This article explains you about the details of the biggest dance event - Miyako no Nigiwai and other major dance stage events such as Miyako odori in Kyoto (location, traffic, how to book, ticket price and all).

Many of these events are quite popular thus please pay attention to the details and also try to get the latest information (if you are reading this after 2018!).

<<Interested in authentic Japanese Kimono? Find out how to get it from Japan!>>

Maiko/Geiko performance taking place on 24 and 25 June, 2017 in Kyoto, which is a collaboration and the biggest event of Maikos from 5 major Maiko/Geiko districts in Kyoto (which we address in a later section below).

It is called " Miyako no Nigiwai (都の賑い in Japanese)".  For this event, 20 Maiko carried the first practice for this event on 2nd of June for 2016. The practice shall begin around the same time 2017 too. 

The event boasts as many as 80 Maiko and Geiko on stage dancing and playing Japanese traditional musics based on the seasonal flower.

It is 24th time since its establishment.

The venue is at Shunju-za of Kyoto Art Theater (details below)

 (Note: Please be careful not to go to the wrong places such as the usual venue, Minami-za theatre till 2015. And the 2016 venue, Kobu Kaburen-jo. )

Ticket sale starts on 21st of March, 2017 

Date: 24 and 25 June, 2017

Price: 6000JPY seat, 8000JPY seat and 13000JPY seat depending on the type

Time: 11:00am and 14:30

Location:  Shunju-za of Kyoto Art Theater (" 京都芸術劇場　春秋座 Kyoto Geijutsu Gekijo Shuju-za " it is in the Kyoto university of Art and Design)

Address: 2-116 Kitashirakawa Uryūzanchō, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 606-8271

Contact: +81 75 561 3901

You take at JR Kyoto station, the city bus No. 3 toward Kitashirakawa Kamihatecho ( 市バス上終町3系統／上終町京都造形芸術大学行 ). Get off at Kamihatecho-Kyoto-zokei-geidai mae (上終町京都造形芸大前 in JP). It is around 15 min bus ride then you walk around 10 mins.

After the dance events, this year will see the dinner events with Maiko and Geisha over dinner.

Event name: 五花街の夕べ / Gokagai no Yube/Dinner of Gokagai

24th of June 18:30-20:30

38,000 JPY per person

Venue: Hyotei, Kikunoi, Okazaki Tsuruya, Hiiragiya, Sumiya (all of which are notable old restaurants and ryokans in Kyoto)

25th of June 18:30-20:30

20,000 JPY per person

Venue: Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto (book it at its best rate!)

Even if you could not get this special event ticket, there are several other Maiko and Geisha dance event as Miyao Odori and Kyo Odori etc. as below.

There are 5 major Maiko/Geisha districts in Kyoto. Each area has an organization which arranges the Maiko dance events more or less two occasions (in spring and autumn) every year.

These five district organizations and the major annual dance events are as below:

The "Gion" district. Around Yasaka Jinja shrine

Dance style: Inoue-ryu

Annual dance Event

Spring: Miyako Odori 都をどり (details in the next section)

Autumn: Onshukai 温習会

Official website

TEL: + 81 75 561-1115

East side of Kamo river between Shijo and Gojo.

Dance style: Wakayagi-ryu

Annual dance Event

Spring: Kyo Odori 京おどり (details in the next section)

Autumn: Mizue-kai みずゑ会

Official website

TEL: + 81 75 561-1154

The area surrounede by Kamo river, Kiyamachi, Sanjo and Shijo.

Dance style: Onoe-ryu

Annual dance Event

Spring: Kamogawa Odori 鴨川をどり (details in the next section)

Autumn: Suimei-kai 水明会

Official website

TEL: + 81 75221-2025

Around Kitano-tenmangu shrine

Dance style: Hanayagi-ryu

Annual dance Event

Spring: Kitano Odori 北野をどり (details in the next section)

Autumn: Kotobuki-kai 寿会

Official website

TEL: + 81 75 461-0148

Used to be part of Gion-Kobu. The north part of Gion Kobu slit to be Gion Higashi in 1881. Around Yasaka area.

