Japanese Geisha & Maiko: Guide on Facts & Myths

While having a cozy walking tour during your Japan holiday, especially in some aging cities like Kyoto and Kanazawa, you may encounter some beautiful ladies dressed in layers of delicately patterned kimonos, with painted white faces and reddish lips, walking along cobbled streets with their wooden clogs clicking. They are geisha and maiko, mysterious and often misunderstood professions, full of fascinating stories and hidden facts to be discovered.

What Is Geisha & Maiko

A professional of traditional art, a skilled host for ceremonies from matcha tea to Japanese-style weddings, a talented entertainer in singing, dancing, and playing Japanese instruments and games, and a master of painting, poetry, and chess. Geisha was once considered the ideal of a woman.

Literally, geisha means "person of the arts". A geisha (also known as geiko or geigi) is a professional Japanese traditional performing artist and entertainer, typically a woman, distinguished by her trailing kimono, traditional hairstyles, and signature white makeup.

Maiko, meaning "dancing person", is the apprentice geisha, usually a girl between the ages of 15 and 21, who is still being trained in serving tea, singing, dancing, conversation, and other skills to become a mature geisha. It can be a long stage, lasting for years, until they are fully grown and pass the final jet black hair dance performance exam.

Maiko

What Exactly Does A Geisha Do

As entertainers in traditional art, a geisha visiting can be one of the best ways to experience Japanese culture. Geisha is not a concubine. However, there is a long misunderstanding between geisha and courtesan, it should be noted that geisha do not sleep with their clients.

A geisha is responsible for every detail of her teahouse service. The work usually starts in the afternoon. Pouring drinks and tea, making flower arrangements, playing Japanese instruments such as the shamisen and taiko, dancing, singing or even composing poetry. Most importantly, she engages her guests with captivating conversation, ensuring their attention and enjoyment.

The lady can also be the main heroine of some public and festive celebrations, from shrines and temples to parades and shops, as well as a popular host at traditional weddings and tea ceremonies.

Where to Encounter Geisha in Japan

To encounter geisha ladies, you can visit some Japanese geisha districts, like Gion in Kyoto, a well-known place with relatively higher opportunities to meet those artists walking to and from their works(as well as a high chance to capture some kimono-experiencing visitors), a popular geisha walking tour destination.

Those districts, also known as hanamachi, are usually historic areas that still retain their wooden houses and old flavors. There are boarding houses (okiya) for geisha and maiko, tea houses (ochaya), restaurants (gohanya), and dance halls (kaburenjo) for their performances and training, making these areas the best places for all kinds of geisha experiences, from tea ceremonies to dance shows.

Gion, Kyoto

Best Places for Geisha Experiences

There are several hanamachi throughout Japan, especially in some of the old cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa, which are the best places for your ideal geisha experience.

Gion District - Miyako & Gion Odori Shows

A must-visit destination during your April spring break or November vacation in Japan, the public performances there offer not only a rare opportunity to see geisha and maiko without needing an introduction but also a glimpse of classical Japanese culture and folklore through their exquisite dances and songs. In April, you can book the Miyako Odori (Cherry Blossom Dances) at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo, a month-long spring show making an ideal addition to your cherry blossom trip; or the Gion Odori in Gion Higashi during your early November journey from 1st to 10th, one of the best companions of the fall foliage season.

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Pontocho - Waterfront Tea Ceremony & Dinner Show

Like Gion, Pontocho is one of the Five Flower Towns (Gokagai), a historic area along the Kamogawa River, a perfect night stroll area with breathtaking views, providing a stunning backdrop for the geisha experience. The riverside teahouses and restaurants here are very popular, where you can take advantage of the veranda for a better tea ceremony experience in the tranquil riverside atmosphere, enjoy the geisha dancing show against the magnificent river sunset, as well as a neo-lights dinner of authentic kaiseki cuisine accompanied by their musical performance.

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Miyagawa - Geisha Makeover Experience

Miyagawa is a kabuki-influenced area, which gives a distinct kabuki flavor to the geisha performances here, such as the annual Kyo Odori, a kabuki-style dance April event held in Kyoto. Another popular activity in Miyagawa is the Maiko Henshin, or Geisha Makeover, where visitors can experience a full kimono and make-up transformation. With several shops offering kimono hire, you can choose your ideal design, be fully made up from head to toe, and become a temporary geisha or maiko, perfect for strolling the streets and taking some memorable photos.

