4. Stalk Geishas and Maiko in Kyoto
Gion, a neighbourhood of Kyoto, is the most likely place to spot geisha, or geiko as they are sometimes called in Kyoto dialect. A real treat, even for Japanese people, is to see a maiko – the apprentice geisha. You can tell the difference because maiko wear shoes with taller platforms and more elaborate makeup and kimono.
Many tourists lurk in Gion around 7pm hoping to see a geisha running from her home to a taxi. But the best time to get a good, long look at one of these mysterious entertainers is at the Gion Matsuri festival.
There are many different events involved in the festival, but the parade is the highlight. The floats are totally man-powered, with long ropes being pulled by lines of traditionally-clad men. Some floats measure six metres high and they are beautifully decorated.
The popularity of the parade through Gion is not lost on the geisha and maiko who also come out to watch the parade, then end up as a spectacle themselves as Japanese people and tourists alike rush to capture them, if only on film.
For more information about the Gion Matsuri, visit the Japan National Tourist Organization, or read my article “Kyoto festival gives glimpse of bygone Japan” on Straight.com.
3. See Snow Monkeys Bathe in Hot Springs»
2. Get Naked with Strangers
1. Attend a Penis Festival
