Kyoto Cuisine with Geisha (artisan) or Maiko
(apprentice Geisha) includes entertainment provided by
them.
In Kyoto there are restaurants that
offer opportunity to
dine with and be entertained by Geisha (artisan) and
Maiko (apprentice Geisha). One of the most popular
and common place to see Geisha is in the Gion
District, which is next to the Yasaka Shrine. The meal
served will be kaiseki ryori (Japanese haute cuisine)
that will reflect the flavors of the season. The geisha
and maiko have been trained in literature, tea
ceremony, poetry, dancing, and Japanese traditional
instruments. Being privately entertained by Geisha
can be experience, but luckily there are cheaper
options that will not cost you $900 or more. By joining
groups people can experience the chance to be
hosted by maiko. During the meal you can engage in
conversations with the maiko.
A great part of the evening with the hosts is the
games that are played with the involvement of the
guests. If you win against the girls then you get a
small prize for them otherwise you will have to drink a
shot of beer instead. There are two games that are
usually played called Konpira Fune Fune and Tora
Tora Tora. The first game, Konpira Fune Fune, tests
your rhythm, memory, and reflexes to the music
played on a shamisen. There is a bowl in the center
of the table that both players can take back and forth.
If on your turn the bowl is not there then you have to
show rock (a fist) and if it is there then you show
paper (flat hand). Tora Tora Tora is a form of rock,
paper, scissors, but instead it is old woman, samurai,
and tiger. Old women beats samurai, tiger beats old
woman, and samurai beats tiger.
Please see below for tours that include
Kyoto Cuisine with Maiko:
