maiko

Tourist ban now in effect in Kyoto’s Gion geisha district…but are visitors obeying the rules?

A recent video of a maiko being chased by a tourist in Gion proves why the ban is necessary.

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Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules

Historic area wants foreign visitors to know it’s not a theme park.

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Apprentice geisha fire drill in Kyoto leaves Internet charmed and chuckling【Video】

”Kaji dosu!”

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Resi Stay Nishiki hotel in Kyoto adds a special Maiko Hello Kitty room for tourists with taste

The room is fully kitted out with unique kimono-clad Kitty art.

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Drink with a Japanese geisha at an online drinking party

Now you don’t even have to be in Japan to spend time with a geisha. 

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Ninja and geisha green tea cats are here to keep you company during your at-home tea time

A spot of traditional culture to go with your spot of tea.

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Kyoto’s popular tourist spot Gion to forbid photos on private roads, 10,000 yen fine to violators

Trespassing of both property and people have led to this development.

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Beautiful line of Kimono Pouches let you add traditional Japanese style to any outfit

Authentic materials recreate the fashions of apprentice geisha, oiran courtesans, and even bridal kimono.

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Kyoto hotel’s Maiko-han Bar event lets travelers drink with geisha at amazingly affordable prices

Foreign guests welcome at lobby lounge function that sidesteps the cost and pretense of orthodox geisha services.
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Can a simple plastic bottle cure you of armpit sweat?

An easy trick rooted in Japanese tradition claims to be able to curb embarrassing pit stains and the social ills they cause.

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Dress up as a shrine priestess in the comfort of your own home, with one-piece miko loungewear

Comfy loungewear or cute cosplay… Why not both?

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10 things you didn’t know about geisha

We’ve talked before about geisha as one of Japan’s distinctly female professions, so this time we’re going to share with you a few fun facts about the geisha and their floating world.

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Pokémon Centers around Japan celebrate the opening of Kyoto branch with commemorative goods

Imperial court noble Pikachu, maiko Pikachu, and a Shiny Ho-Oh download are some of the exciting gifts now available around Japan!

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New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu

In Kyoto, Pikachu wears a kimono with a Ho-Oh design and a Vivillion-adorned hair accessory.

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Hardcore dancing geisha show the world how to be elegant and badass at the same time【Video】

Sophistication and sass are not mutually exclusive.

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Kyoto has had enough of rude tourists, created an infographic to show how to visit politely

With thousands of temples, beautiful gardens, geisha and maiko (geisha-in-training), and more history than you can shake an encyclopedia at, Kyoto is the place to be when visiting Japan. So with so many tourists from around the world crowding into the city, a few are bound to step out of line.

Thankfully TripAdvisor Japan created a handy infographic showing how to politely visit Kyoto. Kyotoites are understandably protective of their city and its cultural and historical treasures, and some will not hesitate to correct you if you’re doing something rude or wrong. So to be sure that everyone is on the same page, here are a few simple rules to keep in mind when you visit this wonderful city.

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The quintessential Kyoto experience: becoming a maiko for the day! 【Pics & video】

They say that it’s rare to see a real maiko walking the streets of Kyoto, since these artists usually work at night and live in their own secluded world, far from the rest of Japanese society. In fact, if you spot a maiko strolling around Gion during the day, there’s a good chance she’s a tourist who’s undergone a fabulously elaborate makeover.

We took our Japan Wish competition winner Ashley to a studio in Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood to have a maiko-over and be transformed in an amazing process that yielded completely stunning results. Ashley was able to choose her own kimono and obi sash, and as part of the deal she was treated to a professional photography session and the opportunity to take a stroll around the streets of Gion in full maiko garb!

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Maiko beauty secrets: Skincare tips from Japan’s apprentice geisha

Just as with full-fledged geisha, it’s customary for maiko, as geisha apprentices are known, to wear a layer of white face powder, called oshiroi. But those who’ve seen one of Japan’s traditional entertainers close up often marvel at their smooth, healthy skin, remarking that they would be just as beautiful with all of those cosmetic coverings washed away.

But in much the same way that their polished speech and refined mannerisms are the result of years of training, maiko also have a careful routine they follow to keep their skin looking as delicate and pleasing to the eye as it does.

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Narita Airport attempts to woo international travellers with ‘Omotenashi’ welcome program

‘Omotenashi’, the spirit of Japanese hospitality, became something of a buzzword at home and abroad when Christel Takigawa used the phrase in her speech to the International Olympic Committee in 2013.

And it’s in this spirit that Tokyo’s Narita airport plans to extend an especially warm welcome to international visitors this year, as it renews its Omotenashi Program of special offers and cultural events for transferring passengers.

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