Gion District Tour: An Insightful Journey into the Geisha Culture in Historic Kyoto
5.0
272 Ratings
Kyoto
Embark on a captivating tour of Kyoto's Gion district and delve into the enchanting world of geisha culture. Discover the living traditions, history, and lifestyle of geishas, and even meet an apprentice geisha for an unforgettable experience.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni - Let’s learn what Kabuki is and the feminine beginning of the theater. You maybe know the current Kabuki is performed just by men but you wouldn’t know the beginning was just by women.
- Minamiza : The Kabuki Theater of Kyoto - Look at the actual architecture of the oldest Kabuki theater and hear the story of the impressive corroboration of VR and Kabuki.
- Gion Shirakawa - The largest Geisha district called “Gion”. Gion Shirakawa is the most beautiful part of Gion, old fashioned streets, buildings and traditional theaters on the beautiful riverside. Let’s learn what the mysterious female entertainer “Geisha” is.
- Tatsumi-jinja Shrine (Tatsumi Dai-myojin) - At this Shinto shrine let’s learn what Japanese native religion “Shinto” is. It is said in Japan there are 8 million gods.
- Hanamikoji Street - The main street of Gion. If you are lucky you would be able to see geisha walking around.
- Kennin-ji Temple - Zen Buddhist temple was built in 1202. Let’s talk about what Zen Buddhism is.
- Kyoto Ebisu Shrine - Mr. Ebisu, the god of wealth in Shinto resides in the shrine that was built in 1202 and has been worshipped by local business owners.
What's Included
- 1.5-hour guided tour in Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district
- 45-minute live Geisha performance featuring a Maiko, an apprentice Geisha
What's Not Included
- Tip for Maiko, an apprentice geisha
Additional Information
Embark on a journey through Kyoto’s renowned Gion district and gain knowledge about the enigmatic geisha traditions prevalent in the region. Your local guide will impart insights about these traditions from a unique insider viewpoint on Geisha culture. Concurrently, you’ll traverse the picturesque lanes, temples, shrines, and shops of Gion, providing a holistic understanding of historic Kyoto. Although the cryptic world of Geisha might appear inaccessible and difficult to penetrate,
In the primary segment, we’ll stroll through Gion and delve into discussing the enduring traditions, their way of life and ancestry. The latter segment will entail an encounter with a trainee geisha, known as a Maiko. Initially, we will converse with her and inquiry her. Moreover, we’ll observe her dance, whilst also sharing a cup of tea, lunch, or dinner.
*Photography and filming of the Geisha is permissible, but public posting of the same is prohibited.
- Not recommended for travelers with leg problems.
Location
Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni
I'll be at the Exit 4 of Gion Shijo station aboveground right in front of Izumo-no-Okuni statue and right next to Shijo bridge. You will find me with a signboard "WALKING TOUR".
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(272 Ratings)
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Anette_h
Apr 9, 2024
Once in a lifetime beautiful experience - Our tour guide is Rina & we just want to extend our deep gratitude for making our Kyoto walking tour experience so memorable. Rina was an amazing tour guide & meeting a Maiko is a dream come true for me.
Wishing Rina & Ken Tours all the best to offer many more cultural & exciting
future experiences.
Your job makes people smile & leave Kyoto with a happy heart. 🥰
We highly recommend to experience this Gion tour & meet a beautiful Maiko in person. They are truly unique and special.
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_k
Apr 3, 2024
Amazing tour and Gesha dinner/show - This tour was one of the best tours I have ever taken. Ken was extremely knowledgeable of the history and area we were touring. Very interactive and had an answer for all of our questions. The dinner and Gesha show was also amazing to experience. I’d recommend Ken and this tour to anyone in Kyoto.
Review provided by Viator
Grace_a
Apr 2, 2024
Walking tour and dinner geisha show - Ken is very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the geisha culture from him. Food at the dinner can be better but the geisha show is wonderful.
Review provided by Viator
Jeanie_l
Mar 27, 2024
The best tour in Kyoto!! - Ken-san's tour of Gion is a 10/10! He provided great insight into the culture and history of geisha in Kyoto. We enjoyed a lovely dinner with maiko san, and we were able to talk to her and learn more about her experience training to be a geiko. Ken-san’s love for his community is evident. He has many ties to the local maiko and wants to share the experiences with guests in a way that truly respects the culture. Overall, it was an amazing experience and we cannot recommend Ken-san enough. Thank you so much for the unforgettable experience, Ken-san!
Review provided by Viator
Tanja_r
Mar 26, 2024
10/10 recommend - 10/10 would recommend!! Ken is very knowledgeable and a great guide. Explained us everything about Gheisa/Maiko during a walk through Gion. Afterwards around 8pm we went to a restaurant with a private room to eat a good dinner and meet a beautiful Maiko. She answered all our questions and we saw her perform. It was magical!!
Review provided by Viator
Richard_r
Mar 24, 2024
Amazing experience - Amazing experience getting to meet a Maliki and watching her perform. Our guide Ken was great and provided detailed history about the geisha district and art.
Review provided by Viator
Fabiorp2981oi
Mar 24, 2024
Dinner with maiko - We decided to get into Gion district first time togheter Kentaro. He is very passionate and capable to create a pleasant experience for all the guests. In a group of nine people we touched some important points of 2 different districts. Even if we were well informed about geiko and maiko, this tour allows you to discover many other interest things about the life and work of geiko and maiko in Kyoto. We had dinner with maiko. We had a lot of time to interact with her asking many questions. The maiko was very nice and it was a unique occasion to get into her life. She danced for us. The dinner too was really good tasting many dishes and the restaurant very nice and intimate.
Don’t miss this tour.
Thank you Ken from this unbelievable experience. A piece of dream became real.
Fabio and Virginia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Olivia_j
Mar 22, 2024
Hands down best tour of Gion and Geiko in all of Kyoto. Don't hesitate to book. - Best tour in Kyoto. Ken is excellent in every way. He truly cares to educate people on the history of Geiko and Maiko and dispel myths. The tour provides access to locations you can't access on your own. The tour itself was a mix of a history lesson and walk through Gion where you learn not just about Geiko and Maiko but also about Kabuki history. Ken's English is excellent, he is fun and charming and so kind. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised at the access we had to Gion and private streets as well as our Maiko and how we were able to interact with her- again all thanks to Ken's connections. Our group of 9 didn't feel too large. The dinner was delicious with plenty of food so come hungry! We were in a private dining area. If you are not booking with Ken you are simply wasting your time and money.
Review provided by Viator
Brenda_c
Mar 19, 2024
Geisha/Maiko tour - What a fascinating experience! Ken was great with his enthusiasm, detailed explanations and knowledge. He was also great with answering all of our questions. He acted as a translator for all our questions of the Maiko and really made sure we experienced what they do with having her dance for us and play a typical drinking game. This is a must do tour while in Kyoto!
Review provided by Viator
Maria_a
Mar 18, 2024
Fabulous! - Amazing tour with a wonderful guide. Dinner was delicious, Maiko performance lovely and we learned lot on the walk from a Gion native. Thank you Ken!
Review provided by Viator