Dance style: Fujima-ryu

Annual dance Event

Autumn: Gion odori 祇園をどり(No spring show except for Miyako no Nigiwai. Details in the next section)

Official website

TEL: + 81 75 561-0224

So these five districts have their own Maiko/Geiko dance stages. Let us go through more details one by one as follows.

Miyako Odori

The theater also serves as the event venue for "Miyako Odori dance performance" for April every year. 

Miyako Odori event started in 1872. When the capital of Japan moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, Kyoto locals wanted to preserve the Kyoto culture and started this event as a part of effort.

Time: 1st of April Sat - 23rd of April Sun (except for 10th and 17th of April), 2017

Ticket price: 3500JPY and 4600JPY (with tea ticket)

3 shows a day (45 mins each)

each show starts at 13:00, 14:45 and 16:30

Location: Shunju-za of Kyoto Art Theater (" 京都芸術劇場　春秋座 Kyoto Geijutsu Gekijo Shuju-za " it is in the Kyoto university of Art and Design) Their traditional theater is under renovation.  

See the seat arrangement (in Japanese)

How to book (ticket sale started as of Feb, 2017)

There are two ways:

From web: You can book the ticket from this official website. 

or 

Call:  +81 75 541 3391 (10:00AM- 17:00 JST)

Check the direction mentioned above in the Miyako no Nigiwai section

Kyo Odori Maiko dance event

The great Maiko Geiko dance taking place at Miyagawa Kaburen jo in Shijo

Time: Certain period of Every April

e.g. 1st Sat - 16th Sun of April, 2017

3 shows a day (around 60 min each)

First seat 4200JPY or 4800JPY with tea ticket

Second seat 2200JPY or 2800JPY with  tea ticket

How to book Kyo Odori

There are three ways

1) Call up

Tel.　+ 81 75-708-2306

The contact window open only during certain time in March

e.g. 15th-24th of March, in 2017

10:30AM-16:30 JST on weekday

You need bank transfer within 4 days after the application

You will receive the temporal ticket by post

2) Online

You fill in the form and you will receive a temporal ticket in PDF which you need to print out and bring to the theater. (as of Feb, 2017, not working)

or 

3) Through travel agencies

Just talk to Japanese travel agencies like JTB, KNT, H.I.S.

From 2nd Feb, 2017 the sales started.

Walk for 15 mins from Gion Shijo station (Keihan Line) or walk for 20 mins from Kawaramachi station of Hankyu line

Kamogawa Odori

This dance event started in 1872 (Meiji 5). The event consists of two parts: 1. stage theatre (story) and 2. dance show. The event period is one of the longest.

Show runs 3 times a day

Time: 1st of May-24th of May, 2017

4800JPY, 4200JPY and 2300JPY depending on type of seat

How to book 

There are two ways

1) Call up (Sale start: 3rd of April, 2017)

Tel.　+ 81 75-221‐2025

After call, you need bank transfer

You will receive the temporal ticket by post

You bring the temporal ticket to the theatre and get the official ticket (the window opens one hour before the show).

or

2) Through travel agencies (Sale start: 10th of Jan, 2017)

Just talk to Japanese travel agencies like JTB, KNT, H.I.S.

Alternatively, you can also buy the ticket on the day of the show. (But the ticket sells out quickly.) The ticket sale starts at 10:00AM before the show.

For details, check the website of Pontocho

Walk for 5 mins from Sanjo Keihan line station or Sanjo Tozai subway line station

Dancers of Kamishichiken did a parody of PPAP, Pen-Geiko-Maiko-Pen.

Kitano Odori

Started in 1952. Usually last for 14 days from March till April. It signals the start of spring season in Kyoto. 

