Just arrived in Nara, and we are super blessed with some pleasant sunny weather at 24 degrees Celsius!

This morning, before leaving Kyoto, we checked out from our hotel and put our baggage in a coin locker at Kyoto Station. We then conveniently enjoyed breakfast with coffee at Kyoto Station before taking the bus to Gion, the famous district where all the geisha and maiko walk around. We were, however, way too early to see them in the morning, but we enjoyed walking through the streets of Gion just the same. It’s important to note that it’s rude to take pictures of geishas and maikos without permission.

I am sure you have heard of geishas before; perhaps you are less familiar with maikos. As always, I am happy to share some Japanese cultural insights!

Geishas

• Role: Geishas are highly trained professionals who entertain guests with traditional Japanese music, dance, and conversation. They often perform at ochaya (tea houses) or high-end restaurants. Their skills include playing musical instruments like the shamisen, singing, and dancing. They also engage patrons with intellectual conversation and traditional Japanese games.
• Appearance: Geishas wear elegant, subtle kimono with simpler hairstyles compared to maikos. They are known for their dignified style and grace, focusing on understated beauty, usually marked by white face makeup and red and black accents.
• Training: Geishas undergo many years of training in various traditional arts. They start as maikos, and once they gain mastery and maturity, they transition into full-fledged geishas, usually in their 20s.

Maikos

• Role: A maiko is an apprentice geisha, usually between the ages of 15 and 20. Their primary role is to learn the arts and customs of a geisha, often performing more youthful, vibrant dances while they train in music, etiquette, and social interactions.
• Appearance: Maikos are known for their elaborate and colorful attire. They wear vivid kimono with long sleeves (furisode) and distinctive obi (belts). Their hairstyles are more ornate, often featuring decorative hairpieces called kanzashi, and they wear heavier, more intricate makeup compared to geishas, including red and white accents on their faces and lips.
• Training: A maiko’s apprenticeship typically lasts about five years. During this time, they live in okiya (geisha houses) and receive training in various Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, flower arranging, and calligraphy.

Geishas and maikos are often misunderstood as simply “performers” or “entertainers,” but their role in Japanese culture is much deeper, embodying the grace and elegance of Japan’s traditional arts. Despite the decline in the number of geishas due to modernization, they remain an iconic part of Japan’s cultural heritage, especially in districts like Gion in Kyoto.

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