Geisha Makeover Experience

Kagurazaka - Geisha Game Event

Another ideal gateway to explore the flower-and-willow world through the experience of various traditional Japanese games. Known as the geisha capital of Tokyo, Kagurazaka is also the site of the Oedo Meguri Festival, where you can challenge those forgotten games of Ozashiki Asobi with geisha and take a glimpse of these traditional charms of Japanese culture, such as Kitsune Ken, another variation of Rock Paper Scissors. The Ozashiki Asobi are all simple games for everyone to join and have no special equipment, with only a sake (Japanese wine) drinking penalty if you lose.

Geisha Visiting Etiquette

• Always ask for permission before taking a photo or selfie with a geisha.
• Touching their kimono, hair, accessories, or other decorations is not allowed.
• Don't block their way of talking or photoing since they may be on their way to work.
• Put on your socks before entering the tea house.

Other Fun Facts About Geisha

Difference Between Geisha & Maiko

You can find the difference between a geisha and a maiko in skills, appearance, and age. A geisha will be over 20 years old, skilled in her performance and conversation techniques, and won't need much decoration to catch guests' attention. Maiko, meanwhile, is usually younger and immature and will need more delicate and eye-catching clothing to attract attention, like patterns of cherry blossoms, plums, and cranes.

Geisha & Maiko

Difference Between Geisha & Tayu (Oiran)

The distinction lies in whether they engage in prostitution or not. Geisha ladies are those who dedicate their lives to the art of prostitution, while tayu or oiran are courtesans who also sleep with their clients. With prostitution no longer allowed in Japan, the oiran and tayu began to disappear around the 19th century.

During the Edo period, geisha and oiran lived and worked together. Oiran (the highest rank of courtesan) and tayu (the highest rank of oiran) are also good at traditional performance, and they would also like to practice their artistic skills to achieve a higher rank, so it is quite common to see both of them during a performance.

Though they are also good at performing and conversation, they still have big differences in their appearance.

Geisha & Oriran

Why Do Geisha Makeup With White Powder

The white-faced makeup of geisha is an ancient tradition that likely dates back to the pre-electric era. Geisha and maiko, who typically work at night, begin their duties between 6 pm and 12 am. They use white powder to brighten their faces to visible lips and eyeliners, because the gentle light of candles and lanterns isn't strong enough, and the white makeup helps neutralize the yellowish glow from these lights. Additionally, there has long been a belief that a whiter complexion enhances beauty, particularly for the face.

Makeup of Geisha & Maiko

Why Geisha Is So Mystery

You might catch a glimpse of a geisha performance during public holidays or traditional Japanese festivals, but experiencing one up close is rare unless you specifically seek it out.

In Japan, there is a tradition for this hidden experience called "No First Time Customers," which means that newcomers can't enter a teahouse without an introduction from a regular, trusted customer. However, with Odynovo serving as the go-between, you can also visit the geisha lady on your first trip to Japan.

These performances are typically held in licensed teahouses, often hidden behind unmarked wooden doors that even require guidance to access. Most importantly, the performances are usually private and take place in a traditional, serene room, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Japanese art.

Can Geisha Get Married

Geisha is not allowed to have her husband, so a maiko can not have a boyfriend. Nowadays, more and more skilled maiko choose to quit before their final exam to pursue marriage or take up another profession.

Just as a rule says, "being married to the art, not a man". As a lifetime profession, the only true "marriage" a geisha can have is her art. Though the mature and independent geisha who live alone can secretly have a boyfriend, they cannot be married until the lady leaves her job.

Most geisha ladies will quit in their 30s or 40s. If don't, they can also choose to become a teahouse owner to continue this lifelong career.

Are Geisha Ladies Respected in Japan

Yes, as a symbol of Japanese culture and masters of traditional art, geishas are highly respected in Japan, usually the VIP guests at their public invitations, and are often called sensei (teacher, master) in respect of their skills and efforts.

How Much Do Geisha Get Paid

The salary of a geisha is a well-kept secret. While they receive full compensation for their work, their income depends on factors such as working hours, skills, and popularity. Similar to theater performers, they also receive gifts from customers and guests, including jewelry and high-quality kimonos, which can significantly increase their earnings.

Encounter Geisha Ladies in Japan With Odynovo

From a geisha walking tour in Hanamachi, capturing them on their way to and from work, to a face-to-face performance for a conversation with art and soul. Leave the worries about the language barrier or the hidden rules of "No First Time Customers" to Odynovo to plan your vivid and unique Japan tour with art, culture, and tradition.