A Dose Of Japan

Maikos, temples, palaces and sake are the best way to experience the country’s cultural capital.

- Neha Gupta Kapoor

Kyoto conjures up memories of geishas with faces painted white under elegant hairdos, trotting in high wooden slippers and gracefully handling heavy silk kimonos wrapped around their narrow waists. Many moons ago in Japanese history, these girls were trained to entertain men, and eventually had their virginity auctioned off to the highest bidder. Even then, this was done with subtlety.

However, during World War II, when destitute girls, not trained in the skill, used to walk the streets as geishas to attract unaware American soldiers, the profession came to be loosely associated with common prostitution. Nonetheless, the modern era has redefined all that dross; geishas are now known as anything but streetwalkers. These respected members of the society are groomed from the age of 15 to blossom into charming female entertainers for men and women alike. Geishas are trained to be Jacks, or in this case Jills, of various skills ranging from dance to music, conversation, poetry, games and others.

While the profession is losing its strength in numbers to the modern world, it is gaining the reputation of being an elite one, not to forget, an endangered one too. A traditional evening with geishas can be enjoyed at only a select few ochaya or teahouses where they play host. And so, be prepared for a big bill at the end of your night that will be carried out to perfection — the finest sake, and most exquisite meat and seafood.

Unless you have good contacts with those privy to such teahouses, it’s not easy to be a guest of a full-bloomed geisha. The closest to such an evening can be experienced by booking an exclusive dinner with a maiko (apprentice geisha). One such establishment that can organise this is Gion Hatanaka (thehatanaka.co.jp/english), in addition to most tour operators and hotels who arrange this as part of their packages too.

PLEASURE