Living The Fantasy...Geisha For A Day #11
We were in Kyoto, Japan last month visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a magnificent Buddhist temple registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list and one of the "must see" Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
As we were climbing the steps to the brilliant orange Deva gate it was hard not to get swept into the action taking place in front of us. It was geisha selfie time.
There are not to many occasions where you would catch me taking photos of other tourists but on this occasion I could not resist. Where else would you see tourists living the fantasy, dressed as Japanese geisha's for the day…and taking a group selfie?
I learned a few things about geisha's on this trip. Firstly, they still exist. I thought it was a tradition that was long forgotten but apparently, not so in Kyoto, the birthplace of geisha culture. If you are looking to do a bit of geisha spotting, Gion, a historic district of Kyoto is the place to go.
Let me back up a bit. First off, seeing a geisha ( also known as geiko and geigi) is a rarity and it mostly occurs in the early evening hours as they make their way to work at the local tea house (ochaya) where they entertain guests (mostly male) by serving tea, playing traditional Japanese music, dancing, playing geisha games, make polite conversation and a host of other activities.
Interestingly, before women are selected for the honour of being a geisha, they must first train as a maiko. A position that requires up to five years of rigorous training in traditional Japanese arts, such as tea ceremony, flower arranging, Japanese traditional music and dance. I get exhausted just thinking about it.
Maiko training starts as young as 15 years of age with the hopes of becoming a full-fledged geisha's after the age of 20..if and only if they prove themselves to be proficient in the art and service areas mentioned above.
If you are around Gion looking for a snap of a geisha than you need to know the difference between the two. Maiko will often have decorations like flowers in their hair, geisha's will not. The maiko's kimono belt (obi) is long and falls to the full length of the kimono. The geisha belt is square shaped and sits firmly at on her back. Big difference!
Their make-up and the way they carry themselves is a dead giveaway that you are photographing the real deal…they have a regal air about them. They are working and swiftly move along (as quickly as a kimono will allow) to where ever they need to go. If they stop for photos and are generally hanging about, soaking in the paparazzi like atmosphere, chances are they are tourists. Many are from Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taiwan.
Dressing up as a geisha or maiko for the day is big business. A tourist arriving to Kyoto can find a studio that will provide the full geisha and maiko transformations including make-up, hairstyling and ornamental kimonos. It is not uncommon to see geisha tourists walking the streets of Gion with a trailing photographer taking a series of pre-arranged glamour shots.
If you plan to travel to Kyoto and would like to get in on the action, try Geisha Experience-Maiko Henshin. You will be offered a choice of plans.. indoor studio shoot, strolling shoot, outdoor shoot, head shop special, white kimono, school trip, child maiko and for the men..the samurai shoot. I am still trying to imagine Mr. H dressed as a samurai. ;)
Price vary from 4,600 yen (USD $40.00) for the School Trip Plan to 48,000 yen (USD $400.00) for the White Kimono Plan.
Based on what I was seeing around Kyoto..it is a lot of fun.
I did my own trailing and this is what I managed to shoot of the "geisha-for a day" crowd...
If you would like to learn more about the geisha experience…you can refer to the following links.
How to meet with a Geisha in Kyoto Geisha hunting in Kyoto: 7 things to know before going to Gion Japan Guide to Gion Dress Like a Geisha in Kyoto at MAICA Maiko-Henshin Studio Shiki
As for the original point of the visit, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, it was amazing!
More on that in a future post!
With that I say ARIGATO (thank you) OYASUMINASAI (good night) and BAI BAI (bye)
Signing off…with post #11 of the 28 Day Writing Challenge From Shangri-La Hong Kong time
28 Day Writing Challenge
Posts to Date
click on title to read
#1 A 28 Day Writing Challenge # 2 Morning Rituals and Being Still #3 Building a Dream House...Tahilla Farm #4 Rolling Merrily Along
#5 The Night Owl
#6 Making Friends...in your 50's
#7 A Lotus Love Thank You # 8 What's your vote? #9 Happy Trails…Tahilla Farm #10 An Orchid, Winslow Homer and Intrigue #11 Living The Fantasy…Geisha For A Day
All photos above taken by me while playing trailing photographer in Kyoto.
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