{"id":34206,"date":"2024-11-08T11:32:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T11:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/08\/interview-with-a-geiko\/"},"modified":"2024-11-08T13:58:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T13:58:08","slug":"interview-with-a-geiko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/08\/interview-with-a-geiko\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with a geiko (geisha): overtourism in Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/20240314_022347000_iOS.heic\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/20240314_022347000_iOS.heic\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>As Kyoto, and specifically its geisha district, Gion, becomes more and more popular with foreign visitors, it\u2019s important to understand the impact on geisha themselves.<\/p>\n<p>So, our Japan-based Head of Operations, Tyler, went to find out. He sat down with Tomitsuyu, an experienced <em>geiko<\/em> (to use the Kyoto term) who was born and raised in Kyoto.<\/p>\n<p>Here, Tyler shares the highlights from their conversation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What made you reach out to Tomitsuyu initially?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe media have reported fairly heavily on overtourism in Kyoto, but that narrative doesn\u2019t include voices from the people at the heart of it: the geisha themselves. I had a special opportunity to speak directly with Tomtisuyu one-on-one, and it was such an honour to sit down and hear her honest opinion.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34239\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview.png\" alt=\"Insider Tyler and Tomitsuyu having tea\" width=\"1000\" height=\"877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview.png 1000w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-300x263.png 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-768x674.png 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-900x789.png 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-720x631.png 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-390x342.png 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-780x684.png 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/geiko_interview-510x447.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did Tomitsuyu become a <em>geiko<\/em>?<\/strong><br \/>\nLike many <em>geiko<\/em>, Tomitsuyu started training young, at the age of 15, and she\u2019s now got 12 years\u2019 experience. She told me just how passionate she is about people understanding geisha culture and the traditional arts they learn. <em>Geiko<\/em> spend years perfecting their craft, from dance to playing musical instruments to tea ceremonies. Tomitsuyu emphasised just how much she loves sharing this with visitors; it\u2019s a gateway to understanding traditional Japan better, in real life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What impact have crowds had?<\/strong><br \/>\nI have absolutely noticed more and more people visiting Gion. It\u2019s a compact area within Kyoto, with traditional houses and small streets, so the increase in people does make quite an impact. When I spoke to Tomitsuyu, she had strong views, telling me:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cGion has become too much \u2013 both because of the crowds and the behaviour of tourists. At times, it feels like Gion is Disneyland and I\u2019m Mickey Mouse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Geiko<\/em> are now taking taxis rather than walking the five minutes or so to tea houses, simply to avoid unwanted photos and intense attention. But even when we do this, tourists swarm the cars and bang on windows. They even gather outside our homes, waiting to take photos and videos. It\u2019s intimidating and scary.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her reference to Mickey Mouse really hit home. For me, it highlighted that some people see the area as an amusement park, rather than somewhere people live and work.<\/p>\n<p>Despite all of this, Tomitsuyu was very clear that she still loves meeting people. It\u2019s why she became a <em>geiko<\/em> in the first place, and she\u2019s just keen that tourism is done in the right way.<\/p>\n<p>She also reminded me that it\u2019s not just geisha themselves that benefit from the industry. For example, it also helps kimono designers, hair ornament makers and makers of unique <em>zori<\/em> sandals. It sounds obvious when she says it, but the positive impact of geisha tourism goes beyond the tea houses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How can people see geisha in a responsible and respectful way?<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are lots of ways to meet geisha that offer genuine insight into their traditions \u2013 and I find that these are the experiences that customers really enjoy, anyway! Rather than chasing geisha through the streets to catch a glimpse, it\u2019s much better to sit down and have a two-way conversation, or to see them perform for yourself.<\/p>\n<p>These experiences don\u2019t have to be prohibitively expensive, either.<\/p>\n<p>For example, nearly all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/\">Small Group Tours<\/a> include a private audience with a <em>maiko<\/em> (trainee geisha), which is always really fun and a great chance to ask questions. We also work with a local guide, Junko (whose grandmother was a geisha) who runs a fantastic walking tour through Gion. There\u2019s also the Gion Kagai Museum, where you can see kimono, fans and hair ornaments up close and see <em>maiko<\/em> perform.<\/p>\n<p>When I asked Tomitsuyu, she was positive about these structured visits, telling me: \u201cI support venues where tourists can learn what we do. It\u2019s much better than trying to spot us, like a \u2018rare bird\u2019 on the street.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34230\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu.png\" alt=\"Tyler is speaking to Tomitsuyu, a geisha from Kyoto. They are standing outside, on a traditional street in Gion.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu.png 1000w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-280x300.png 280w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-954x1024.png 954w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-768x824.png 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-900x966.png 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-720x773.png 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-390x418.png 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-780x837.png 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tyler_Tomitsuyu-510x547.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s important to remember when meeting a <em>geiko<\/em>?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy biggest piece of advice would be to enjoy the experience! Geisha genuinely love sharing their skills with visitors, and are very happy to be asked questions \u2013 so don\u2019t be shy. It\u2019s always best to go with a guide who can translate for you, and you can also ask them if you\u2019re worried any of your questions would be inappropriate.<\/p>\n<p>Be open, and you\u2019ll be surprised at where the conversation can take you. Jasmine from our marketing team recently joined a private audience with a <em>maiko<\/em> in Kyoto and loved how the conversation flowed so naturally after the group warmed up. They ended up finding out what the <em>maiko<\/em> did in her free time (turns out, she likes Netflix as much as the next person), and quite surprisingly that she liked rugby &#8211; revealing a secret desire to play scrum half one day!<\/p>\n<p><strong>How should people act to maintain respect for <em>geiko<\/em> at work?<\/strong><br \/>\nTomitsuyu made some practical suggestions that may seem obvious, but I\u2019ve certainly seen people act a bit differently when caught up in the moment in Gion!<\/p>\n<p>If you see a geisha on the street, remember, first and foremost that they are real people, often young women, and overenthusiastic behaviour can be intimidating.<\/p>\n<p>Keep a respectful distance and remember that they are working and may be with clients. Enjoy the moment of beauty rather than taking a photo without permission. And, of course, don\u2019t touch geisha or their kimonos.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, the buildings in geisha districts are homes and places of business, so you can\u2019t just walk in without an appointment. Be careful not to block any entrances or exits, and as with anywhere in Japan, it\u2019s always worth checking for discrete signs \u2013 like a rope around a stone which indicates no entry, or no pictures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Any final thoughts?<\/strong><br \/>\nWe want people to keep travelling to Japan for years to come, adding positively to the areas we visit, rather than negatively impacting them. If you\u2019re curious about how we\u2019re addressing overtourism, you may like to read our co-founder, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/18\/over-tourism-in-kyoto\/\">Alastair\u2019s, blog on overtourism<\/a> in Kyoto.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34206\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! As Kyoto, and specifically its geisha district, Gion, becomes more and more popular with foreign visitors, it\u2019s important to understand the impact on geisha themselves. So, our Japan-based Head of Operations, Tyler, went to find out. He sat down with Tomitsuyu, an experienced geiko (to use the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":34242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2367,2368],"tags":[1549,1560,1818,5076,5079,5082],"class_list":["post-34206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japanese-culture-and-history","category-only-in-japan","tag-geisha","tag-gion","tag-kyoto","tag-geiko","tag-overtourism","tag-interview"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34206"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34284,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34206\/revisions\/34284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}