Kyoto
Umenoya
Maiko Lunch in Gion
梅乃家 舞妓ランチ体験
Watch a maiko, an apprentice geiko (the Kyoto word for geisha), dance up close over a seasonal lunch at Umenoya, a family-run house in Kyoto’s Gion district with over a century of history.
Lunch conducted mainly in English, with Japanese and Chinese support
About the lunch
Enjoy a seasonal Kyoto lunch alongside two traditional maiko dances performed up close, followed by conversation, Q&A, and time for photographs. The experience also includes a matcha demonstration and an opportunity for guests to whisk their own bowl.
Umenoya stands in Gion, one of Kyoto’s hanamachi, or geisha districts. According to the family, before World War II the house was an okiya, where maiko live and train, and afterward it became an ochaya, a teahouse where guests are entertained. It is now run by the fifth generation of the family.
The entrance to Umenoya.
Who welcomes you
The proprietress
Umenoya’s proprietress was herself a maiko in her youth. Drawing on her own experience and the traditions passed down through her family, she now welcomes guests into the house and shares its stories and Kyoto’s culture with visitors from Japan and around the world.
The maiko
Maiko are apprentice geiko in Kyoto’s hanamachi. They train in traditional dance, music, and etiquette, refining their craft through daily practice.
Seeing a maiko is not all the family wants to offer. Through the memories of the people of the house, and through its rooms, seasonal food, tableware, and tea, they hope you will come to know Kyoto a little more deeply.
Their wish is for Umenoya to be a place where guests from overseas, as well as from Japan, can find a living Kyoto beyond sightseeing. They also want to pass the house on to the next generation with its traditions intact.
Before you book
- Language
- The lunch is conducted mainly in English, with support in Japanese and Chinese.The maiko speaks Japanese. Umenoya staff interpret into English or Chinese as needed. Choose your language in the booking form.
- Length
- About 2.5 hours
- Price
- ¥16,800 per person, tax included
- Included
- A seasonal lunch course, a welcome drink, two dances by a maiko, conversation with her and time for questions, time for photographs, and a matcha demonstration followed by whisking your own bowl.Other drinks are charged separately.
- Group size
- Up to 8 guests per lunchThe small group size allows for a more personal experience, with plenty of time for conversation, questions, and photos.
- What to bring
- Nothing
- Age
- Children aged 3 and older are welcome at the standard price. Umenoya cannot accommodate children under 3.
- Dietary needs
- Note any food allergies or dietary restrictions in the booking form. Umenoya will contact you if more details are needed.
- Seating
- A tatami room with a sunken space under the table for your legs. You sit as you would on a chair, with no need to kneel.Cushions and backrests are available.
- Where
- 385 Hashimotocho, Shinbashi-dori Hanamikoji Nishi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, KyotoOpen in Google Maps →The lunch starts on time, so please arrive at Umenoya by the start time. A few days before the lunch, Umenoya will send you the details for the day by Peatix message or email.
- Cancellation
- Cancel at least 14 days before the lunch and you are refunded. If you cancel within 24 hours of buying your ticket and at least 72 hours before the lunch, you are also refunded. Other cancellations and no-shows are not refunded.If you cannot come, you can pass your booking to someone else: email Umenoya in advance with the new guest’s name and any allergies or dietary needs. If the lunch cannot be held for reasons on Umenoya’s side, or because of unforeseen circumstances such as typhoons, earthquakes, or transportation disruptions, you are refunded.
- Contact
- Write to Umenoya if you need to cancel or have a question.Email: umenoya@mikawa-japan.com
Eight places at each lunch.
Book a slot
Umenoya holds about one lunch a month. Each date appears here once it is set.
Tickets and payment are handled by Peatix. Peatix Help for attendees answers questions about orders and payment.
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