Tea with a Maiko

The traditional neighbourhood of Gion is known to be Kyoto’s main geisha district, where it is still common to see geisha dressed in colourful kimonos darting along the city’s narrow streets as they run errands or attend their evening engagements. 

This afternoon find out more about this world by meeting a maiko, an apprentice geisha, and have tea with her at a local tea house in Gion.The Japanese tea ceremony is a structured ritual where all gestures, movements and even the colours of pottery and sweets have a precise meaning and function, and very little is left to chance.

Explanations of the meanings behind this ancient ritual will be given as the maiko leads the tea ceremony. The surprisingly bitter tea will be accompanied by traditional Japanese sweets, creating that harmonious blend of flavours that is so highly prized in Japan. 

Savour the tea and sweets while enjoying the maiko’s traditional dance performance. 
There will also be some time for an explanation about the history of geisha and maiko, and about their lives in present day Kyoto. 

After this lovely experience, keep exploring the magnificent city of Kyoto, or return to the hotel for some rest and relaxation.