Turn into a Maiko - Garden Plan
- Durata: 150 Minuti (circa)
- Luogo: Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Codice prodotto: EN-KYT-2018-20181
【OUTLINE】
Transform into a Maiko in a real teahouse (the place where geiko entertain their guests) in the Gion district established in the Taisho Era (1912-1926). Become a maiko found only in Kyoto, and have your pictures taken of your beautiful Maiko silhouette in the Tsuboniwa courtyard in Kyo-Machiya (a traditional wooden house in Kyoto). No special preparation is necessary--leave it to us! You will receive three 2L-size (127 x 178mm) photos as a memorable souvenir of the experience.
【HIGHLIGHTS】
- Transform into an authentic Maiko with Japanese makeup, don a brilliant hair ornament, and strut your stuff in a gorgeous kimono!
- Time travel as you step into the authentic Tsuboniwa courtyard in Kyo-Machiya, where water-filled bamboo tubes and garden lanterns have been lined up for your experience.
- Have your pictures taken by a photographer who is well-versed in capturing true essence of the beauty of maiko.
【SCHEDULE】
Arrival→（Plan confirmation）→Make-up and dressing up→Photography→Take off your kimono and prepare to go home→Photo pick-up→End
【DETAILS】
・Change into a Maiko
The venue for the Maiko experience is a real teahouse in the Gion district established in the Taisho Era, which is a 1-minute walk from the south gate of the Yasaka Shrine.
From the moment you step into our shop, we will immediately start your magical transformation into an authentic Maiko. After putting on special underwear for kimonos, we'll start applying Japanese make-up.
And lastly, you can change into a gorgeous kimono of your choosing. You can then select a Japanese hair ornament that matches your style.
・Photography at the Tsuboniwa courtyard.
In the authentic Tsuboniwa courtyard in Kyo-Machiya, water-filled bamboo-tubes and garden lanterns have been arranged, and the beautiful backgrounds of the four seasons highlight the maiko's beauty.
In the Tsuboniwa, the photographer, who knows how to capture the true essence of a maiko's beauty, will teach you how to pose like a Maiko and will take pictures of your silhouette from the best angles. The garden will become a private space for one group of people during photography. You can also take insta-worthy pictures by yourself for 10 minutes in the garden or in front of the store using your own smartphone or camera.
・Photo pick up
After the photographer is finished with your photos, take off the kimono, wig, and make-up and go back to your old self. When you've finished dressing, please pick up the photo album and take it back with you.
【THINGS TO NOTE】
- Duration：2.5 hours
- Meeting point：Gion AYA
499-8, Shimogawara, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto [MAP] - Access：
【Taxi】（recommended）
From Kyoto station is take around 15 minutes (1,200 yen) Let the driver know that you want to go to Ryotei Hamasaku.
【Train】
1. Take the number 7 exit at Gion Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line and take the Shijo-dori Street in the direction of the Yasaka Shrine.
2. At the intersection in front of the Yasaka shrine, cross the street in the direction of the Gion Koban (Police box) and turn left. Cross the crosswalk in front of the shop called Tsuruha drug store in the direction of the Yasaka Shrine.
3．Turn right in front of the Yasaka shrine and walk 100 meters. Turn left at Hotel Sunline and walk 100 meters.
4．Turn right in front of Cafe Jouvencelle and walk 35 meters. Turn left on the road between the Japanese-style confectionery shop and Ryotei Hamasaku and the shop is on your left side. - Language support： Japanese, English
- Included：
・Maiko experience
・Pictures of 3 poses
・Three 2L-size (127×178mm) photos - Excluded：Makeup products to use after the Maiko makeup is removed
- Participation requirements：
・10 years and above
・Height：145㎝ and above
・Please consult us if bust or hip size is 120cm and above
・gender：Female - Free Wi-Fi：Yes
- Toilet：Yes(Western style)
- Other things to note：If you have sensitive skin, the experience is at your own risk
【FUN FACTS】
The job of a Maiko is to entertain guests with traditional arts such as singing, dancing, playing the shamisen, etc. in the "go-kagai" (5 geisha quarters) in Kyoto. It is the training period of a "Geiko" (a geisha in Kyoto), and after 5 years of training as a Maiko she can turn into a geiko. Originally, in the Edo period, there was a teahouse in Higashiyama where the Yasaka Shrine is. Women who worked at the teahouse sang songs and performed for the visitors to the temples and shrines and people traveling on the road. This is the origin of the Geiko/Maiko. In accordance with the strict tradition of the geisha world around Gion, they are still working. But most of the Maiko you will see on the street may be tourists dressed up. Even the locals rarely see Maiko, so if you see one you are really lucky. Besides Kyoto, there are also other places where women entertain their guests but the name Geiko or Maiko is only used in Kyoto.【NEARBY AREA INTRODUCTION】
The shrine in the Higashiyama area is famous for holding the Gion Festival. It is the headquarters of Yasaka Shrines and the affiliated 2,300 shrines all over Japan that enshrine the Shinto god, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The shrine is also called [Gion san] endearingly. They say it was founded in 656 by Irishi, the messenger from Goguryeo, Korea. The number of worshipers during the first 3 days of the New Year exceeds 1 million, second in Kyoto after Fushimi Inari Shrine. You can also visit the shrine at night. Here you find the main building built in Gion style (covering the main hall and the hall of worship with one roof). It houses the Utsukushi-gozen-sha Shrine with natural spring water that will make your face and heart pretty and also the Okuninushi-sha Shrine, the gods of marriage.
【CANCELLATION POLICY】
7 to 4 days before the tour date 40% of the tour price
3 to 2 days before the tour date 60% of the tour price
The day before the tour date, on the day of the tour 100% of the tour price