京都烏丸五条観光案内所

It's July. The Gion festival (祇園祭) has begun. At the Iwatoyama (岩戸山) float community where I live, the symbol lanterns are lit at the...

When I was a Maiko (舞妓), a beer garden was held on the roof terrace of Kaburenjo (歌舞練場, Maiko theater) every summer. An old Chinese...

Maiko (舞妓) do not wear Yutaka (浴衣, summer Kimono made of cotton) at Ozashiki (お座敷, Parties with Maiko and Geiko. Work place for Maiko). ...

When I was a Maiko (舞妓), sometimes I was asked what kind of items I carried in my Kago (かご, straw bag). The items I usually carried in my...

When we Maiko (舞妓) get calls from clients, it is referred to as "Aijo". For example, it goes like this: Hey, Beniko, you got an Aijo...

It's May. All Maiko (舞妓) must have been feeling relieved by now after the completion of the busy season of sring dance performance. Their...

I enjoyed a concert of violin & cello at weBase Kyoto located at Iwatoyama-cho (岩戸山町), one of the community of Gion Festival (祇園祭) float....

Ashiarai (足洗い) is an overnight excursion trip for Maiko (舞妓) after the completion of spring dance performance each year. The destination...

Ever since the Heisan (平安) period, Daigoji (醍醐寺) temple is otherwise called as "Temple of Flowers", and I have a particular memory of...

During the training period to become a Maiko (舞妓), we are engaged in a series of very strict lessons, such as manners at Oszashiki (お座敷,...

When I feel like to have a quiet time alone by myself, I often visit a cafe called "Tuki to 6 Pence (月と6ペンス, The Moon and Sixpence)"....

It's still cold everyday, but sometimes, the hints of spring are found everywhere. For example, it's Nanohana (菜の花, canola flowers)....

One freezing day in February, I made a burn on my Kimono (着物) at the hip part. I was sitting too close to the stove, and was so absorbed...

Lately, collecting Goshuin (ご朱印) is in among young people. Long queues of ladies are often seen in front of the receptions of shrines and...

During the Shikomisan (仕込みさん, Maiko trainees) period, we went to Ofuroyasan (お風呂屋さん, public bath) every night since we trainees were...

Geiko (芸妓) promoted from Maiko (舞妓, trainee of Geiko) are called Erikae-san (衿替えさん, Maiko who changed her collar). Nowadays, not a few...

The other day, I enjoyed a course of Kaiseki (会席) cuisine at a long established restaurant called Kinobu (木乃婦). As the picture above...

Happy New Year, everybody! After the New Year's Shigyoshiki (始業式, a ceremony for commencement of the new business season, or a semester),...

A New Year's Eve ceremony is to be held at Byodoin (平等院) temple, where visitors can toll the watch‐night bell with other 4 to 5 visitors....

For Maiko (舞妓), even the New Year's eve, nor the New Year's day, are not officially day-offs. During those holidays, some Ochaya (お茶屋,...