Plum Trees in Kyoto Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

京都天満宮梅

The plums are finally starting to blossom in Kyoto.

Because it has been a colder than normal winter, they are eleven days late this year.

At Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, the annual plum festival is now underway.

Admission to a grove of plum trees is 600 yen.


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Kyoto Geisha Dance Performance

舞あでやか秋の風情　「祇園をどり」開幕

The "Gion Odori" dance performance opened on November 1st at the Gion Kaikan.

This is the 56th annual performance. The geisha and maiko as always employ seasonal motifs in their costume and dance.

The performances are held twice daily - 1 pm and 4 pm - until November 10th.

Tickets are 3,500 yen (with tea 4,000).

Information

Near the Gion stop on the City Bus line. The theater is a 15-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Keihan Line or from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

Gion Higashi Kabu-kai
Telephone: 075 561 0224


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Kyoto Geisha Dance in October

華やか、秋の舞　宮川町「みずゑ会」舞台稽古

One of Kyoto's famed five "hanamachi" - the flower worlds inhabited by the city's geisha and maiko - Miyagawacho will be holding its annual fall production known as Mizuekai.

Performances will be held at Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theater from October 10.

This is an opportunity for tourists and average people to get an up close look at the geisha in all their finery.

The performances were for many years not held, but in 2006 held again, for the first time in 35 years.

This year some 55 performers will take the stage.

The theater is in the southern part of Gion not far from the Kamo River.

Information

October 10 - 13, evenings at 4 pm
Tickets are 4,000 and 7,000 yen

Telephone: 075 561 1151

Map to Miyagawacho Theater

Photo © Kyoto Shinbun

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Geisha and Maiko In Kyoto Yasaka Shrine in Yukata Robes

アサガオの浴衣、涼やか　祇園甲部の「お千度」

Geisha and Maiko from the  Gion Kobu area were out and about in their summer yukata robes decorated with morning glories on July 4

At Yasaka Shrine the ladies were taking part in the "Osendo" ceremony to pray for good health during summer.

With Gion Matsuri festival approaching its climax on July 17, the event calendar is full for the women.

In spite of that, as one maiko said, nothing is more important than health.

Photo©Kyoto Shinbun

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Kyoto Geisha Release Fish into Shirakawa River

金魚放流「いのち」に感謝　祇園で放生会

To give thanks to the living things we eat every day, geisha on June second released 2000 goldfish into Gion's Shirakawa River.

The event is officially called the Gion Ceremony to Release Wild Animals or Fish.

Like the recent release of fireflies at Daikakuji Temple, it is also a reminder of the depth and breadth of Buddhist influence in Japan. Buddhism, of course, prohibits the taking of life.

This event, though, is not an ancient Kyoto rite. It only dates to 1985.


Photo ©Kyoto Shinbun

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Cycling Kyoto Four Geisha Areas

自転車で京都花道を乗る

For those with the geisha-bug, here is a route map for cycling to see the four main areas in Kyoto where the women ply their trade.

Three of the four - Pontocho, Gion, and Miyagawacho - are all close to one another.

The final area, Kamishichiken, is in northwestern Kyoto, about 30 minutes on a bike from Pontocho or a bit more from Gion.

In places, it is not possible to ride. Pontocho for example is too narrow; Gion can be brimming with tourists.

Parking can also be an issue. For Pontocho, cyclists will want to park somewhere along Kiyamachi - no easy trick - and then walk to and along Pontocho.

Happy cycling.



View Kyoto Geisha Theaters (Gion Kobu, Miyagawacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken) in a larger map


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Geisha Spring Dance Performances Kyoto 2013

京都芸者麻衣子の春舞台

Spring in Kyoto means many things: cherry blossoms, the "new" year (schools and business all begin on or around April 1), and of course the spring dance performances by the city's famed geisha.

At the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre the annual Miyako Odori runs from April 1-30.

Gion Kobu is the largest of the city's geisha theaters.

Tickets are 4,500 yen with matcha green tea service, 4,000 yen without tea, 2,000 yen (non-reserved seats).

Performances are held at 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, 16:50

Tel: 075 541 3391

Gion Kobu Site

At the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theatre, which is a bit south of Gion Kobu and closer to the Kamo River, the 64th Kyo Odori runs from April 6-21.

The Kyo Odori is an annual dance performance by maiko and geiko basede in the Miyagawacho district.

Tickets are 4,500 yen with matcha green tea, 4,000 yen without tea.

Performances are held at 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30

Tel: 075 561 1151

Miyagawacho Site

For those cycling to either of the above, parking is an issue, especially at Gion Kobu. Side streets are a possibility but the best option may be to park along Oike (free for two hours), and then walk.

Map of Kyoto Geisha Theaters

View Kyoto Geisha Theaters (Gion Kobu, Miyagawacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken) in a larger map


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Telephone Poles and Wires Buried in Kyoto Kamishichiken Geisha Area

上七軒、すっきりどす　「北野をどり」前に無電柱化完了

Street work in Kyoto's oldest geisha area, Kamishichiken, is now complete.

The unsightly telephone poles and wires have been buried under the street.

The photo above right is dated and gives an idea of what the otherwise lovely streetscape looks like.

Those poles and the wires overhead are now gone, hidden below street level.

This follows the example in areas of Gion.

We are hoping in the current political climate that some of the Abenomics windfall will make its way down to Kyoto and start work on burying the rest of the city's wires.


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Kyoto Spring Geisha Dance Kamishichiken

芸舞妓、春めいて　上七軒・北野をどり衣装合わせ

Every spring the respective "hanamachi" - areas where geisha work and live - put on performances.

In the oldest of the areas, Kamishichiken, the famed Kitano Odori will be held from March 25 - April 7.

A fitting session will be held on March 18th.

This year 29 geisha and maiko will be dancing and performing at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theater.

In a traditional dance performance entitled "Snow Covered Bridge," the love story of a mythical beast known as a "Tengu" and a human woman is depicted.

Information

Performances are held twice daily, at 1:30 and 4:00 pm. Tickets are 4,000 yen (4,500 yen with tea).

Telephone: 075 461 0148

Note: Ichiraku, the woman pictured, does not work in the Kamishichiken geisha area.

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Fall Maiko and Geisha Performances Kyoto

舞妓倶楽部特別イベント舞妓さんと楽しむ京の秋

Fall in Kyoto is divine.

The weather is close to perfect, food and sake are at their harvest peak, and events abound.

Among them are the annual performances by Kyoto's maiko and geisha.

Below is a list with information:

October 1 - 6

Onshukai in Gion Kobu

Reserved seats are 8,000 yen, non-reserved seats 4,000 yen. Performances begin from 16:00.

Gion Kobu Kabukai
075 561 1115
www.miyako-odori.jp

October 11 - 14

Mizuekai in Miyagawacho

Reserved seats are 7,000 yen, non-reserved seats 4,000 yen. Performances begin from 16:00

Miyagawacho Kabukai
075 561 1151
www.eonet.ne.jp/~miyagawacho

October 8 - 12

Kotobukikai in Kamishichiken

Reserved seats are 7,000 yen. Performances begin from 16:00.

Kamishichiken Kabukai
075 461 0148
www.maiko3.com

October 18 - 21

Suimeikai in Pontocho

Reserved seats are 7,000 yen, non-reserved seats 3,000 yen. Performances begin from 16:00.
Pontoch Kabukai
075 221 2025
www1.odn.ne.jp/~adw58490/


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自転車で京都祇園へ

自転車で京都祇園へ

日本語ご希望の方。

This Kyoto cycling route weaves through Gion.

Gion can be - no, it is - tricky on a bike. For those who can't resist taking the plunge, go early!

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling Gion.

Ride Gion ride.

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Kyoto Maiko on Pontocho

京都先斗町舞子

We are not sure what if anything this lovely creature has to do with cycling, but she reeks Kyoto.

This maiko (apprentice geisha) known as Ichiraku is seated serenely near the Pontocho Kaburenjo Theater, in central Kyoto, surrounded by tourists, assorted leg-humpers, and a party of people she appeared to be with.

Poised and perfect.

It must be brutal work.

Editor's note: this photo was taken in May 2008.


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Cycle Kyoto Geisha

京都で芸者を発見

According to better informed sources than CycleKyoto, this lovely woman is a maiko, or apprentice geisha. She is not yet a geisha.

We were leading a small group of tourists on the Kyoto Station to Kiyamachi route, and decided to get off the bikes and wander on the adjacent alley way known as Pontocho.

Pontocho is a narrow car-free (and bike-free) street with restaurants and tea houses where the maiko and geisha entertain.

In front of the theater, just south of Sanjo on Pontocho, the maiko called Ichiraku was seated surrounded by fans.

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