Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater
Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The Gion Koubu Kaburenjo (where Miyako Odori is performed) are temporary closed due to the initiation of long-term building maintenance (earthquake protection measures).
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Gion
Gion is Kyoto's famed Geisha District (called "Geiko" in Kyoto). Though Gion's many tea houses and entertainment restaurants are closed to foreigners, Geiko and Maiko in their traditional makeup with gilded hair in full kimono can be seen drifting the streets on their way to and from work, where they fan dance, sing, and play instruments for customers. Gion lights up at night, when the ancient-looking streets glow with lanterns along the river, where weeping willows catch the starlight and the air is warmed with conversation. Groups pass through to populate the restaurants and bars along the riverfront, but Gion still manages to be a mostly quiet district, due in large part to limited automotive traffic through many of its streets. Gion is a wonderful place to indulge in Kyoto's local and customary cuisines, and is best enjoyed after dark.
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4.5
170 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
55
Average
17
Poor
4
Terrible
4
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Cristina K
Japan10 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
I went to "Miyako odori" in Kyoto which is the annual dance performance of the "geiko" (AKA geisha) and "maiko" (geiko apprentice) from Gion district. It was beautiful and interesting.
However, we bought tickets with tea ceremony included (7.000 yen including Premium seats) and it wasn't worth it. It was forbidden to take pictures of the ceremony itself and they made us eat the sweet and drink the green tea in a hurry. There was no information on the website related to the ceremony before the dance. Just by chance, we got there one hour before and it turned out that we were just on time for it!
On the other hand, I rented the English audio guide (700 yen) and it was the best decision ever! I could follow the meaning of each dance. This year, all the dances were based on "The Tale of Genji" and each dance told a different story from the book.
I highly recommend this performance. It's held every year during the whole month of April and there were three shows each day.
Tips:
1. Tickets sell fast. Visit the "Miyako odori" website in January and keep an eye on it. The tickets can be bought online and be claimed at convenience stores.
2. Go there at least one hour before the show if you buy tickets with tea ceremony.
3. Take the sweets (and the plate, it's a kind of souvenir) home to eat it at your own pace.
4. Rent the English audio guide
5. I don't recommend buying souvenirs from the performance. They are overpriced and don't really represent the show. For instance, the show this year was the 150th anniversary and there was nothing representing that. In fact, they made a mistake with the tickets and it said "149th performance." There are more beautiful things in other shops in Kyoto (not souvenir shops either if you want to buy the real thing).
However, we bought tickets with tea ceremony included (7.000 yen including Premium seats) and it wasn't worth it. It was forbidden to take pictures of the ceremony itself and they made us eat the sweet and drink the green tea in a hurry. There was no information on the website related to the ceremony before the dance. Just by chance, we got there one hour before and it turned out that we were just on time for it!
On the other hand, I rented the English audio guide (700 yen) and it was the best decision ever! I could follow the meaning of each dance. This year, all the dances were based on "The Tale of Genji" and each dance told a different story from the book.
I highly recommend this performance. It's held every year during the whole month of April and there were three shows each day.
Tips:
1. Tickets sell fast. Visit the "Miyako odori" website in January and keep an eye on it. The tickets can be bought online and be claimed at convenience stores.
2. Go there at least one hour before the show if you buy tickets with tea ceremony.
3. Take the sweets (and the plate, it's a kind of souvenir) home to eat it at your own pace.
4. Rent the English audio guide
5. I don't recommend buying souvenirs from the performance. They are overpriced and don't really represent the show. For instance, the show this year was the 150th anniversary and there was nothing representing that. In fact, they made a mistake with the tickets and it said "149th performance." There are more beautiful things in other shops in Kyoto (not souvenir shops either if you want to buy the real thing).
Written 3 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernard W
Dallas, TX1,946 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We pre-purchased both the tea ceremony and tickets for the geisha performance. Guests walk through about three rooms of art about geisha performers and tea displays that are void of any English before being directed to a waiting room. Groups enter into another room to observe the tea ceremony, meaning a seiko is offered tea and drinks by a maiko in an elaborate ceremony. Unfortunately, no explanation was provided. Guests were seated and served tea and a sweet. Again, no explanation is given. The guest is given the plate that the sweet is on as a “gift”. Then the guest may walk for a short time in a lovely garden.
