Priceless!

Day 14

Very special day today, fully dedicated to the art of entertainment personified by Maiko, Geiko apprentices. In Kyoto geishas have a special name: Geiko.

The only problem was that it rained all day. Literally all day! If were not for our awesome programme, I would be tempted to stay in bed.

The day started with a Maiko and Samurai dress-up, aka cosplay. I had booked a session with a company called Maica, based in Gion, the oldest area in Kyoto and the heart of the entertainment  business.

The receptionist's english wasn't brilliant at all so when it came to choosing which plan we wanted, it took some time. Jorge chose the Samurai plan without a wig but Manuel wanted to try a wig. Maiko for me. All of us were entitled to 60min of indoor photographies and 30min of outdoor photographies. Included were also studio pictures, 4 for me and 2 for each of them.

Obviously the boys were quick to dress-up. I took some time. First was the make-up, then the clothes and finally the half-wig (for this one they take a bit of hair from the front and overlay it on the wig with wax). By the time they finished, you couldn't recognise me. The boys kept telling me I was very white! Jorge looked serious (as usual) and Manuel looked... well... pictures are worth a thousand words...

Escort outdoor is needed to ascertain that we do not shame Maiko's reputation, this meaning we do not take inappropriate pictures. We walked in wooden clogs and my kimono was strapped higher to avoid wetting. Outside didn't last long as it was pouring and the clogs are uncomfortable.

It was great! One of my dreams realised and I look exactly as I wanted. Manuel was extremely pleased with his manly war-like figure and Jorge was just there to join the party.

Have a look at the company's website: http://www.maica.tv/e/.

Afterwards a brief walk through the streets of Gion but the day was pretty miserable. We had a little over an hour until our afternoon programme so we decided to have a hot drink in a coffee shop and warm up. Unfortunately the coffee wasn't hot enough and there was a draft at the coffee shop so we didn't warm up at all.

WAK Japan, Woman's Association of Kyoto, have several plans for tourists to enjoy japanese culture. We had booked a guided tour in Gion with them followed by a light meal with a Maiko. We were extremely excited!

Our guide was a middle aged lady called Tomoko Kunimatsu (Tomo san). Tomo san took us around 3 areas in Gion (Gion Higashi, Gion Kobu and Miyagawacho), showed us the traditional Kyoto houses, how to distinguish the oshayas (houses where the Maiko and Geiko live) from tea houses (where they entertain clients), explain about the changes in Gion (it is more touristic now due to financial reasons) and other things about Kyoto. She also answered some of our unanswered question. We learned that the red bibs in Budha statues were originally offered by parents that had lost their children but are now offered by people as a wish of good luck. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and culturaly interesting tour albeit the unrelentless rain.

About 3pm we took a taxi from Gion to Kamishichiken, another entertainment area but quieter, less touristic, on the northwest part of the city. It is close to a green area, private houses are bigger and it has a more relaxed environment.

We went into a tea house and were led to a room with the table set for only 3 people. Hold on! Was this tour and meal just for us? I was not expecting that! What a privilege!

Tomo san served as an interpreter. We had a light meal but I couldn't tell you what I had. I even forgot about the food half way through. All my attention was focused on the fully dressed and painted Maiko serving me sake everytime I emptied my glass. 

Tomo san is also a sake somelier so we kindly asked her to choose a sake for us and she did not disappoint. It was a fragrant and delicious sake and I barely tasted the alcohol in it. What a relaxing view to see the Maiko gently lift the small glassed sake bottle, smile gently and wait for us to raise the glass to be served. What a bliss!

We were quite speechless when the Maiko came into the room. The expectation was so much that all the questions we had suddenly disappeared.

Tomo san kept telling us to ask questions to the Maiko and we slowly managed to satisfy our curiosity about her way of life, daily routine and free time. I have shamefully forgotten the Maiko's name and cannot translate her name from her card, which is actually a sticker, something very japanese!

She also asked us the usual questions (where we were from, how long were we staying, etc). 

We exchanged information on the portuguese influence in japanese cuisine: castella cake and tempura. Both the Maiko and Tomo san were very surprised to know tempura was inspired in the portuguese 'peixinhos da horta', which are deep fried green beans. And even more surprised when we told them we only use green beans, no fish or other vegetables.

At one point it came to the conversation that we had done the Maiko and Samurai cosplay in the morning. We showed them our studio pictures. The waitress joined the Maiko and Tomo san and they all laughed out loud! Manuel in a wig was hilarious and they couldn't believe it was me dressed in a Maiko costume. At this time and moment in the universe it was us entertaining the Maiko and not the other way around. Priceless!

She performed a dance for us (with recorded music) and it was beautiful to watch.

We left absolutely overwelmed. So much so that we completely forgot I had wax in my hair from the morning and an old fleece, Jorge had a jumper with stains and Manuel had wig-hair. Oh well... that's life!

Have a look at their website: https://wakjapan.com/blog/services/tours/311/

It was still raining but we didn't care. Our happiness levels were over the roof.