Official places to see maiko
The easiest way in is Gion Corner, held every evening in the small theatre of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo. It presents seven traditional arts, including kyomai dance by maiko, in about an hour for ¥5,500. In the winter season (1 December to 11 March, Tuesday to Friday only) you can have your photo taken with a maiko after the show.
To watch dance over a meal, the Kyoto Traditional Performing Arts Foundation holds 'Gokagai no Utage'. In 2026 it takes place on Saturday 19 December from 12:30 at Hotel Granvia Kyoto, with dances by geiko and maiko from all five districts and a meal. It costs ¥25,000 per person including tax, for 200 guests on a first-come basis; applications by phone, email or web opened on 5 October (deadline 4 December).
Autumn stages include Pontocho's Suimei-kai (15–20 October), Gion Higashi's Gion Odori (1–10 November) and Kamishichiken's Kotobuki-kai (12–18 November). The spring Miyako Odori runs 1–30 April 2027, with tickets on sale from 6 January 2027.
Hot springs by day — Arashiyama and Yunohana
Arashiyama Onsen is a few minutes' walk from the Togetsukyo bridge, and the day bathhouse Fufu-no-yu stands right by Hankyu Arashiyama Station. From Kyoto Station it is about 11 minutes on the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama.
Yunohana Onsen sits in the hills of Kameoka: about 20 minutes by rapid train from Kyoto Station to Kameoka, then about 25 minutes by Keihan Kyoto Kotsu bus. Day bathing costs ¥1,200 at Keizankaku, ¥900 on weekdays at Keburikawa (¥1,100 at weekends and holidays) and ¥1,000 at Shoenso Hozugawatei. Buses are infrequent, so check times before you set out. From Kameoka the Hozu River boat ride takes about two hours down to Arashiyama (running 10 March to 13 December in 2026, with online booking).
Kitsu Onsen in Tango deserves its own day
Photo information
Kitsu Onsen is at the far north of Kyoto Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan. It takes about 2 hours 30 minutes by train from Kyoto Station to Amino, and Kitsu Onsen is at Yuhigaura-Kitsu-onsen, the next station. Heading there after an evening show in Gion is impractical; move the next day and stay a night. The station platform has the Shirasagi-no-yu foot bath (9:00–17:00), and Matsuba crab season opens on 6 November.
Ideas for the future
We found no regularly scheduled, publicly bookable dinner with maiko dance at a hot spring inn in Kyoto Prefecture. A 'maiko evening' at a Yunohana inn is listed as an idea only. It is not scheduled and cannot be booked.
Browse all onsen
経済特区 · CC0
Arashiyama Onsen
嵐山温泉
Kyoto · 100 Onsen to Know Japan — No. 71
A few minutes' walk from the Togetsukyo bridge, faintly milky water drawn from 1,200 m underground waits at the end of a Kyoto sightseeing day.
Mti · CC BY-SA 3.0
Yunohana Onsen
湯の花温泉
Kyoto · 100 Onsen to Know Japan — No. 70
About an hour from Kyoto Station by train and bus: a quiet valley spa called 'Kyoto's inner parlour', with radon-bearing water where wounded samurai are said to have healed.
VinayaMoto · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kitsu Onsen
木津温泉
Kyoto · 100 Onsen to Know Japan — No. 72
Kyoto Prefecture's oldest spring, by tradition, lies on the Sea of Japan side of the Tango peninsula, a long rail ride from Kyoto city, and it even bubbles up on the station platform.
