Kyoto Guides: Geisha, Tea & Trip Planning
Sourced, practical guides to seeing geiko and maiko in Kyoto, the culture and etiquette behind them, and planning the rest of your trip: itineraries, temples and getting around.
Geisha culture
What Do Geisha Do? Geiko and Maiko in Kyoto
What do geisha do? Kyoto's geiko and maiko dance, play shamisen and entertain at banquets. Learn the path from maiko to geiko and whether geisha still exist.
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Plan your Kyoto trip
Fushimi Inari Walk: How to Plan Your Hike on Mount Inari
Plan a Fushimi Inari walk on Mount Inari at Fushimi Inari Taisha: how to get there, how to choose where to turn back, and how to continue to Tofukuji by train.
Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY 4.0
Fushimi Inari and Tofuku-ji in Autumn: A Half-Day Route
Plan a half day in south Kyoto in autumn: which stop to visit first, the trains and buses between Fushimi Inari and Tofuku-ji, and the rules at each.
Photo: ttshr1970 / CC BY 3.0
Kinkaku-ji Guide: What to See, Hours, and How to Get There
Plan a visit to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto: what to look for, a simple way to walk the grounds, the hours, the admission, and the bus stop.
Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY 4.0
Kiyomizu-dera Guide: Access, Hours, and Nearby Stops
Plan a visit to Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto: what to look for, how to get there by city bus, how the hours change, and how to pair it with south Kyoto.
Photo: Oilstreet / CC BY 2.5
Kyoto Autumn Leaves Forecast: How to Read It and Plan
How to read a Kyoto autumn leaves forecast, what temples publish for the leaf-viewing period, and how to plan a south Kyoto walk around changing dates.
Photo: Fumihiko Ueno / CC BY 3.0
Kyoto Itinerary: A 3-Day Plan for First-Time Visitors
A Kyoto itinerary for one to three days, with a plan for each day, official hours and fees, and getting-around tips.
Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5
Kyoto in Autumn: A Foliage Itinerary by Area and Hour
Plan Kyoto in autumn by area and hour, with official hours and fees for Tofuku-ji and more, plus tips for reading each year's foliage timing.
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0
Kyoto in February: When Temple Gates Close and Hours Change
Plan Kyoto in February: which temple hours stay on the winter timetable, which change on March 1, bus and pass costs, and a south Kyoto half-day.
Photo: Takeshi Kuboki from Amagasaki, Japan / CC BY 2.0
Kyoto in November: Temple Hours, Events, and What to Pack
Plan Kyoto in November: dated changes to temple hours and fees, autumn night viewings, three sample days, a south Kyoto half-day, and what to pack.
Photo: Tomomarusan / CC BY 2.5
Kyoto in October: Temple Hours, Fees, and What to Pack
Plan Kyoto in October: temple hours and fees, the Tofuku-ji Treasure Tour suspension, one area per day, a south Kyoto half-day, and what to pack.
Photo: z tanuki / CC BY 3.0
Places to Visit in Kyoto: Temples and Sights by Area
Places to visit in Kyoto, grouped by area, with official hours and fees, tips on linking them up, plus one quiet afternoon stop in the south.
Photo: fw42 from Germany / CC BY 2.0
Sanjusangendo Temple Guide: Hours, 600 Yen Entry, Access
Visiting Sanjusangendo in Kyoto? See the long wooden hall, seasonal opening hours, the 600 yen adult ticket, and about 18 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station.
Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5
