Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ENTERTAINMENT
GION CORNER
OFFLINE MAP
(
ギオンコーナー
; 561-1119; Yasaka Hall, 570-2 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku; nightly 1
Mar-30 Nov, Fri, Sat & Sun from 7pm Dec-Feb; 10min walk from Gion-Shijō Station, Keihan line)
Gion Corner
presents regularly scheduled shows that include a bit of tea ceremony, koto (Japanese zith-
er) music, ikebana (flower arrangement),
gagaku
(court music),
kyōgen
(ancient comic
plays),
kyōmai
(Kyoto-style dance) and
bunraku
(classical puppet theatre). It's geared to a
tourist market and is fairly pricey for what you get.
| THEATRE
KYOTO CUISINE & MAIKO EVENING
OFFLINE MAP
Gion-machi, Higashiyama-ku; Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat; 1min walk from Gion bus stop, bus 206 from Kyoto Sta-
tion; 20min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway line)
If you want to witness geisha perform
and then actually speak with them, one of the best opportunities is at Gion Hatanaka, a
Gion ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) that offers a regularly scheduled evening of elegant
Kyoto
kaiseki
food and personal entertainment by real Kyoto
geiko
(fully fledged geisha)
as well as
maiko
(apprentice geisha).
| GEISHA ENTERTAINMENT
EN
OFFLINE MAP
( 080-3782-2706; 272 Matsubara-chō, Higashiyama-ku; tea ceremony per person ¥2000; 3-6pm, closed Wed;
1min walk from Chion-in-mae bus stop, bus 206 from Kyoto Station)
This is a small tea house near Gion
where you can experience the Japanese tea ceremony with a minimum of fuss or expense.
English explanations are provided and tea ceremonies are held at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm or 6pm
(check the website for latest times, as these may change). Reservations are recommended
in high season. It's a little tricky to find: it's down a little alley off Higashiōji-dōri - look
for the sign just south of Tenkaippin Rāmen.
| TEA CEREMONIES
MINAMI-ZA
OFFLINE MAP
(
南座
; 561-0160; Shijō-Ōhashi; Gion-Shijō Station, Keihan line)
The oldest kabuki theatre in
Japan is the Minami-za theatre in Gion. The major event of the year is the
Kaomise festiv-
al
(1 to 26 December), which features Japan's finest kabuki actors. Other performances
take place on an irregular basis - check with the Tourist Information Center. The most
likely months for performances are May, June and September.
| THEATRE
MIYAKO ODORI
| GEISHA DANCE
