Written by JC Team
The annual Kyo Odori is a spring performance by the geiko (the Kyoto word for geisha) and maiko (apprentice geiko) of Kyoto’s Miyagawachō district. The show includes an original dance (a new one each year), a shamisen performance, and the finale, the Miyagawa Ondo, when all the dancers appear together in beautiful spring kimono.
Kyo Odori 2024
This year the show will be held at the Kyoto Art Theater in the Kyoto University of the Arts. There are two performances on weekdays at 13:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m, and three on the weekend at 12:00 p.m, 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets cost ¥7,000 and include reserved seats and entrance to the tea ceremony. They are
are onsale from February 6 and can be purchased online (in English) or through a travel agent.
Geisha performances in Kyoto
Every spring and fall, Kyoto’s hanamachi (geisha districts) put on public dance performances. In our opinion, this is the best way to see the city’s iconic performing artists for a (comparatively) reasonable price. And is much politer than trying to photograph them on the street paparazzi-style.
Other performances on the annual calendar include:
To learn more about geiko and maiko, as well as recommendations for additional events and experiences, check out our complete guide to seeing geisha in Kyoto.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.