A maiko is an apprentice. A geiko is a fully trained geisha, and in Kyoto, geiko is the word people use. Most geiko in Kyoto’s five geisha districts start as maiko, and the change from one to the other shows in her hair, her collar, her obi and even her shoes.
| Maiko | Geiko | |
|---|---|---|
| Who she is | An apprentice | A fully trained geisha |
| Typical age | From about 16 to around 20 | Around 20 and older, with no retirement age |
| Hair | Her own hair, in a traditional style | A wig |
| Collar | Red | White |
| Obi | The long hanging darari obi | Tied in a compact otaiko knot |
| Shoes | Tall okobo, about 10 cm | No okobo |
- Why Kyoto says “geiko” instead of “geisha”
- Seven ways to tell a maiko from a geiko
- How a maiko becomes a geiko, step by step
- Mistakes you will often see in English guides
- How many geiko and maiko there are, and where you can meet one
We read the Japanese pages of Kyoto City, the Kyoto Traditional Musical Art Foundation (the Ookini Foundation) and the five districts. This guide puts what they say in one place. Where the sources give different numbers, we show both.
Why Kyoto says “geiko”
In Kyoto, a fully trained geisha is called a geiko (芸妓), and an apprentice is a maiko (舞妓). Kyoto City and the Ookini Foundation use these two words.
The word maiko is used only in Kyoto. In other geisha districts in Japan, apprentices are called hangyoku and dress almost the same as geisha.
Kyoto’s five districts are Gion Kobu, Miyagawacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken and Gion Higashi. In this guide, “geisha” in a sentence means a geiko in Kyoto.
How to tell a maiko from a geiko
There is a third look that most guides leave out: the minarai, a trainee in her last month before her debut. She already wears a maiko’s hairstyle, but her obi and sleeves are shorter.
- Hair. A maiko styles her own hair. Her first style is wareshinobu, which changes to ofuku after about two years. A geiko wears a wig in the shimada style.
- Collar. A maiko’s collar is red. When she becomes a geiko, it changes to white.
- Obi. A maiko wears the darari obi, about five meters long, which hangs down her back with the crest of her okiya (the house she belongs to) at the bottom. A geiko ties her obi in an otaiko knot.
- Kimono. A maiko wears a long-sleeved kimono with a trailing hem. A geiko’s kimono has quieter colors and shorter sleeves.
- Shoes. Only maiko wear okobo, wooden sandals about 10 cm high.
- Hairpins. A maiko’s flower hairpins (hana-kanzashi) change every month with the season.
- Lipstick. A new maiko paints only her lower lip.
There is one exception to the wig rule. A jikata, a geiko who plays the shamisen or sings rather than dances, does not wear white makeup, a wig or a traditional hairstyle.
Show answer
How a maiko becomes a geiko
The year of erikae is not fixed. The Ookini Foundation says five or six years after her debut. A 2006 study of Kyoto’s districts says four or five years. It adds that the timing depends on her okiya and on how she looks: a maiko who looks young may stay a maiko longer.
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Common mistakes in English guides
When we compared top English guides with the Japanese sources, a few details didn’t match. We don’t name the sites.
- “The darari obi is 6 or 7 meters long.” The Ookini Foundation says about 5 meters; Gion Kobu says about 5.4 meters.
- “Okobo are 15 cm tall.” Kyoto City says about 10 cm.
- “All geiko wear wigs.” Jikata (musician geiko) wear no wig and no traditional hairstyle.
- A maiko becomes a geiko soon after her debut. Erikae comes four to six years after her debut.
How to become a maiko
Each district recruits on its own website. The conditions written on those pages are not the same.
| Who | What their page says |
|---|---|
| Ookini Foundation | Applicants start only after junior high school. The foundation introduces an okiya for the year of shikomi |
| Kamishichiken | Girls from about 15 to 18, with a parent’s consent |
| Gion Higashi | Also recruits geiko directly, aged 18 or over, with no upper age limit |
| Gion Kobu | No fees, and no living costs while she lives in the okiya |
These are the official recruitment pages as of October 2026. If you are thinking of applying, contact the district directly.
How many geiko and maiko are there?
The number of geiko fell by about two thirds between 1965 and 2013. Maiko dropped to 28 in 1975, then rose again. There is no official figure for today, so we don’t give one.
Where to see a maiko or a geiko
On the street in Gion, please don’t stop, touch, follow or photograph geiko and maiko. The local associations ask visitors not to. Teahouses (ochaya) usually don’t accept first-time guests without an introduction. That leaves two practical options:
- Watch a stage performance. The spring odori dances, Gion Corner and others. We compare them in our guide to the best geisha shows in Kyoto.
- Book a maiko experience. Meet a maiko in a small group, watch her dance, play traditional party games and ask her questions. Our maiko experience guide explains what happens and how it differs from a makeover.
Her hairpins, her obi, her okobo: our 90-minute experience includes a maiko dance, games and photos, with English interpretation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a maiko a geisha?
A maiko is an apprentice geisha. In Kyoto, a fully trained geisha is called a geiko.
How old are maiko?
Most start training after junior high school, debut around 16 and become geiko around 20.
Do maiko wear wigs?
No. Maiko style their own hair. Geiko who dance wear wigs.
How can you tell a maiko from a geiko?
Look at the collar and shoes. A maiko wears a red collar and tall okobo; a geiko wears a white collar and no okobo.
Maiko dance, ozashiki games and photos in a temple space usually closed to visitors.