Geishas and maikos

Maiko-san entering the teahouse. She was walking fast, as a result, blur.

I was out with my friends last Saturday showing them around Kyoto. They were here for a day trip and they had to get back early, so we could only go to a few major places like Kinkakuji, Heian Jingu, Nanzenji and Kiyomizudera. After that we said goodbye and I was on my own for awhile.


Maiko san walking

I was in Gion area and was walking in the Hanamachi area, a district known for its expensive teahouses and restaurants which enlist geishas and maikos to entertain their customers.



These teahouses and restaurants are exclusive. One cannot simply enter without prior invites or knowing contacts. You may the money to afford the meals and be entertained by the geishas and maikos, but without inside contacts, you can kiss that thought goodbye.


Geisha and maiko entering the teahouse

So as I was walking, I passed by this group of tourists, all armed with their cameras waiting in front of this exclusive restaurant/teahouse. I realised soon enough that they were waiting for the geishas and maikos to come to the restaurant. So, hey, I decided to stay and wait for awhile. Why not?


Geisha walking fast into the restaurant

I didn't have to wait long because soon enough, a geisha and maiko came. Their customers were waiting in front of the restaurant and they greeted them with smiles and exchanged brief conversation with them. For us tourists, it was like heaven sent because they paused long enough for us to take pictures of them. Even better, one of their customers asked them to pose for him because he wanted to take a picture of them and they willingly did so. Note: In normal circumstances, geishas and maikos do not stop and pose for any tourists - they usually just walk by fast, never looking at us, never smiling and declining politely if asked to pose. After they had posed for him, they entered the restaurant as fast as they could.


Maiko san from behind

After waiting a little bit more, another geisha and maiko san walked by to enter into the restaurant. Everytime a geisha or maiko walked by, everybody just started shooting and blocking the road, irritating the taxi drivers who had to blast their horns. It was like we were paparazzis snapping pictures of superstars. The geishas and maikos were unfazed, they were used to these sort of attention already. Just wished that they would smile just a little bit for us, though I guess they had to maintain that aura of mystery.


Geisha walking towards the restaurant

Geishas and maikos are different in their way of dressing, make up and of course rank. Maikos are the apprentice to the geishas and as a result have a more youthful outlook, usually with bright colours. Geishas are more elegant.


Geisha and maiko san posing

This is the pose I was talking about earlier, when they were posing for the customer. I had unfortunately used the B&W setting for this picture.