Japanese geiko and maiko.

Private Geisha entertainment and delicious Japanese cuisine in a traditional teahouse in Gion, Kyoto.

Overview.

Gion Higashi is one of Kyoto's five flower districts and has long been a place of relaxation for people tired of visiting temples and shrines, as well as a place of socialising for merchants. Here, geiko and maiko entertain and entertain their guests with singing, dancing, conversation and ozashiki games. In this experience, you can enjoy their charm while dining on sumptuous Japanese cuisine in the teahouse Ochaya Man.

Main features.

Watch a maiko dance to the accompaniment of a geiko's shamisen.
Experience the historical night entertainment district of Gion East, with geiko and maiko in the private banquet rooms of the teahouses.
A hot meal freshly prepared by a Japanese restaurant is served while you watch the dances of geiko and maiko.

*Geiko and maiko cannot be specified.

Detail.

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Teahouses that carry traditional leisure activities into a new era. 

Ochaya Man, a teahouse designed by international interior designer Yasumichi Morita, is located in a corner of Gion East, Kyoto, with a bar and tatami rooms on the first and second floors, and a ryotei restaurant on the third floor, which is unusual for a teahouse in an entertainment district.

Traditional entertainment districts are by nature very exclusive and all first-time visitors without an introduction are turned away. However, through Exclusive Kyoto, Ochaya Man accepts only 'Wabunka' customers.

Masami Kamiyanagi is the fourth generation head of the Mann teahouse. She was brought up as a maiko for as long as she can remember, making her debut as a maiko at the age of four and as a singer at 19. After gaining extensive stage experience, she trained as a geiko in earnest in order to take over her family's teahouse, and now runs a maiko/geiko house and a ryotei restaurant. She has also made it her life's work to train maiko to carry on traditional Japanese culture.

Geiko and Maiko Evening

Enjoy an elegant Japanese dance performance performed by maiko to the shamisen accompaniment of geiko, while also enjoying conversation with geiko and maiko in the form of ozashiki games and entertainment. This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with real geiko and maiko. 

Geiko and maiko are different roles. A maiko is a young apprentice geiko with a unique and unmistakably attractive appearance, characterised by a youthful and flamboyant kimono design, elaborate traditional Japanese hairstyle, white-painted skin, red or black eye make-up and crimson lipstick. Geigi, on the other hand, are full-fledged artisans, dressed in subdued-coloured kimonos, with modest make-up and an overall aura of calm elegance. 

The elegance of traditional Japanese dance is a highlight of the ozashiki experience. Geigi and maiko wear gorgeous kimonos and obis, which accentuate their charm. If you look closely at their expressions, the way they sit, the way they walk, the way they fan themselves, and each of their gestures and movements, you can sense a supple elegance that can only be achieved through daily training.

Warm traditional food fills the stomach and nourishes the soul

Kamiyanagi runs a ryotei restaurant in the tea house Ochaya Man. This plan offers a sumptuous Japanese course dinner featuring carefully selected local vegetables, seafood, meats and other seasonal Kyoto produce, delicately and artistically arranged. Gion teahouses typically rely on outside catering, but Ochayaman serves hot dishes freshly prepared in authentic in-house kitchens.

Alcohol is also available (you can freely choose from the drinks included in the plan), so you can enjoy drinks poured by geiko and maiko with a delicious dinner.

Alcohol is also available (you can freely choose from the drinks included in the plan), so you can enjoy drinks poured by geiko and maiko with a delicious dinner.

A refreshing tipple to add to a special evening.

The mannerisms of geiko and maiko embody the Japanese sense of beauty. If you look closely at the way they hold the sake cups and pour the sake, you can see their attention to detail and sophistication. Their warmth and charm will transport you from the busyness of everyday life into a world of joy and peace.

Private, luxurious and exclusive geisha experience

After the meal, guests can enjoy chatting with the geiko and maiko, as well as playing in the tatami room and enjoying the entertainment. This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with geiko and maiko of the traditional arts in a luxurious tatami room that is an unusual retreat.

Enjoy simple party games with geiko and maiko.

The highlight of this plan is the opportunity to experience traditional Japanese banquet culture, including singing, dancing and playing Ozashiki. Rhythmic play to the sound of the shamisen is a trick that is addictive. The calm charm of geiko and maiko will soothe your tired mind. Enjoy the harmony of the moist melodies, songs and dances, and the opportunity to take photos with geiko and maiko.

200 Points" to experience the depth of Japanese hospitality culture.

The proprietress Kamiyanagi says: "Please feel free to ask any questions about the background and reasons behind the traditions and customs of a pleasure quarter that has been in existence for 300 years, or about the lifestyle of geiko and maiko. As a result, many guests say that their views have changed.

Geigi and maiko embody traditional Japanese beauty and connect it to the present day.

Kamiyanagi's wish is to immerse you in the air and flow of the place with all five senses, enjoying the depth of Japanese aesthetics and culture through interaction with geiko and maiko. The refined company and skilled hospitality will surely soothe your soul. Enjoy a special evening immersed in the hospitality culture unique to Kyoto's historic pleasure quarters.

Tea house man / Exclusive Kyoto

a teahouse owner
Masami Kamiyanagi, proprietress of Ochaya Man, located in Gion-Higashi, close to Yasaka Shrine, one of Kyoto's most famous sightseeing spots, grew up training as a maiko in order to succeed the fourth generation head of the family, making her debut as a maiko at the age of four and as a singer at 19. She is currently running the family business as landlady, while continuing her own activities as a singer and dancer. She is passionate about passing on the traditional performing arts of dance, nagauta and ohayashi to the next generation.

Exclusive Kyoto
Exclusive Kyoto offers a variety of experiences with geiko and maiko in order to preserve the historical traditions of Kyoto's nightlife district and to give guests a deeper experience of the local culture.
Traditionally, private banquet rooms in teahouses do not accept first-time guests without an introduction, but at Exclusive Kyoto, Japanese and international visitors can enjoy an authentic and luxurious geisha experience all at once.