The geisha performance was fascinating and wonderful. Headphones are available to rent (700 JPN) that provide a running English commentary and explanation of the performances. In my humble opinion, don’t bother going if you don’t intend to rent the headsets. They are excellent and imperative to understand the performances. The music and instrumentation and clothes and dances and scenery were extremely special. The performance hall is very large. We sat in the last row on the main floor and had no difficulty seeing and appreciating the view. No photography permitted of the performance.
The geisha performance was fascinating and wonderful. Headphones are available to rent (700 JPN) that provide a running English commentary and explanation of the performances. In my humble opinion, don’t bother going if you don’t intend to rent the headsets. They are excellent and imperative to understand the performances. The music and instrumentation and clothes and dances and scenery were extremely special. The performance hall is very large. We sat in the last row on the main floor and had no difficulty seeing and appreciating the view. No photography permitted of the performance.
Written 5 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
澤田美也子
東京1,979 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The Miyako Odori, where the geisha of Gion show off the results of their daily training in the arts, is worth seeing. It can be a bit of a challenge for ordinary tourists to see the geisha dance at a teahouse in Gion, but anyone can easily enjoy the Miyako Odori. I was moved by the wonderful Kyoto dance of the geisha of Gion, Kyoto, Japan's pride.
Written 28 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msa23_2000
Chino Hills, CA1,525 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
I saw the 150th Miyako Odori - or geisha show that happened annually in April. It is a great way to see geishas and support their art. The show is really popular so you must book tickets far in advance. They paint new sets and sew new costumes each year and they are truly extravagant. They offer headphones in English which I really enjoyed because they explained the dances and storytelling throughout the performance. This was a highlight of Kyoto.
Written 3 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki
Palo Alto, CA26 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The Geisha's performance, dance, and music were absolutely stunning. I have never seen anything like that. It's so magical and lovely. I would recommend booking the first row in the center. The attention to detail is just spectacular. Time just flew by. Their dance is mesmerizing. I highly recommend seeing the Geisha dance. If you do not speak Japanese, please get the English translation at the entrance. It's very helpful. You can understand the meaning of the dance and the music—truly a blissful experience. I feel blessed to have seen it
Written 21 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom H
Santa Cruz, CA400 contributions
Apr 2023
Kyoto has four geisha districts and they each have an annual presentation. The Gion district extends their annual presentation to encompass the month of April. This was the second time we have attended their event which takes place at a large, atmospheric auditorium in the heart of Gion. Tickets are sold out very quickly so you need to pay attention to when they become available and the online ticket sales system is very efficient. We chose to pay the few extra dollars to attend the pre-tea event which consists of a couple geishas conducting a traditional tea ceremony on a stage, while different sittings of theater goers are ushered in, sat at long tables, served tea and offered a ceremonial plate and a treat to eat. You don’t have much time to enjoy the scene but I think it’s worthwhile to get you into the spirit of the event. The event itself consists of several scenes interspersed between a “corp” of 8 dancing geishas who perform elaborate, slow movements and tableaus with other geisha’s performing, by my understanding, scenes from plays or acting out cultural tales. The costumes are elaborate and gorgeous. One scene that stands features four geishas wearing outlandishly long orange stringy wigs dancing around a couple “normal” geishas. During all these dances there loud guttural singing and traditional instruments provided by two rows of performers sitting above each side of the auditorium. This is an amazing show that anyone would enjoy for the art, dancing, cultural experience, and singing.
