Learning About Kyoto

Dressing Up as a Maiko

Naoko Iseki; Hajime Yozaki

Dressing up as a maiko in Kyoto

Maiko and geiko are traditional performers whose job it is to add zest to a dinner by singing, dancing, and playing the shamisen. They are also a symbol of traditional Japanese culture. If you’d like to learn more about them, please read this article on the KKP website.

Are you interested in maiko and geiko and the kimono they wear? Kimono is one of the most well-known traditional costumes in Japan. Perhaps, we associate kimono with maiko and geiko. They are really beautiful!

Visitors to Kyoto can also dress up as a maiko. Here is what some customers said about their experience:

“I study about Japanese culture at a university in the United States. I became interested in Japanese culture when I first saw kimono. Though I have been to Kyoto three times, it was the first time for me to dress up as a maiko. Kimono was easier to wear than I expected. There are lots of beautiful kimono, and it is very hard to find a kimono I love.”

“Becoming a maiko was one of my dreams since I was a child. The material of kimono is very good, and also the staff were very helpful.”

“My daughter was very pleased to dress up as a maiko. And through the experience of dressing up as a maiko, she seemed to be able to understand Kyoto’s traditional culture.”

“When I dressed up as maiko, many foreigners believed I was a real maiko and took pictures of me.”

“I felt that face powder was cool. At first, I was shy to apply ruby lipstick because I’m not accustomed to using make up.”

“Because I wore a beautiful kimono, I tried to walk deliberately, I could become a maiko.”

Now, we will introduce some shops where you can dress up as a maiko in Kyoto.

★Shiki

The main office is located near Kiyomizu Temple. After being transformed into a maiko, you can go for a walk around Kodaiji Temple, Nene Road, Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka, Yasaka Shrine, and Chion-in Temple. Shiki has 200 kimono, and you can choose which one you want to wear.

Sample Plans

■Maiko Studio Photography Plan

Cost: 9,975 yen

Time required: two hours and ten minutes

・Contents: twelve poses taken in the studio, and a photo book containing twelve pages

■Maiko Stroll Plan

Cost: 13,000 yen

Time required: two and a half hours

・Contents: twelve poses taken in the studio, a stroll lasting an hour, and a photo book containing twelve pages

■Samurai Plan (for men)

Cost: 8,500 yen

Time required: one hour and 50 minutes

・Contents: twelve poses taken in the studio, and a photo book containing twelve pages

Information

Address: 351-16, Masuya-cho, Kodaiji-Minamimon, Higasiyama-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN

Access: a five-minute walk from the city bus stop “Kiyomizu-michi”

Tel: 075-531-2777 Fax: 075-533-2244

E-mail: info@maiko-henshin.com

HP: http://www.maiko-henshin.com/index2.html

Shiki also has two branches, Sakura and Kitano.

☆Sakura

The first branch is located in Gion. You can take a walk around Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Sanjusangen-do, and Kenninji Temple. Sakura has 150 kimono, and you can choose which one you want to wear.

Sample Plans

■Maiko Sakura Plan

Cost: 6,500 yen

Time required: one hour and 50 minutes

・Contents: two poses taken in the studio, and an album containing two pages

■Maiko Studio Photography Plan

Cost: 8,900 yen

Time required: two hours

・Contents: six poses taken in the studio, and an album containing six pages

■Samurai Plan (for men)

Cost: 6,500 yen

Time required: one hour and 20 minutes

・Contents: two poses taken in the studio, and an album containing two pages

Information

Address: Building-Shiki, 110-9 Tatsumi-cho, Todaiji-Matubara noboru, Higasiyama-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN

Access: the shop is front of the city bus stop “Kiyomizu-Michi”

Tel: 075-533-6666 Fax: 075-533-6667

E-mail and HP are the same as the main office

☆Kitano

The second branch of Shiki is located near Kinkakuji Temple. Nearby are Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine and Ryoanji Temple. Kitano has 150 kimono, too, and you can choose which one you want to wear. The plans available at Kitano branch are almost the same as the main office, Shiki.

Address: 54-4, Hiranotoriimachi-Cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN

Access: Near the city bus stop “Wara-Tenjin-Mae”

Tel: 075-462-3777 Fax: 075-462-1117

E-mail and HP are the same as the main office

※If you want to dress up as a geiko, you have to pay an additional 2,100 yen.

★Maika

The shop is located near Kyoto Station. Maika has 400 kimono, and you can choose which one you want to wear.

Sample Plans

■Okigaru Plan

Cost: 6,500 yen

Time required: one hour

・Contents: two pictures, and free photography in the shop

※If you want to dress up as geiko, you have to pay an additional 1,500 yen.

■Aoi Plan

This is the most popular plan in this shop!

Cost: 13,650 yen

Time required: one hour and a half

・Contents: four pictures, 60 minutes’ free photography, and a 30-minute stroll from the shop to Ebisu Shrine

■Miyako Plan

Cost: 15,750 yen

Time required: one hour and 45 minutes

・Contents: four pictures, 60 minutes’ free photography in the shop, and a 45-minute stroll from the shop to Kenninnji Temple

■Okigaru Samurai Plan

Cost: 6,500 yen

Time required: one hour

・Contents: two pictures, 60 minutes’ free photography in the shop

■Shinsen-Gumi Plan

Cost: 12,600 yen

Time required: one hour and 20 minutes (max.)

・Contents: two pictures, and 60 minutes’ free photography in the shop

Information

Address: 4-297, Miyagawa-suji, Shijo-kudaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN

Access: a three-minute walk from the station “Gion-Shijo,” on the Keihan line or a five-minute walk from the station “Shijo-Kawaramachi,” on the Hankyu line

Tel: 075-551-1661

HP: http://www.maica.tv/index.htm

★Maikozaka