Travel

Information on travelling to Japan and geisha tourism

Geisha Dances

Each year each hanamachi puts on a set of public performances and for a very reasonable sum you can see the best of the best perform for an hour or so. Be warned that the pamphlets and program are often all in Japanese so if you don’t know Japanese folk …

Planning your first trip to Japan

Everyone knows I love to travel and I love Japan most of all so I get asked for some advice for the first time traveller to Japan regularly. Here’s my best tips for first time Japanese travel. Tokyo (4 days or more) Stay in Asakusa at Ryokan Shigetsu or Hotel …

Geisha Walking Tours in Kyoto

Peter Macintosh is one of the few Westerners ensconced in the geisha world; with a private bar in the heart of the geisha districts of Kyoto and family ties to the hanamachi he has a unique insight into the world of geisha today. Peter offers a number of services through …

Geisha-spotting hotspots

If you’re light on cash the easiest way to spot a geiko or maiko today is to go to the Gion, Pontocho or Miyagawa-cho areas of Kyoto in the evening and wait for a kimono clad lady to swish by on her way to an appointment. Geisha can also be …

Onsen Geisha

Onsen are Japanese natural hot spring baths, going on holiday to an onsen town to bathe and relax is a very traditional Japanese past time. Consequently Onsen towns carry a range of traditional entertainments such as bathing, banqueting or karaoke. Banquets can be accompanied by night time entertainers such as …

Ryokan

About Ryokan Types of Ryokan Things to remember when booking Where to research and book ryokan About Ryokan If you want a well priced slice of traditional Japan you can’t go past the ryokan or traditional Japanese Inn. These traditionalinns were popularised in the Edo period and survive today as …

Kyoto Costume Museum

Another piece of ‘fun meets history’ that’s a great stop for the kids. Note that the museum is really only 2 rooms and could easily be closed off in an hour or two, depending on your love of Heian dress. The museum holds a 1/25th scale of the house in …

Kyoto Hair Museum

Traditional hair and geisha wigs The Japan Hair Museum (Japanese Coiffure Museum), located on Yamato Oji-dori, tells the history of Japanese coiffure. On display are 115 examples of Japanese hairstyles ranging from ancient to modern times, in the form of hairpieces 1/4 of the actual size. Also exhibited are 200 …

Kyoto Manga Museum

Two of the collection on the left is a piece by Shiga Kimie and on the right one by Makino Kazuko. Photos copyright Amaya Booker This is a really fun activity for the young or the young at heart. To celebrate their unique Kyoto charm and to display the unique …

Shimabara

Shimabara was the site of the Edo period Pleasure Quarters in Kyoto. While it is all but defunct as an entertainment destination it does however have well preserved historical architecture and is well worth a visit for the geisha or tayu enthusiast. The suburb itself is quite small, you can …