Booking
| Gion CornerBookable | Seven arts in about an hour, including kyomai by maiko. Photos with a maiko after winter-season shows. | Daily at 18:00 and 19:00; Tuesday–Friday only from 1 Dec to 11 Mar (no shows on holidays). Closed 16 Jul, 16 Aug, 26 Dec–4 Jan | ¥5,500 general (23 and over), ¥6,600 premium seat (tax included) | 2026-10-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gokagai no Utage 2026 (dance and lunch)Bookable | Dances by geiko and maiko of all five districts with live musicians, a talk introducing the districts, a meal with drinks and a prize draw, plus a souvenir signed by the performers. Run by the Kyoto Traditional Performing Arts Foundation. | Saturday 19 December 2026, 12:30–14:30 (doors 12:00). Applications from 5 October to 4 December, first come first served, 200 places | ¥25,000 per person including tax | 2026-10-09 |
| Gion Odori (Gion Higashi)Bookable | Gion Higashi's autumn performance by geiko and maiko; two shows a day at Gion Kaikan, about an hour each. | 1–10 November 2026, 13:30 and 16:00 (online sales until 28 October) | ¥6,000, or ¥7,000 with tea | 2026-10-09 |
| Suimei-kai (Pontocho)Bookable | Pontocho's autumn recital at the Pontocho Kaburenjo. Tickets online or by phone on 075-221-2025. | 15–20 October 2026, from 15:30 | ¥5,000–10,000 (per the Kyoto City Tourism Association) | 2026-10-09 |
| Miyako Odori 2027Bookable | Gion Kobu's spring performance. Tickets on sale online and by phone from 10:00 on 6 January 2027. | 1–30 April 2027, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 | ¥8,000 first class with tea, ¥7,000 first class, ¥5,000 second class | 2026-10-09 |
| Hozu River boat rideBookable | A boat trip of about 16 km and two hours from Kameoka down to Arashiyama, linking Yunohana and Arashiyama. | Scheduled boats 10 March–13 December 2026 (times vary by season) | Unconfirmed | 2026-10-09 |
| Keizankaku, Yunohana Onsen (day bathing)Bookable | Get off at the Chaya (Keizankaku) bus stop. Face towel ¥200 to buy, bath towel ¥400 to rent. | Hours may change (check with the inn) | ¥1,200 adults, ¥500 children | 2026-10-09 |
| A 'maiko evening' at Yunohana Onsen (idea)Proposal | An idea for a dinner with maiko dance at a Yunohana inn. Not scheduled; cannot be booked. | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | 2026-10-09 |
2 days: soak at Yunohana, ride the Hozu River to Arashiyama, see maiko in Gion
Confirmed costs come to about ¥12,400–12,700 per person (Yunohana day bath ¥900–1,200 + Gion Odori ¥6,000 + Gion Corner ¥5,500; checked October 2026), plus rail and bus fares, the Hozu River boat fare and a night in Arashiyama (none confirmed)
| 1 · 09:00 | Kyoto Station to Kameoka | JR Sagano Line rapid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · 09:40 | Bus to Yunohana Onsen for a day bath | Keihan Kyoto Kotsu bus (Kameoka Station south exit) | Bath ¥900–1,200 |
| 1 · 12:30 | Back to Kameoka and take the Hozu River boat to Arashiyama | Bus back to Kameoka, then the boat from the pier | |
| 1 · 16:00 | Bathe at Fufu-no-yu, Arashiyama Onsen, and stay in Arashiyama | Walk (a few minutes from the bridge) | |
| 2 · 11:00 | Move to Gion | Hankyu Arashiyama and Kyoto lines (change at Katsura) | |
| 2 · 13:30 | Gion Odori at Gion Kaikan (1–10 November 2026) | ¥6,000 | |
| 2 · 18:00 | Maiko kyomai at Gion Corner | Walk within Gion | ¥5,500 |
Day trip: a morning soak in Arashiyama and Gokagai no Utage (19 December 2026)
¥25,000 per person plus bath and JR fares (the lunch is ¥25,000 including tax, checked October 2026; bath and fares not confirmed)
| 1 · 08:30 | Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama | JR Sagano Line | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · 09:15 | Cross the Togetsukyo bridge and bathe at Arashiyama Onsen | Walk | |
| 1 · 11:20 | Back to Kyoto Station | JR Sagano Line | |
| 1 · 12:00 | Check in at the Genji Room, 3F Hotel Granvia Kyoto; Gokagai no Utage starts at 12:30 | Connected to Kyoto Station | ¥25,000 |
These features connect to J-Catalyst's food and entertainment work, but unless marked as a partnership or available, nothing here is yet a partnership or bookable through us.