Written 9 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kaisatsu
Oslo, Norway3,052 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
I'd read some good things here on TripAdvisor about the tea ceremony included in the higher-priced tickets to Miyako Odori, but I was not impressed. I didn't know what to expect and was eager to get a ticket, because most Japanese tea ceremonies are fairly small groups and take a bit of time. This was NOT one of those tea ceremonies. There was actually a switchback roped line (think airport check-in) where people queued to go into the tea ceremony. Once the previous group was done, the next group is shepherded in where they scramble for seats and take photos of the geiko performing the ceremony on a stage in the center. It had been years since I participated in a tea ceremony, so worried I might commit a faux pas, I had actually brushed up on my tea ceremony etiquette the night before. No need. The guests were essentially served by wait staff, and there was barely enough time to eat the sweet and down the tea before we were rushed out. Unfortunately, we still had quite a while before the performance, so we had to spend 20 minutes standing in the waiting area before they opened the theater.
I had wanted my travel companion to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and I thought this would be a convenient way to schedule both together. Unfortunately, this was not much of a tea ceremony experience at all. There are plenty of places around Kyoto that organize private or small-group tea ceremonies which would have been much more authentic and much more informative for those who've never been part of one.
As for the dance performance, it was beautiful! And it was a wonderful experience to be able to see so many maiko without needing to lurk around Gion and hope for good fortune. The performance itself was well worth it!
When choosing seats, be aware that the musicians perform in galleries on the left and right of the orchestra seating, so the seating areas above those galleries would not be able to see the musicians underneath.
I had wanted my travel companion to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and I thought this would be a convenient way to schedule both together. Unfortunately, this was not much of a tea ceremony experience at all. There are plenty of places around Kyoto that organize private or small-group tea ceremonies which would have been much more authentic and much more informative for those who've never been part of one.
As for the dance performance, it was beautiful! And it was a wonderful experience to be able to see so many maiko without needing to lurk around Gion and hope for good fortune. The performance itself was well worth it!
When choosing seats, be aware that the musicians perform in galleries on the left and right of the orchestra seating, so the seating areas above those galleries would not be able to see the musicians underneath.
Written 29 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luka_k
Ljubljana, Slovenia47 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
If you're in Kyoto in April you must not miss the Miyako Odori dance. Nice show in a beautiful setting of Kaburenjo Theater. Don't go for the expensive seats, choose the cheap tickets and seat on the tatami. The view is nice and experience more authentic. You'll save some money for lunch too.
Written 12 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nadia H
14 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Miyako Odori is a must if you're in Kyoto in April. As some reviewers pointed out, you don't normally get to see geisha dances unless you're a wealthy businessman or well-connected to said businessman.
Even if that wasn't a factor, you just have to do it. It was a real spectacle to watch and the costumes were absolutely stunning. I can't imagine how much work would have gone into this production... probably why they only do it once a year!
To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying the first class tickets with tea ceremony. It really depends on what you're after.
Con:
- It's an extremely rushed tea ceremony. I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said that it only lasted 10 minutes before you're herded off so another group can have their tea ceremony.
- There is no real explanation of the tea ceremony - you just go in, sit down, drink your tea, eat your sweet and then leave.
Pros:
- You get to go in earlier and enjoy the garden area.
- It's the only chance you'll get to see the geishas up close and get good photos. Photos aren't allowed during the performance
We only bought the first class ticket because my husband wanted to play with his new camera and take portrait shots of the geisha. Luckily, he had a zoom lens and was tall enough to get an unobstructed view to take some photos.
Do note as well that if you want any souvenirs, you HAVE to buy them before the show. The exit takes you to a different part of the building and there are no souvenir stalls once you leave the performance. Luckily, we picked up a program beforehand but I was a bit gutted because I didn't pick up a couple of items (featuring this year's kimono pattern) that I was umming and ahhing about.
You can book your tickets online via the Miyako Odori website and I strongly suggest that you do. As the early part of April coincides with cherry blossom season, Kyoto will be INSANELY packed and the likelihood of you getting a ticket on the day is non-existent. We saw lots of tourists attempting to buy tickets when the ticket counter already had a big sign saying that tickets were sold out. We were so lucky to have booked the minute that the tickets came online because we got front row seats (a bit of a neck strain but we got to see so much more details).
Even if that wasn't a factor, you just have to do it. It was a real spectacle to watch and the costumes were absolutely stunning. I can't imagine how much work would have gone into this production... probably why they only do it once a year!
