This event takes place in part of a studio on the second floor of a building. There are stairs outside in front of the building that go up to the studio. We arrived early, as recommended in the program description, but ended up waiting for the previous program to finish before we could enter. Before entering the studio, you need to take your shoes off and leave them on a rack.
Once inside, there are some rows of benches facing towards a low "stage" on one side of the room. After everyone has taken their seats, the maiko enters. The English translator for the maiko was very good. The maiko introduces herself, and there is an opportunity to have your photograph taken with her and receive a slip of paper with her name stamped on it (in Japanese, of course). After everyone has their photograph, the maiko performs two dances. Then there is a question-and-answer session, and then the maiko explains the rules for a drinking game. She and the translator demonstrated the game once, and then the maiko will ask a series of volunteers to come up to the front to challenge her. If you lose, don't worry--you can choose to drink a cup of water instead of sake!
All of this takes place just over a half hour, but it didn't feel particularly rushed. The maiko was very courteous with answering questions and it was fun to play the game against her. I felt like many of the people in our audience were too shy to ask questions or volunteer, but I would encourage people to not be too shy and enjoy themselves!
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/06 |
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孫が舞妓さんに会いたいとのリクエストで、リーズナブルな料金で素敵な時間を過ごす事が出来ました。
舞妓さんになって一年の梅さなさんですが、小さい時から習っていた踊りはさすがです。お話もお上手です。
お点前体験、お座敷芸と 中身の濃い内容でした。
舞妓さんと身近に会え、お話や記念写真も撮れて、お薦めのツアーです。
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/26 |
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参加人数が少なく、まいこはんと、直接、コミュニケーションが取れてラッキーです。S席にして良かったです。
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/16 |
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とっても可愛い舞妓さんで貴重な体験をさせていただきました。まだ、舞妓さんになって一年も経っていないとのことでしたが、踊りもお話もプロでした。また、必ず参加させていただきます。
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/16 |
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This was a great show! The dancers were talented, the comedy was funny (the acting was clear enough that I got the gist of it, despite not speaking any Japanese), and the scenery and costumes were beautiful. The seats were comfortable and better than I expected given the price. The theater wasn't too difficult to find and it's in the heart of Pontocho, which is an older area of Kyoto. I would highly recommend attending this show or similar if you get the opportunity!
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/24 |
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It was eye opening and a really wonderful experience I recommend everyone should be a part of
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/14 |
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We were treated to a dance routine, and had ample time to discuss the geisha / maiko life. The location is not too difficult to find (given the general problems with Japanese addresses), although it is a little too formal (something which should be considered). Do not be put off by the need to buy at least one drink - they were perfectly reasonably priced.
Given the cost of this event (compared to other similar productions), it exceeded our expectations - although that was perhaps helped by the fact that we were few in number.
However, we we were given exactly what we were told - some dancing, the chance for photographs and plenty of time to talk to maiko and begin to understand the geisha life.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/01 |
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So grateful we got to see this traditional experience. We had amazing seats and the performance was very unique. Definitely would recommend to others.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/23 |
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An amazing experience - one of the few opportunities to witness geiko and maiko perform. The dance was lovely and enchanting - a very uniquely Japanese experience.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/23 |
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以前都をどりを観に行った時は、お茶席でも舞妓さんの撮影ができましたが、今回は一番前の席になったのに、撮影禁止で残念でしたが、近くで観られて良かったです。お茶席の後休憩室ではお2人の可愛い舞妓さんの撮影ができたので、横に立って一緒に撮影することも可能です。メインの舞台は、お話もわかりやすく楽しめました。
をどり終了後すぐそばで5月の川床ランチも楽しめました。
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/18 |
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The Kamogawa Odori performance is fantastic. It's incredible to see Geisha's perform - truly a once in a lifetime experience. The tea ceremony and photo-op were also very nice.
My ticket was in the first couple of rows, so I had a great seat the whole time. Everything is in Japanese (which I prefer due to its authenticity) but they had a program that had a short synopsis in English.
The performance itself was very well done with simple but beautiful set design and the iconic Geisha dress.
You absolutely need to 1) Travel to Kyoto and 2) Go to Kamogawa Odori (come in May!)
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/22 |
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Priceless experience....Veltra make it easy and affordable for us....tq
You should try it!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/20 |
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お茶の立てかた、お座敷遊び、踊りの披露、近くで観ることができて、京都らしさをより一層味わうことが出来ました。
また、舞妓さんとの質疑応答は、めったに聞くことの出来ない事が聞けたので良かったと思います。
次回、別の誰かと来る時は、このツアーをお願いしたいと思っております。
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/16 |
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I wasn't sure about VELTRA... But everything went perfectly! Email confirmation arrived quickly; Easy to show the coupon printout and swap for tickets; Accurate location instructions.
The show itself was extremely impressive, in a beautiful theatre space, and absolutely authentic. Besides tourists, there were LOTS of locals all dressed up to enjoy a quality performance.
