Transform into a Maiko and Samurai - Couple Plan

【OUTLINE】

Take pictures of you and your partner as a Maiko and Samurai! 

Transform into a Maiko and Samurai in a real teahouse  (the place where Geiko entertains their guests) in the Gion district which is established in the Taisho Era (1912-1926). 

The main sightseeing spots in Kyoto Higashiyama are within a 10-minute walk so when you leave the teashop, you can see the Kyoto-like townscape.

You don't need to prepare anything. Please leave everything to us.

You will receive four 2L-size (127×178 mm) photos, and a USB containing all the data.

【HIGHLIGHTS】

• Change into a beautiful Maiko and a cool Samurai
  
• Have your pictures taken in a tatami room in a Japanese house.
• Receive four 2L-size (127×178 mm) photos, and a USB containing all the data.
  

【SCHEDULE】 

Arrival→Turn into a Maiko・Samurai→Photography・Free photography→Pick up・Receive the album→End

【DETAILS】

We are located only a 1-minute walk away from the South Romon gate of the Yasaka Shrine. We are a teahouse in the Gion district, established in Taisho Era (1912-1926). The main sightseeing spots are within a 10-minute walk from the shop. When you come to the shop you will be immediately turned into a Maiko and a Samurai. Women will put on special underwear for a kimono and then Japanese makeup will follow. And last you can change into your favorite gorgeous kimono. You can then select a Japanese hair ornament that matches your style. Men can choose their favorite kimono and obi and turn into a cool samurai. The photoshoot is in a tatami room in a Japanese house. Our professional and experienced photographer will take the best photos of you. You can take pictures with a traditional red umbrella together. After the photoshoot with the photographer has ended, your makeup, clothes, and wig will be taken off. Receive the album and that is all for the experience.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：2 hours
• Meeting point：Gion AYA
  499-8, Shimogawara, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
  
• Access：
  【Taxi】（recommended）
  From Kyoto station, it takes around 15 minutes. (1,200 yen）Let the driver knows that you want to go to Ryotei Hamasaku.
  【Train】
  1.  Take the number 7 exit at Keihan Honsen Gion Shijo station and take the Shijo-dori Street in the direction of the Yasaka Shrine.
  2.  At the intersection in front of the Yasaka shrine, cross the street in the direction of the Gion Koban (Police box) and turn left. Cross the crosswalk in front of Tsuruha drug store in the direction of the Yasaka Shrine. 
  3．Turn right in front of the Yasaka shrine and walk 100 meters. Turn left at Hotel Sunline and walk 100 meters.
  4．Turn right in front of Cafe Jouvencelle and walk 35 meters. Turn left on the road between the Japanese-style confectionery shop and Ryotei Hamasaku and the shop is on your left side.
• Language support：Japanese, English
  
• Included ：
  ・Kimono rental
  ・Hair and makeup (women only)
  ・One Japanese hair ornament (women only)
  ・Photography
  ・Four 2L-size pictures
  ・USB
  
• Excluded ：Makeup products to use after the Maiko makeup is removed (Women only)     
  
• Participation requirements ：
  ・10 years and above (Both Men/Women)
  ・Height：145㎝ and above (Both Men/Women)
  ・Gender：1 female (maiko), 1 male (samurai) 
• Free Wi-Fi ：Yes

【FUN FACTS】

The job of a Maiko is to entertain guests with traditional arts such as singing, dancing, playing the shamisen, etc., in the "go-kagai" (5 geisha quarters) in Kyoto. It is the training period of a "Geiko" (a geisha in Kyoto), and after 5 years of training as a Maiko, she can turn into a Geiiko. Originally, in the Edo period, there was a teahouse in Higashiyama where the Yasaka Shrine is. Women who worked at the teahouse sang songs and performed for the visitors to the temples and shrines and people traveling on the road.  In accordance with the strict tradition of the geisha world around Gion, they are still working.  But most of the Maiko you will see on the street may be tourists dressed up. Even the locals rarely see Maiko, so if you see one you are really lucky. Besides Kyoto, there are also other places where women entertain their guests, but the names Geiko and Maiko are only used in Kyoto.

【NEARBY AREA INtRODUCTION】 

The shrine in the Higashiyama area is famous for holding the Gion Festival. It is the headquarters of Yasaka Shrines and the affiliated 2,300 shrines all over Japan that enshrine the Shinto god,  Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The shrine is also called "Gion-san" endearingly. They say it was founded in 656 by Irishi, the messenger from Goguryeo, Korea. The number of worshipers during the first 3 days of the New Year exceeds 1 million, second in Kyoto after Fushimi Inari Shrine. You can also visit the shrine at night. Here you find the main building built in Gion style (covering the main hall and the hall of worship with one roof).  It houses the Antivivisectionist Shrine with natural spring water that will make your face and heart pretty and also the Okuninushi-sha Shrine, the gods of marriage.

【CANCELLATION POLICY】 

7 to 4 days before the tour date 40% of the tour price
3 to 2 days before the tour date 60% of the tour price
The day before the tour date, on the day of the tour 100% of the tour price