In Kyoto, the places where geiko and maiko officially serve tea to the public are the tea seats of the seasonal dance performances (odori) and a few festivals. This guide covers those, with dates and prices from the official sources. One note before you start: our own maiko experience does not include a tea ceremony. We compare the two at the end.
- Tea seats at the five odori: how they work and what they cost
- Festivals where geiko and maiko serve tea
- What Gion Corner’s tea ceremony is, and what it isn’t
- A tea seat or time with a maiko: which one fits you
- Tips for enjoying a geisha tea seat
Tea seats at the odori
Each of Kyoto’s five geisha districts holds its own dance performance, and most offer a ticket that includes a tea seat (ochaseki) before the show. You sit at a table, watch the tea being made and drink a bowl of matcha with a sweet.
The table-and-chair style is called ryurei. According to the Miyako Odori, it was devised by Gengensai, the 11th grand master of the Urasenke school of tea, for foreign guests who found kneeling difficult. It was first shown to the public at the Miyako Odori tea ceremony in 1872.
| Odori | When (2026) | Lowest ticket with tea |
|---|---|---|
| Kitano Odori | Mar 20–Apr 2 | ¥7,000 |
| Miyako Odori | Apr 1–30 | ¥8,000 (2027) |
| Kyo Odori | Apr 4–19 | ¥6,000 (every seat) |
| Kamogawa Odori | May 5–22 | ¥7,000 |
| Gion Odori | Nov 1–10 | ¥7,000 |
What the official sites say about the tea:
- Miyako Odori (Gion Kobu): You drink your tea while watching the geiko and maiko. The sweets plate is yours to keep.
- Kyo Odori (Miyagawacho): Every seat includes tea, made by a geiko seated at a table.
- Kamogawa Odori (Pontocho): A geiko performs the tea ceremony, and the plate is a souvenir.
- Kitano Odori (Kamishichiken) and Gion Odori (Gion Higashi): The tea-seat ticket costs ¥1,000 more than viewing only.
The 2027 Miyako Odori runs April 1–30, and tickets go on sale on January 6, 2027. For the dates, show times and how close you sit, see our guide to the best geisha shows in Kyoto.
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Festivals where geiko and maiko serve tea
Baikasai open-air tea, Kitano Tenmangu (February 25). On the anniversary of Sugawara no Michizane’s death, geiko and maiko from Kamishichiken serve tea outdoors among the plum blossoms. The tea has been held since 1952. In 2025, it ran from 10:00 to 15:00, rain or shine, for ¥3,000 per person. Tickets were sold only at the shrine’s counter: no reservations, no mail orders, and only until they ran out.
Kanikakuni-sai, Gion Kobu (November 8). A memorial for the poet Yoshii Isamu, held by his poem stone on the Shirakawa canal in Gion. It used to be for invited guests only. Since 2025, its tea seat has been open to the public, and it is being held again in 2026. Check the Gion Kobu website for times and tickets.
Gion Corner: a tea demonstration all year
Gion Corner, a small theater in Gion, shows seven traditional arts in about an hour, including a maiko’s dance and a tea ceremony. The tea ceremony is a demonstration of Urasenke’s ryurei style that you watch from your seat. Gion Corner’s site doesn’t say that geiko or maiko perform it. A tea experience seat costs ¥6,050, compared with ¥5,500 for a regular adult ticket.
A tea seat or time with a maiko?
If matcha made by a geiko is what you want, book an odori with a tea seat or go to the Baikasai. It’s the most authentic way to have it, and the show is included.
If you’d rather spend time with a maiko, that’s what our experience is for. In about 90 minutes, a maiko dances for your group in a temple space usually closed to visitors, plays ozashiki games with you and joins you for photos. Our staff interpret into English, so you can ask her anything. There’s no tea ceremony.
A maiko dances, plays traditional games with you and answers your questions, with English interpretation throughout.
Tips for a geisha tea seat
- Arrive early. At the Miyako Odori, tea seats open an hour before the show. At the Kyo Odori, enter at least 30 minutes before; the tea seat closes 10 minutes before the show.
- Keep the plate. At the Miyako, Kyo and Kamogawa Odori, the sweets plate is a souvenir.
- Book the right ticket. At most odori, only some tickets include tea. At the Miyako Odori, tickets can’t be cancelled or changed.
- Ask before you take photos. Rules differ by venue, so check with the staff.
Show answer
Frequently asked questions
Can you have a tea ceremony with a geisha in Kyoto?
Yes. Buy an odori ticket that includes the tea seat, or go to the Baikasai open-air tea at Kitano Tenmangu on February 25.
How much is a geisha tea ceremony in Kyoto?
Odori tickets with tea cost ¥6,000 to ¥8,000, and the show is included. The Baikasai tea was ¥3,000 in 2025.
When can I have tea with geiko in Kyoto?
Mostly in spring (March to May) and in November. Gion Corner’s tea demonstration runs most of the year, but you watch rather than drink with geiko.
Do I need to know tea ceremony etiquette?
The odori tea seats use tables and chairs, a style created for guests who weren’t used to kneeling.
Does your maiko experience include a tea ceremony?
No. Ours focuses on a maiko’s dance, ozashiki games, conversation and photos.
Maiko dance, ozashiki games and photos in a temple space usually closed to visitors.