To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying the first class tickets with tea ceremony. It really depends on what you're after.
Con:
- It's an extremely rushed tea ceremony. I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said that it only lasted 10 minutes before you're herded off so another group can have their tea ceremony.
- There is no real explanation of the tea ceremony - you just go in, sit down, drink your tea, eat your sweet and then leave.
Pros:
- You get to go in earlier and enjoy the garden area.
- It's the only chance you'll get to see the geishas up close and get good photos. Photos aren't allowed during the performance
We only bought the first class ticket because my husband wanted to play with his new camera and take portrait shots of the geisha. Luckily, he had a zoom lens and was tall enough to get an unobstructed view to take some photos.
Do note as well that if you want any souvenirs, you HAVE to buy them before the show. The exit takes you to a different part of the building and there are no souvenir stalls once you leave the performance. Luckily, we picked up a program beforehand but I was a bit gutted because I didn't pick up a couple of items (featuring this year's kimono pattern) that I was umming and ahhing about.
You can book your tickets online via the Miyako Odori website and I strongly suggest that you do. As the early part of April coincides with cherry blossom season, Kyoto will be INSANELY packed and the likelihood of you getting a ticket on the day is non-existent. We saw lots of tourists attempting to buy tickets when the ticket counter already had a big sign saying that tickets were sold out. We were so lucky to have booked the minute that the tickets came online because we got front row seats (a bit of a neck strain but we got to see so much more details).
Written 12 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msp1231
Arvada, CO293 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
Miyako Odori, or Dance of the Capital, is performed every April, with new costumes, scencery, music and stories. Performed by the maiko and geiko of Gion Kobu, this is an eight-act theater experience, which lasts a little over one hour. There are 3 levels of tickets - the least expensive has you sitting on tatami mats in the balcony. We went for the most expensive seat, which included a reserved, regular seat on the main floor of the theater and included a pre-show tea ceremony, where we drank green tea, ate a pastry, and could watch a tea ceremony. Additionally, we could take home the plate as a souvenir. Get there at least an hour prior to your RESERVATION, so that you will have a little time in the garden. At the end of the show, you are ushered out of the complex and cannot go back to the gardens. You can make reservations at most hotels in Kyoto. My son and I thought this was the highlight of our entire 10-day Japan trip!
Written 23 April 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gila4321
Mevaseret Zion, Israel
I want to order tickets to the performances and diner only without any tour. is it possible? what includes the performance?
thank you
Gila
Written 20 June 2017
Most of the time it is not possible to order tickets, just go there on time and get in line. We had no diner included. The performances are; a thee ceremonie, Kyogen Theater- comic, flowerarrangement, dancing, Bunraku puppetplay, old musicmaking,
have fun!!
Written 20 June 2017
Hi, can you tell me how much in advance I should go? I booked the 16:30 show plus tea ceremony. Thank you. Mariagrazia
Written 27 January 2017
When I went there I arrived fifteen minutes in advance and they started seating those for the tea ceremony right on the time on our ticket. Those who didn't purchase the tea ceremony show simply took their seat inside the theater and waited for the tea ceremony show to end as it didn't last too long.
Written 28 January 2017
For staff.I'm trying to book tickets in advance we will be there Late October, but the website is under maintenance. Do you know know how long this will take ? Can I book tickets on the day? Is there another way besides phoning to to secure tickets,Thanks
Written 26 September 2016
As mentioned above the Miyako Odori performance is only held once a year in April during the Cherry Blossom season, not sure if there are any other show in October!
Written 28 September 2016
Hi All
Do you know where we can purchase tickets to the show? Directly from the theatre?
Thanks
Written 7 May 2015
Tickets are available at the ticket office at the theatre. You could also try on line but not sure about that as the show is only on during April
Written 8 May 2015
Hello, I would like to visit the theater for a dance & tea ceremony on october 2nd or 3rd with a group op 45 people from the Netherlands.
How do I go about booking this?
Written 3 April 2015
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