Geisha-spotting in Gion, Kyoto
by admin • November 28, 2012 • - Japan, Travel + Places • 0 Comments
These are probably the worst shots of my recent Japan trip. Please excuse the blurry, out-of-range images and underexposed photos.
Japanese thoughtfulness and politeness has rubbed off on me and I can’t seem to get myself to use a flash in these circumstances. I think it’s bad enough that these exquisite ladies are being stalked in the streets.
A geiko on the way to her next appointment
We were there on a mid-week night and managed to spot quite a few geiko (usually used to refer to geisha from western Japan, which includes Kyoto) and maiko (apprentice geisha).
A maiko is differentiated by their floral hair-ornaments which is very minimal in a geiko. The flowers change with the season.
The most popular area for geisha-spotting in Gion is at Hanami-koji street. The street and alleys here are lined with nice restaurants and the most exclusive and expensive ochaya (teahouses) in Kyoto.
I was told the best time for geisha-spotting would be in the early evening. We hung around from 5 pm and managed to catch a glimpse of geiko and maiko en route to an engagement.
What I find most fascinating about Japan is how modern it can be, and yet still very much steeped in tradition. The existence of geisha till today is just a small bit of Japan’s intriguing and endearing culture.
All in, this Gion outing turned out to be one of my most rewarding sights.