい」ツアーです。舞妓さんは３人来てくれました。各テーブルに回ってきてくれるので、気さくにおしゃべりを楽しむことができました。舞もすぐ近くで見ることができて最高でした。前回は食事がすき焼きだったので、今回は懐石にしてみました。鱧おとしや鮎の塩焼きなど、夏らしい料理で良かったです。また、今回はちょうど抽選会(３と５のつく日)があって、ワクワク感を楽しめました！（何も当たりませんでしたが…(^^;)）

The atmosphere by the river, the delicious food, chatting with the maiko, and watching the fireflies were all wonderful! I want to take my grandmother next time. ^^

川床の雰囲気、おいしいご飯、舞妓さんとのお話、ホタル鑑賞全てが良かったです！
今度はおばあちゃんを連れて行ってあげたくなりました^^

My parents took this tour and had a wonderful time. The setting was beautiful and the evening couldn’t have been more perfect with nice warm weather. They really enjoyed the meal of Shabu Shabu and felt the meat was tender and delicious. They really enjoyed meeting the Maiko and admiring her beautiful clothing and make up as well as her dancing. They staff were all very friendly and the included transport back to their hotel was very convenient.

We were so glad that we decided to purchase this dinner. The restaurant have an amazing view of the river and eating at the kawandoko (terrace on top of the river) is an experience not to be missed. We got the shabu shabu meal and it was perfect since when we went, it was raining and cold, so it was the perfect warming up meal for us.
The maiko came at around 7 and talk to each of the table, take photos and answer a few simple questions. She can't speak well in English, but she can understand if you speak basic English and very slowly. Then she performed 2 dances, they both very elegant and beautiful.
At around 8 pm, the restaurant switch off the lights, so that we can watch fireflies around the riverside. Apparently this is only happens in June. It was truely an amazing and unforgettable experience for both of us.
The pick up and return transfer is pretty efficient too, very happy overall. Definitely would recommend!

I would recommend this show to anyone who is in Kyoto during the performance period and who would like to see authentic geisha. The costumes and dances were beautiful and well worth the expense. Know beforehand that the show has speaking parts in Japanese with no translation, but an English programme is available for purchase. I opted for electronic tickets through VELTRA and had no issues picking up tickets from the box office. Our tickets included a tea ceremony, where we received delicious tea, a sweet, and a souvenir plate.

This tour is especially recommended for adult women! It's guaranteed to boost your femininity. The fresh greenery of Kibune is a place where nobles once sought coolness, crossing mountains to reach this coveted summer retreat. Below the suspension bridge flows a clear stream, accompanied by the sounds of waterfalls and rivers, as well as the calls of the stream frogs. Enjoy delicious mountain and ocean delicacies. Additionally, you'll have the chance to interact with maiko and watch their dances. The experience concludes with firefly viewing, making it a truly precious experience that you can't normally enjoy. The staff were very pleasant, and I felt great throughout. I had a wonderful time. Thank you very much!

特に、大人の女性におススメ！女子力アップ間違いなしのツアーです。新緑の貴船。そこは、かつて貴族が涼を求め、山を越えて行った憧れの避暑地。吊り橋の下は清流。滝と川のせせらぎ、カジカの鳴き声。美味しい山の幸、海の幸。そして、舞妓さんとの触れ合いと踊りの鑑賞。最後の締めは、蛍鑑賞など、全てのものが普段では味わえないとても貴重な体験。お店の皆様もとても感じが良く、気持ち良かったです。とても楽しめました。本当にありがとうございました。

This trip was very pleasant experience. I was there with my mom and we both enjoyed very much. Food was great. Two people share a hot pot, with one big plate of Japanese beef and one plate of vegetable! The highlight was to watch Maikos dance in a very close distance! I can see her holding her pose and dancing slow but gracefully. It is breathtaking! I would say this is the best trip you can do to get the completely Kyoto experience! Love it!!