I would 100% recommend using VELTRA's service if you want to see traditional Japanese theatre - so much easier than the official theatre website.
One caveat: dialogue is all in Japanese. If that bothers you, you need to broaden your mind.
Oh, and the barrage of souvineers beforehand was a little unexpected - But nothing that could possibly diminish the overall experience.
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/24 |
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Cette représentation était spectaculaire et très intéressante du point de vue culturel! À voir absolument !
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/24 |
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It was an outstanding experience in a very friendly and authentic atmosphere.
I would recommend it strongly to anyone who would like to have some insightful information about life of Maikos and Geikos.
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/18 |
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Great experience! A real geiko and maiko show in pontocho
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/20 |
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I really enjoyed this experience. A large group of attendees were served tea and a tea sweet while a beautifully dressed maiko performed the tea preparation part of the tea ceremony. Then we could take pictures of two maiko. The performance included a play and a series of dances that were beautifully performed in gorgeous costumes. Even though I don't speak Japanese, I still had a pretty good idea of what was going on from the dance movements. I had an excellent seat. Wonderful experience.
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/22 |
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出張で何度も京都に訪れていて、寺社仏閣は一通り見ましたが、お座敷や舞妓さん、芸妓さんなどと接することには縁がなかったので、一度は体験したいと思い申し込みました。
時間は90分と少し短いですが、料理とお酒が付き、気さくな舞妓さんでいろいろな質問にも答えてもらい、写真撮影も何回も応じてもらい、また、お茶屋などでは高額なことが、この料金で一通りの体験ができ、大変満足しています。
今回は、キャンセルがでたことと、季節柄、申込者が少ないことも重なり、5人の参加者でじっくり鑑賞できましたので、ラッキーでした。
また機会があれば申し込みたいと思います。
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/18 |
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We will not forget this performance. It was exciting to watch from beginning to end. The performers, the show direction, the sets were all fantastic. The costumes were magnificent. There was a small downside, and that was the tea ceremony was very rushed. We were herded in and herded out, and this made us wonder why this was significant in any way.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/21 |
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We had a good time at the show. It was a small theatre and the show was not particularly grand, but it was a really nice and cosy performance. Loved it!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/19 |
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The overall experience went well. This is basically the traditional Japanese play, it only happens in a few days in May, and it's not very touristy. Most people going were actual locals, dressed in kimono. There were a few tourists, dressed more casual, but very few.
We knew that we wouldn't understand any of it. But the play itself, more the second part with the traditional dancing, was very pretty, and didn't involve much dialogue.
The tea ceremony was very rushed, and you are expected to eat the sweet and drink your tea very fast, and couldn't enjoy properly the act of the geisha actually "preparing" it.
Overall, I am glad we did it, and it was an experience to remember. But if you expect a long tea ceremony, please go elsewhere. This one was no more than 5min.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/18 |
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The tea ceremony was rushed and a non-event but the tea was real macha with a delicious cake. You keep the cake plate as a souvenir.
We did the photo op after the tea ceremony - it was OK.
The performance is outstanding and well worth the price of admission. Very professional, exquisite costumed and live orchestra.
Highly recommend this if you are in the Gion area.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/17 |
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If you are lucky enough to be in Kyoto while this is on, go! Fabulous!
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/15 |
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It was one of the best cultural experiences. Even though i dont understand Japanese I enjoyed it thoroughly. You can buy the English synopsis of the play at the theatre itself. I faced no problem and I just went to the ticket counter and exchanged the voucher.
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/14 |
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京都の風物詩の鴨川踊りを初めてでよかった。舞子、芸子さんのきれいなこと。なかなか、本物の舞子、芸子さんを見れないので、同席の女性も感動されていました。
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/12 |
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We understood the Web page to be offering a demonstration of the Sado (tea ceremony) by Maiko. This was not to be. What we dis see was a superb performance of Maiko dances and period orchestra with voices performing a tribute to Japan's new era just commenced the week we were in Kyoto. Awesome talent and display of Maiko skills in song, dance and artistry of the animated gesture. The 182nd annual performance by this group. A mempry to treasure.
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/05 |
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maiko don't speak English however the staff translate everything. maiko is so close and it's perfect experience about Kyoto.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/05 |
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Un très beau spectacle, émouvant dans sa seconde partie avec notamment l'orchestre à gauche de la scène.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/02 |
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Outstanding geisha performance and tea ceremony. Exchange vouchers for tickets an hour before tea and show. Well organized.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/01 |
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Reply from activity provider
An unexpected error has occurred. Please go back to the previous page and try again, or wait a few minutes and try once again.
Hello Unexpected,
Thank you for bringing our attention to this matter. After confirming with the provider, we were told that the tea plan comes with free tea before the show begins, but that a tea ceremony will not be held. We have updated our page to reflect these changes.
We are grateful for your honest review. We value our customers' opinions and reviews like your help us improve our services. We hope you had a lovely time in Japan and we hope you consider booking with us again the next time you travel.
Sincerely,
VELTRA.com