Dressing up as a Geisha/Maiko in Japan
While visiting Kyoto and Tokyo, I would like to dress up as a Geisha/Maiko and have professional photographs taken (I will be a solo traveler).
So far I have found two studios in Kyoto (one and two) offering various plans including dress-up, photo session, walk and extra prints/CD. They require to make a reservation beforehand and since I will be travelling in July I would like to secure a place in that busy period soon enough.
My questions are - is this experience popular among tourists? Is it actually 'genuine' - I mean are the dress and ornaments accurate or rather adjusted/simplified for ignorant tourists? And finally, has anyone experienced this and can say if it was worth time and money? And is there any useful advice I should know while choosing the studio and price plan? I don't speak Japanese and I'm fine with paying more to have an authentic experience rather than cheap but fake one.
Best Answer
Dressing up as a maiko is a trend. I believe the term for it is "maiko henshin", so if you haven't googled using that term, try doing so.
Regarding "ignorant tourists". Japanese people, as well as foreigners, dress up as maikos - I've seen them blog about it. I think they'd generally be harder to fool if there was fakery going on. On the down side, some studios mainly deal with Japanese people, and have limited English.
Pictures about "Dressing up as a Geisha/Maiko in Japan"
Can you dress up as a geisha in Japan?
To really get under the skin of Asakusa, Tokyo's remaining geisha district, you need to dress-up as a geisha! InsideJapan can arrange for you to get a full geisha makeover including the iconic white make-up, black wig and an elaborate kimono. Professional portrait photos are included; a great souvenir.How do you dress like a maiko?
Maiko likes to wear flower kanzashi that ties into the different seasons or holidays. The final accessories include shoes, a bag, and a fan. A kimono should be worn with a pair of sandals, of either the geta or zori style. The bag chosen is also typically more traditional as well.Is maiko and geisha the same?
The main differences between maiko and geisha (geiko) are age, appearance, and skills. Maiko is usually younger than 20, wears a more colorful kimono with a red collar, and lacks conversation skills. Maiko means \u201cdancing child\u201d which refers to apprentice geisha who are still training.Do geishas bid their virginity?
Geisha are not prostitutes, in the past, the right to take the virginity of a Geisha (mizuage) was sold by the Geisha house. In reality, it was more a sponsorship for the Maiko's training, which was really expensive. Only the very wealthy could pay for this right.Beautiful Kyoto: Being a Maiko (featuring Fukunae-san)
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Answer 2
You can do this in Tokyo as well at at Studio Mon Katsura, they also require a reservation like the ones you mentioned above, but reserving for July you should have no problems.
The kimono are authentic. Though this studio caters heavily to international tourists, they have Japanese guests as well (as stated above).
I would say this experience is popular among tourists that know about it, but most do not. The price tag keeps a number of people from doing it as well, but everyone I know who has done it has been happy with the experience and their pictures have turned out quite nice.
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Images: Ryutaro Tsukata, cottonbro, Ryutaro Tsukata, cottonbro