Private Geisha (Maiko) & Zen Garden Experience · Kyoto
A temple reserved exclusively for your group. Spend an intimate afternoon experiencing a Zen garden, traditional Geisha (Maiko) dances, and time in conversation with the Geisha (Maiko).
The experience
Take a wooden rake and create your own patterns in the gravel of the Zen garden — a quiet moment of focus and contemplation.
Enjoy two traditional dances performed by a Geisha (Maiko) in the intimate setting of the temple hall, accompanied by a cup of green tea. With no stage separating you, you can experience the grace and artistry of her performance at close range.
Enjoy a relaxed conversation, ask questions, and take photographs together. More than simply watching a performance, this is a rare opportunity to spend time with a Geisha (Maiko) in an intimate setting.
See it in motion
Watch the film on YouTube ↗
What makes this experience special
Founded in 1382, Ikka-in is a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji that is rarely open to the public. During the experience, the temple is reserved exclusively for your group.
Spend time talking with the Geisha (Maiko), asking questions, and taking photographs together in a relaxed, private setting.
Go beyond simply viewing the garden and experience it firsthand by creating patterns in the gravel with a traditional wooden rake.
Three distinctive
Kyoto experiences
in one private setting
A private temple, time with a Geisha (Maiko), and the opportunity to experience a Zen garden firsthand.
The experience in pictures
The 90-minute experience
Meet at Ikka-in by 2:00 pm. The experience begins at 2:05 pm.
Your English-speaking guide introduces you to the history of the temple and the traditions of Geisha (Maiko) culture.
Take a wooden rake and create patterns in the gravel of the dry-landscape garden.
Move to the main hall and watch two dances by the Geisha (Maiko) over a cup of green tea.
Spend time talking with the Geisha (Maiko), asking questions, and taking photographs together before the experience concludes.
Times shown are for the 2:00 pm start. The 3:30 pm start follows the same schedule, 90 minutes later.
The place
A sub-temple of Tofuku-ji founded in 1382, Ikka-in stands quietly away from the crowds and is rarely open to the public. Its name, Ikka, means “one flower,” a simple yet evocative image with deep associations in Zen tradition.
Timber halls, tatami rooms, a gold folding screen, and a garden of raked gravel and moss create a serene setting for the experience.
Getting there
Reservations
Private temple access · English-speaking guide · Approximately 90 minutes
Reservations, availability, and full details are provided by Sunrise Tours. You will be redirected to the Sunrise Tours website to complete your booking.
Good to know
The experience lasts approximately 90 minutes. Please arrive at the meeting point at least five minutes before your starting time.
Yes. An English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout the experience and provides an introduction to the temple, the garden, and Geisha (Maiko) culture.
At Ikka-in, a sub-temple within the Tofuku-ji precinct in Higashiyama, Kyoto — a short walk from Tofukuji Station (JR Nara Line & Keihan Main Line). See the map above.
Yes. Ikka-in is normally closed to the public and is reserved exclusively for this experience — no general visitors, no queues.
Yes. There will be time to talk with the Geisha (Maiko) and take photographs together during the final part of the experience.
Reservations are made through Sunrise Tours using the booking buttons above. Current prices, availability, and the full cancellation policy are provided before you confirm your reservation.
New to geisha culture? Read our guide to seeing geisha in Kyoto, or browse all Kyoto guides on dance seasons, tea, and etiquette.