Very close (3 min walk) to Kitano Tenmangu shrine (from JR Kyoto station, you take bus no. 50 or 101, then get off at Kitanotenmangu mae or Kamishichiken)

Time: 25th of March-7th of April, 2017

4800JPY, 4300JPY depending on type of seat 

How to book 

There are two ways

1) Fax

Print out and fill in then send this pdf form to  (application deadline by 10th of March, 2017)

Tel.　+ 81 75 461 0149

After the acceptance, you transfer money by bank within 7 days. After the payment, you will get the temporal ticket which you get the official one on the day of show at their theater.

or 

2) Web format (only for Japan domestic application)

Apply from here

Aki no odori is performed by the same group for Miyako Odori

Aki no odori

Aki means "autumn" in Japanese.

Location:  Shunju-za of Kyoto Art Theater (details below)

Time: 1st of Oct - 6th of Oct 

stage from 16:00 (gate opens at 15:30)

The show lasts for 2 - 2.5 hour.

Price: 8500JPY 

How to book

You book ticket online from this link

Contact: +81 75‐561-1115

Kotobuki kai

Kotobuki means "happiness" in Japanese.

Location: Kamishichiken

Very close (3 min walk) to Kitano Tenmangu shrine (from JR Kyoto station, you take bus no. 50 or 101, then get off at Kitanotenmangu mae or Kamishichiken)

Time: 8th of Oct - 12th of Oct 

1st stage from 13:00 2nd stage from 16:00 

Price: 8000JPY 

How to book

You book ticket online from this link

Contact: +81 75‐461-0148

Mizue kai

Location:  Miyagawa Kaburen jo in Shijo

Time: 12th of Oct - 15th of Oct 

1st stage from 13:00 2nd stage from 16:00 

Price: 8000JPY and 4000JPY depending on seat, and 2000JPY (student with a valid certificate e.g. student ID) 

How to book

You book by fax filling in this form

Contact: +81 75‐531-1226 (FAX)

Suimei kai

Location:  Pontocho Kaburen jo

Time: 19th of Oct - 22nd of Oct 

Stage from 16:00 (gate opens at 15:30)

Price: 8000JPY and 7000JPY depending on seat (with reservation ), and 3000JPY (no reservation)

How to book

You book by tel or web form in this link 

Contact: +81 75‐221-2025 

Gion odori

Location: Gion Kaikan (close to Yasaka shrine)

Time: 1st of Nov - 10th of Nov 

1st stage from 13:30, 2nd stage from 16:00

One show lasts for 1 hour

Price: 4500JPY (with tea etc.) and 4000JPY depending on the type of seat.

( Tea ticket is 500JPY. Brochure is 500JPY.)

How to book

Ticket sale starts on 27th Oct at Gion-Kaikan (11:00AM-16:00) 

Contact: +81 75 561 0224

Walk for 30 mins from Gion Shijo station of Keihan line. There are usually big crowd in the Shijo street toward Yasaka shrine which slows you down.

<<Interested in authentic Japanese Kimono? Find out how to get it from Japan!>>

Do you know you can also meet Geisha/Maiko in Tokyo area? Do you want to meet Geisha/Maiko event in Tokyo area?

We have a special connection with the traditional Geisha/Maiko house where English speaking Geisha/Maiko attend.

Even for your event in your country, we can arrange a Japanese art performer such as Geisha/Maiko dance group, Taiko drum group, Ninja/Samurai sword performance etc.

Let us know if interested.

More articles for you to enjoy:

There are traditional Maiko/geisha houses - Okiya - offering an occasion where you can enjoy the time with real Maiko and Geisha.

Want to know more places for the great photos in Japan? For example, Toshima island with so many flowers. Please check this out!

Have you heard of "Shark islands" and want to know how to get there, please click here!

Onegai Kaeru wants you to enjoy Japan trip.

If you are looking for more traveler"s info and can not find one, please let us know. We will try to help you with Japan Traveler Help Service (we work on hourly charge to arrange, book, find info you need). Feel free to contact us!

Onegai Kaeru, a group of passionate travelers, bring happiness to the world with its shopping support service and original super cute items!

Source: Miyako Odori official page, Yomiuri News, Sankei News, each Maiko district official page

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.