Kyoto Geisha Encounter and Cultural Gion Walking Tour

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Kyoto’s Maiko and Geiko on this cultural walking tour of Gion. Meet these fascinating artists in person and learn about the rich history of the renowned Geisha district.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Gion Shirakawa - While walking through this beautiful part of Gion, a guide will tell you about who geishas in Kyoto are and their lifestyle .

  • Hanamikoji Street - The main street of Gion, where traditional houses are lined up. Let’s walk through a cinematic townscape!

  • Kennin-ji Temple - The oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto located next to a geisha district Gion. We will not enter the temple buildings but walk through the temple precinct like locals and feel Zen.

  • Miyagawasuji - Visit a special private house (venue) and meet Geisha (Maiko and Geiko in Kyoto). Please savor the special experiences unique to this tour, including live performance by Maiko and Geiko, a conversation with them and taking memorable photos with them.

What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Gion walking tour
  • Live performance by Maiko and Geiko
  • Photo session
Additional Information

Discover Kyoto’s captivating geisha district, Gion, with a professional guide who knows every corner of this historic area. Wander through picturesque alleys, admire timeless architecture and shrines, and discover hidden gems. Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Kyoto’s historic geisha district.

In the first half of this group cultural tour, we will take you through the charming streets of Gion. Gain insight into Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage and traditional charm. Learn about the lifestyle of Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) and Geisha (Geiko in Kyoto) and uncover the fascinating history of this renowned geisha district from a knowledgeable local guide.

In the second half of the tour, visit a special private house where you will be warmly welcomed by Maiko and Geiko. Enjoy their fascinating live performance, engage in conversation and take pictures with maiko.

Experience the true essence of geisha culture and create unforgettable memories with this tour.

  • No children under 10 years old
  • You MUST wear socks at the venue of the performance.
  • Photography and video recording of Maiko and Geiko are allowed only during the performance and the photo session. If you wish to upload any photos or videos on social media, please obtain direct permission from the Maiko and Geiko beforehand.
  • As this is a walking tour, we recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes.
  • The tour will take place rain or shine.
  • No wet cloth and socks are allowed at the venue on rainy days (Please use an umbrella during the walk).
  • Services not listed (for example: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to/from the meeting spot, Extra food and drink, Other personal expenses) are not included in the tour.
  • Refundable for cancellations due to organizers’ reasons; no refunds for incidental hotel or bullet train costs.
Location
Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni
[Meet up] 13:45 at the Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni (at the Exit 4 of Keihan Gion Shijo station) Please find your guide who holds a green board written Japan Wonder Travel. *Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before tour start time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(185 Ratings)
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U6580zxlaurat
Aug 14, 2024
Truly an enchanted time tour - We learned so much about geisha culture before we got to the tea house, which made the fantastic moment with the Maiko so much more special! There was even a Q&A with the maiko after her breathtaking performance. The guide knows a lot about Kyoto's history and culture, so you learn a lot about the city as well. Honestly, the moment when the Maiko danced felt otherworldly, and I want to repeat this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser61423934208
Aug 14, 2024
Wonderful tour - It was amazing. Our friendly and informative guide made the Gion walk so enjoyable. The highlight was seeing the beautiful performances by the Maiko and Geiko. Hearing their stories was truly special. Thank you so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist03070180402
Aug 13, 2024
Insightful trip - Two hours is just like nothing!!!!, the tour guide explained anything about Geisha and culture of Kyoto smoothly and give thorough description. The tour guide also answers bunch of curious questions patiently. We walked around Geisha districts while the tour guide explain about type of housing for Maiko and Geicho in Kyoto areas, I also found some hidden gems in Kyoto along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
150apriliam
Aug 13, 2024
Amazing tour - The guide delivered the story about history of geisha very well. The 3 hrs tour was like a blink of an eye because it was so fun. She also knows everything very well. The only thing I couldn't stand was the hot summer in Kyoto. If you travel in Kyoto, I recommend you to go other than summer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W6191jhsebastiang
Aug 13, 2024
My first Tour in Kyoto, Japan - The guide was very knowledgeable about Kyoto and was very kind taking care of our needs. The guide answered all our questions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellegayb
Aug 13, 2024
💯% Worth It! - This tour was so worth it! I learned a lot about Geiko and Maiko. The most exciting part was watching the performance of Maiko and Geiko. I recommend this activity 💯;
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire66938016786
Aug 8, 2024
Fun and informative tour - Tom was a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide. Very laid back and wasn't rushing us in the heat. Made sure we stayed out of the sun and gave great information about everything we were seeing. Very informative and interesting
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K8339nanathaliev
Aug 7, 2024
Amazing Gion tour with tea house maiko performance - Our tour was really amazing. Our guide, Haru, was able to let us know about many secrets of the geisha world and we were able to observe many little details on our walk in Gion. The tea house was really nice and out our maiko was amazing and lovely. It was an amazing experience that was only possible thanks to Haru. She was very knowledgeable and would translate questions and answers with the maiko, which enabled us to learn a lot more about the maiko life and even her preferences. If you go to Gion, forget being impolite to geiko/maiko, just book a tour to see one politely in person! Note: this tour only offers maiko performance (you will not see a geiko performance). You might however be lucky to see one in the street, but I wouldn't expect it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer64560857953
Aug 4, 2024
Pleasant walk - I really enjoyed yesterday’s tour with my family. Even though my daughter is only 4 years old, she didn’t get bored. I want to thank our wonderful guide, Ayako, for her kindness, patience, and tolerance. Despite the extreme heat, she walked with us, showing us places and answering all our questions. She was the hero of the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mrgennyx
Aug 2, 2024
Amazing experience - This was probably one of the most amazing experiences that I had in Kyoto. The guide that we had was really nice and ready to translate all our questions to Geisha. She also made a small introduction before getting to the tea house. The tea ceremony was really interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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