Kyoto

Discover Geisha Arts: Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show

Badge of ExcellenceKyoto, Japan

Likely to Sell Out

From $111.57

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

3 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Take a tour of Kyoto's famous Gion district and learn all about the mysterious geisha traditions of the area. Get an insider’s perspective on facts about geisha culture that tourists usually miss, and pass by shops, shrines, and beautiful temples. To elevate your experience, the tour also includes a geisha show with an apprentice geisha, where you can watch a dance performance and ask questions.

Combination of a Gion tour and a geisha show in Kyoto
Enjoy commentary about Japanese culture and traditions
A guide leads the way so you don’t get lost
Rare opportunity to meet an apprentice geisha

What's Included

1.5 hours guiding in Gion, the geisha district
45min Geisha show with an apprentice Geisha, Maiko

Tip for Maiko, an apprentice geisha

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni
Japan, 605-0076 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Kawabatachō, 川端四条
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".

End points

This activity ends in a different location. See details below:

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What To Expect

Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Minamiza : The Kabuki Theater of Kyoto

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gion Shirakawa

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tatsumi-jinja Shrine (Tatsumi Dai-myojin)

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hanamikoji Street

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kennin-ji Temple

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kyoto Ebisu Shrine

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with leg problems.
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

274 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 274 reviews

Total worth

Keegan_M, Apr 2024

The tour was incredible and the guide was super awesome he knew so much and had some great connection in the area. The best part was definitely the geisha show it’s super cool to be able to see and interact with one

Beautiful Maiko

Amanda_S, Apr 2024

Omg our Maiko was absolutely beautiful polite and conversed with us well. It was great to see her insights and be able to share in her life as a maiko going into being a geiko. The tour itself was insightful and the knowledge of the areas was great to learn thankyou for a memorable experience to the guide Ken he was so easy going and wanted to know about Australian culture just as much as we wanted to learn Japanese

Unforgettable night with Maiko in Gion!

Julie_B, Apr 2024

Ken was excellent! Gion is beautiful no matter how you do it but having a knowledgeable guide, one that lives there, added a unique element to make this one of our most unforgettable experiences. Learning from our Maiko’s experience directly was eye opening and so much fun (she beat me at her drinking game!). Ken was extremely knowledgeable in Geiko life and history and it made for a beautiful night. Sakura was in full bloom and the district was busy but yet we were able to explore backstreets and learn the little details of the architecture (meaning of placards, lanterns, etc). Thank you Ken!

Once in a lifetime beautiful experience

Anette_H, Apr 2024

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.

Amazing tour and Gesha dinner/show

CHRISTOPHER_K, Apr 2024

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.

Walking tour and dinner geisha show

Grace_A, Apr 2024

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.

The best tour in Kyoto!!

Jeanie_L, Mar 2024

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!

10/10 recommend

Tanja_R, Mar 2024

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!!

Amazing experience

Richard_R, Mar 2024

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.

Hands down best tour of Gion and Geiko in all of Kyoto. Don't hesitate to book.

Olivia_J, Mar 2024

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.

Geisha/Maiko tour

Brenda_C, Mar 2024

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!

Fabulous!

Maria_A, Mar 2024

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!

Great Experience

Amy_H, Mar 2024

Our guide, Ken, was a great host and we really enjoyed our tour. Definitely would recommend this experience to anyone.

Rainy Afternoon in Gion

Tamara_S, Mar 2024

Despite the rainy weather, our guide was energetic, knowledgeable and accommodating as he guided us on the tour. He explained the rules to follow (no pictures in certain places), customs, history and significance of the tradition. Lunch was lovely and the Maiko we had lunch with was kind and gracious. All in all I’m glad I did this tour and would highly recommend.

Magical experience 🪭

Georgie_C, Mar 2024

This was such a highlight for us. I honestly can’t stop talking about it. I loved the history, the streets to the restaurant and show. This is a must.🏮 🎎🪭

Fantastic experience to meet a Maiko

Janette_W, Feb 2024

Wonderful experience, friendly knowledgable guide (Ken) and we met the nicest Maiko who was so interesting - Thank you :)

A dream come true

Bernadette_O, Feb 2024

Ken gave some specific information I hadn't heard before on the walking tour, and his insight into the Geisha world was obvious. The stunning Maiko who answered questions and danced was mesmerizing. I feel so fortunate to have booked this fabulous tour, and to have experienced the company of a Maiko.

Excellent, authentic, and immersive geisha experience

Angela_F, Feb 2024

Excellent, informative, and immersive tour. Our tour guide Rina was top notch. She has deep roots in Kyoto (her family has lived here for 300 years) and her enthusiasm for the subject of geisha and for sharing her culture made the tour so special. Rina was a master of keeping the tour lively and educational at the same time. Gion itself is STUNNING at night, and the real ozashiki dinner she planned for us was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Do not hesitate to book this tour. We ate dinner in a working ochaya, met and watched the dancing of a real Maiko (apprentice geisha), and ate a delicious meal seated on authentic tatami mats. Truly couldn’t ask for more. I would book this again if I’m ever back in Kyoto, even if just for the chance to partake in the dinner itself. This is the only way a tourist would be able to get inside an ochaya, since these are invite only affairs. Do not miss this. If I could give ten stars I would.

Geiko history tour

Tanja_P, Jan 2024

What a fascinating start to our Kyoto visit. Ken had incredible knowledge and we learnt so much about Geiko culture and history

You need to do this!

Ryan_B, Jan 2024

Incredible experience. Ken was great, very knowledgeable and attentive. The Geiko (Maiko) that we met was lovely, the setting was intimate and special. We both thoroughly enjoyed this experience and can highly recommend it to all. You must do this if you’re vaguely interested!

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