4 recommended courses of Dinner with Geisha in Kyoto

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Mayu Inayama

I am a student at a university in Kyoto, Japan. My hobby is travelling, and on my days off I go out and visit various places. I will use my own experiences to provide a variety of tourist information on this website!

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• 4 recommended courses of Dinner with Geisha in Kyoto - 2023/11/14

Geishas are one of the best parts of culture in Kyoto. Did you know that you can have dinner with geisha?

In this article, we would like to introduce three recommended courses that will help you when considering dinner with geisha. Dining with geisha and watching them perform will be a wonderful and valuable opportunity for you!

If you are looking for a special experience when you visit Kyoto in Japan, this article will be very helpful.

About Geisha

Geisha is a woman who entertains guests by dancing and playing musical instruments. They have a distinctive hairstyle and make-up, and wear beautiful kimonos. Most people start their career as geisha at the age of 15, and they are found all over Japan.

Also, they have existed in Kyoto for about 300 years and Kyoto has the longest history of it in Japan. There are currently around 250 geishas in Kyoto.

Geishas are masters of hospitality and artists who preserve and pass on traditional Japanese culture. With an increasing number of guests coming from abroad these days, they have a major role to play in passing on Japanese culture to the world and to future generations.

Movie which introduce about Geisha↓

Manners of having dinner with geisha

In Japan people say “Itadakimasu” before eating and ”Gochisosama ” after eating. Also, they use chopsticks and have to handle dishes with care. It is best not to leave as much of the meal as possible. You don’t need to wear formal clothing, but revealing clothing is not appropriate for dining with geisha.

If you would like to learn more about Japanese dining etiquette, you can also watch the following video of YouTube!

Movie of Japanese table manner↓

What do you do at dinner with a geisha?

Eat Kyoto cuisine and kaiseki dishes

Meals with geisha are often served with Kyoto ryori or kaiseki cuisine.

Kyo-ryori is prepared using traditional techniques based on dashi, which is a synthesis of the five elements of Japanese cuisine that have formed part of Kyoto’s history. Another feature of kaiseki-ryori is that it is prepared, served and presented in an elegant setting.

Kaiseki-ryori is a simple dish served at tea ceremonies before tea is served. Kaiseki cuisine expresses the wabi and sabi, the spirit of the tea ceremony, and is based on the three main principles of using seasonal ingredients, utilizing the natural flavor of the ingredients, and treating guests with care. Kaiseki cuisine is based on ‘ichiju sansai’ (one soup and three vegetables), with rice and soup served at the beginning of the meal. As these dishes are intended to quell hunger before tea is served, they tend to be moderate in quantity and avoid strong flavors, fried foods and showy decorations.

Watching dances and performances

The guests enjoy a meal and watch the geisha dance and perform.

For geisha, the tatami room is also a place where they show their guests how much they have developed by performing the dances and playing the instruments they have usually practiced.

The geisha wear beautiful kimonos and dance brilliantly to the sounds of the shamisen and drums.

ozashiki-asobi(playing with geisha in the tatami room)

Games created using methods and things that can be played with only what is available in the tatami room are called ozashiki-asobi. For example, there are many variations of games using rock-paper-scissors. Other games include those using the shamisen and skits.

Customers and geisha play a variety of games on the tatami while having a pleasant conversation with each other.

Movie of dinner with geisha↓

Comparison of 3 recommended courses of Dinner with Geisha in Kyoto

Here are three recommended courses.

See the table below for a comparison of content of the 3 different courses!

①Private Kyoto Dinner with a Geisha

This course includes a private meal with a geisha and a tour of Gion.
Reservations can be made via the VIATOR website and cost approximately 37000 yen per person.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Kyoto/Private-Dinner-with-a-Geisha/d332-39825P8?SSAID=740404&aid=sas0_132440_740404&mcid=43009&rel=sponsored&SSAIDDATA=SSCID%5Fa1k7%5Fqrx98

②Mesmerizing Dinner with Maiko & Geisha

This course offers the opportunity to enjoy a meal with a Geisha at a lower price, as it is not private.
Reservations can be made via the VIATOR website and are priced at approximately 22000 yen per person.

http://Mesmerizing Dinner with Maiko & Geisha

③Private Geisha dinner in Kyoto

This course allows you to tailor your plan to your budget and wishes.
Reservations can be made via the Miyako from Japan website and price depends on the course ordered.

https://www.miyakojapan.com/exclusive-geisha-experience

Comparison list of 3 recommended courses of dinner with Geisha in Kyoto

UTAGE KAIGAI(Most recommended course of dinner with Geisha)

About UTAGE KAIGAI

So far, we have introduced three recommended courses – have you found one you would like to experience?

If the pricing on each site is complicated and confusing, or if you are wondering which course to choose in the end, please have a look at the following site, UTAGE KAIGAI !

UTAGE KAIGAI is a course which provide dinner experience with geisha for foreign visitors to Japan.

Prices are determined per number of people and everything you need is included in the price, making it easy to book.

UTAGE KAIGAI

https://www.travel-kyoto-maiko.net/utagekaigai

The table below shows a comparison of courses offered by other companies and UTAGE KAIGAI.

Comparison list of 3 courses and UTAGE KAIGAI

This table shows that UTAGE KAIGAI has a number of advantages over other courses.

UTAGE KAIGAI Photo Gallery

Dinner with Geisha

Enraku, the name of restaurant which UTAGE KAIGAI is held

Dinner Menu

Dance performance of geisha

Conclusion

In this article, we have recommended 4 courses for dinner with a geisha. Have you found a course you would like to experience?

Geisha have their roots in Kyoto, where they have a history of around 300 years.

If you want to feel the Kyoto-like atmosphere, we recommend experiencing a dinner with a geisha in an atmospheric setting! It will be a unique, special and precious experience for you.

Thank you for reading the article to the end！