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Gion (Geisha district), Kyoto
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Things to Do in Kyoto: Gion (Geisha district) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kyoto locals.
Gion (Geisha district)
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Kyoto Gion (Geisha district) ReviewsTips 11 - 20 of 55  
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Gion (Geisha district): Geiko / Maiko madness
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  • By Ines28 on July 27, 2005
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  • Maiko - Kyoto
    Maiko
    by Ines28
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    Gion is the place to go around 6 or 7 pm, when there is a good chance to get one or two glimpes of (mostly) maikos on their way to appointments. We heard from other people it wouldn't be self-evident to see one and that it needs some luck, so we were very excited when the first maiko appeared. She wasn't the last, though! It was fantastic to see an important and old part of the Japanese traditions. Sometimes I felt like papparazzi, but if you want to take home some beautiful pictures you have to put this feeling aside! ;-)
    Gion itself has maintained much of its historical beauty despite the modern architecture and the congested traffic. To outsiders, it remains mysterious and we kept wondering what was hidden behind the closed wooden doors with the divided curtains.

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  • Directions: Gion is roughly between Sanjo-dori and Gojo-dori and between Higashiyama-dori and Kawabata-dori
  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): In search of the elusive geisha
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  • Updated By UKDaisy on February 25, 2007
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  • Don't do what all the other tourists do, and that's to crowd around the entrance of the street of the teahouses to wait for a geisha to pass, it won't work that way. Walk further down, and wait beside a teahouse, look out for any cars that pull up beside a teahouse, it may be a geisha getting dropped off for work. We managed to see 2 geishas this way during the evening.

  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): Geisha District
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  • Updated By hundertmorgen on September 3, 2004
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  • Gion (Geisha district) - Kyoto
    by hundertmorgen
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    Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district. To experience the traditional Gion, stroll along Hanami-koji, a street lined by beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants. In the evenings, you may be able to spot a geisha apprentice.

    Yasaka Shrine and the Minamiza kabuki theater are some of Gion's other attractions.

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    Gion (Geisha district): Geisha Makeover
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  • Updated By aussielivinginjapan on March 13, 2007
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  • Step one start the makeover - Kyoto
    Step one start the makeover
    by aussielivinginjapan, 4 more photos
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    A great experience and an awesome souviner is to have a geisha / maiko makeover. You get dress up in traditonal kimino and geisha makeup. They take professional photos of you outside of the Kyoto Temples or in an old style Japanese street, inside in a traditional Japanese style room or outside in a Japanese garden. You can also use your own camera too. Allow yourself a few hours for this as it can take quiet a while to get the whole costume and make up on. I recommending eating first and make sure you dont need to use the toilet as once in full dress its very hard to do either of these. Its a little expensive but an awesome souviner and experience. I highly recommend it.

  • Address: Various locations in Kyoto and one in Tokyo
  • Directions: Various locations in Kyoto and one in Tokyo see website.
  • Website: http://gojapan.about.com/od/geisha/a/geishamakeover.htm

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    Gion (Geisha district): Go for a walk in Gion
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  • By yukisanto on February 1, 2007
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  • The walk to Kiyomizu temple - Kyoto
    The walk to Kiyomizu temple
    by yukisanto, 1 more photos
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    People watching, or just soak in the atmosphere of the tradtional houses along your walk to the Kiyomizu temple. As you make your way up the rickety steps, and pop in to the tourist souvenir shops lining the path now and then, look around you and feel the old culture.

    About evening time, around 6pm, people start queuing up to see the Kiyomizu temple lighgted up at night. There's a different admission fee charged for you to see the lights. Me? I cn't stand the queue. Too much like those kiasu Singaporean queues..

    The Gion street area's a small road leading from the main street somewhere in the middle of Shijo street. There's a horse betting shop along that small street. From there, you can reach the hilly area to Kiyomizu temple after crossing the road.

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  • Directions: follow the crowds. Everyone goes there.
  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): To get the real feeling of...
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  • By j-san on August 26, 2002
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  • Gion (Geisha district) - Kyoto
    by j-san
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    To get the real feeling of Kyoto back home, buy this incense!! The one in the middle red box. It is really the smell of old Kyoto and the same as the one that the inn-keeper of the Geisha Bar we visited in Gion used.
    Similar to sandalwood only more precious I am told. it is slightly sweet smelling and calming - and nothing like any cheap nasty incense you may have come across in the past! Am burning some now as I type this... wonderful soothing mysterious aroma.

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    Gion (Geisha district): Shopping, eating and spot a geisha!
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  • By konniemario on October 16, 2005
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  • Real geisha - Kyoto
    Real geisha
    by konniemario
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    Gion is one minute walk away from Keihan Shijo Station and is famous for entertainment, shopping, eating and spotting a geisha. It's a mixture of modern architecture, congested traffic, contemporary nightlife and old wooden houses. We had a stroll there on our first night and felt in love with some of the narrow streets there with the yellow lights and red lanterns hanging outside. We were told that those places are where geisha and maiko's learn their craft and if we're lucky, we can spot one or two on their way to their appointments, especially on a weekend. And guess what, we did spot a couple of them! Pop in one of those small restaurants and I'm sure you won't be disappointed either.

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  • Directions: Gion falls roughlybetween Sanjo-dori and Gojo-dori and Higashiyama-dori and Kawabata-dori.
  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): A trip back in time
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  • By Gryphon25 on September 21, 2007
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  • Gion (Geisha district) - Kyoto
    by Gryphon25, 2 more photos
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    Gion is one of the most surreal places I have visited. The best time to see any Geisha and Mako is around and just after sunset. Get there a little bit early and you can watch the crowds gathering with their cameras. At stages you feel a bit like a member of the Papparatzi. There is a sighting and everybody rushes to take photographs. Walk through some of the back alleys and you can see some Okiya. Later in the evening sit on the river bank near Shi jo staion. If you look in the buildings on the otherside of the river you can actually see Geisha at work serving tea.

  • Directions: Get of at Shijo station on the Keihan Oto Line
  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): GION ONE
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  • Updated By RACCOON1 on October 11, 2007
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  • Gion (Geisha district) - Kyoto
    by RACCOON1,
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    The GION District of Kyoto is the most exclusive geisha district in Japan.

    This is where you go to try and get a glimpse of a Geisha or Maiko ( a Geisha in training).

    Even if you do not succed in spotting a Geisha a walk through the GION is a must.

    Best time is from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm on a sunny day. Geisha's come out later.

    A tripod for your camera would help and wide angle lenses are a benefit.

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  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

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    Gion (Geisha district): Miyako odori
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  • Updated By CO-Chad on April 20, 2006
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  • Maiko in the Miyako odori - Kyoto
    Maiko in the Miyako odori
    by CO-Chad, 2 more photos
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    As I queued up to hand over 4,300 yen (3,800 for the balcony or 1,900 for a spot on the tatami mats behind the balcony seats) I was prepared to call Miyako odori at Gion Kaburenjou a Tourist Trap. However, when I considered the dozens and dozens of Maiko (apprentice Geisha) dancing, singing, and performing on shamisen, taiko and shakuhachi, I decided it's really not that over-priced. Plus, how often does an ordinary person get to see Maiko performing? You can content yourself with quick glimpses of Geisha and the more ornately dressed Maiko on Pontocho and around Gion, or if you're willing to lay out a bit of money, see an elaborate one hour rendition of four traditional song-and-dance performances. The costumes alone are pretty amazing.

  • Address: Gion, Minami gawa
  • Phone: 075-541-3391
  • Directions: Take Kyoto City Bus 100 or 206 to Gion, and follow the signs for Gion Corner. It's about a 5 minute walk down the granite paved road from the Gion bus stop.

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