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 2023
This year the show will be held at the Kyoto Art Theater in the Kyoto University of the Arts. There are three 45-minute performances per day at 12:30 p.m., 2:20 p.m., and 4:10 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets cost ¥5,500 and are onsale from February 6. They can be purchased online (in English) or through a travel agent. You can also pay ¥1,000 (cash only) on the day for tea service, which is offered an hour before the start of the show on a first-come-first-served basis.
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.