A very enjoyable tour. We were able to visit a number of places rich in history and beauty in the limited time we spent in Kyoto. Ichiro was very knowledgeable and helped us get a better understanding of the culture.

Overall this was a good experience, though aspects of it were very disjointed and unclear. The first confusing part was that you are not issued actual Tickets upon purchase, but rather, are issued a 'voucher', which you must then turn in at a specific desk located somewhere outside of the VERY LARGE KYOTO STATION complex. We were given multiple different directions and maps for 'how' to find the particular desk. And even then, I had trouble finding the ticket desk. Then we finally get on the bus that will take us to the venue for the dinner and maiko performance. Everyone was given a plastic folder with a number of papers inside, a pair of cheap generic headphones, and some type of electronic recorder so you could hear the translation in multiple languages. I had no interest in all the papers, or wasting a pair of headphones (only to have them be tossed into a landfill) or the silly recording device (which would likely only provide a monotone, uninspiring 'translation'). So I didn't bother with that. We then find that the dinner and maiko performance are apparently inside a hotel...in one of their private function rooms. There were probably about 40 or so of us attendees, and we are directed into a dining area that had long tables set up, with kaiseki dinners awaiting us, at each place setting. We could see there was a small stage, where the maiko performance would likely be occurring. We all took a seat at one of the tables, and waited for a few minutes, trying to understand what we should do. We noted a few waitstaff standing around, and they began to offer us water and ask if we wanted to order any other beverages. As for the tour operator....the guide who was speaking to us on the bus, en route to the hotel...or the bus driver...or any of the other bus tour company staff... they were nowhere to be seen, anywhere in the room. It was as if we were just 'dumped off' at the hotel, and we were now in the hands of the hotel staff. It was rather odd....and so we just looked at each other and said 'so, I guess we just start eating now?' There was no direction...no advance explanation...of how this would all play out. So we begin our meal (which, by the way, was pretty good...nothing spectacular...), and eventually a woman comes to the front of the room and introduces the maiko. As for the maiko herself, she was in a beautiful kimono, with her face and hair done up in a traditional style (as seen in the photos here). Her performance was truly beautiful, and accompanied by traditional singing and music (which I suspect was done by someone who was hidden behind a shoji screen, onstage). After her performance, the maiko talked to us about her training, and then even answered some questions. She was incredibly sweet, and it was nice to see a bit of her personality coming through during her talk and the subsequent Q&A (and after her having to perform in front of us, in more of a 'deadpan' manner, and where we didn't get to see her true personality). At a certain point, a number of the diner left the room, and we began to understand that we were to walk the grounds of the hotel for a certain amount of time. And while the hotel grounds surely were stunningly beautiful, my friend and I were not the only ones who were confused about Where exactly we can or should be walking, or any other details. It was all rather disjointed. Then it was time to get back on the bus, and this time we were driven to a vista point, and where we got a great view of the city of Kyoto, down below. Overall, a great event, but the voucher/ticket aspect was very confusing, and the event organizers could have done a better job with the directions on how/where to find the ticket desk where we needed to exchange our voucher. They should have included actual photos of the ticket desk...what it looked like...what else it was in relation to.....that it was out on the STREET/GROUND level (versus the underground level), etc. And they also could have done a better job at explaining, at each point in the night, what was going to happen next, and the timings, etc.

This tour was unexpectedly great!! We had no idea what we were in for but our guides Koichiro and Mickey were very informative and looked after us very well!! The weather was great for walking around and we got to see 3 Geisha’s which we were told was rare on our tour!! So exciting to see!!!

Our family highly recommends Yuko. She was so knowledgeable, but she shared so many insights and showed us things you would not notice without help of someone with local knowledge and experience. The day of our tour was very warm but Yuko was so patient and cared about our wellbeing. The pace was easy and she also shared great place to eat, drink & shop. Yuko was the complete package you won’t be disappointed. The highlight of our trip was seeing two young Maiko, so graceful and beautiful to see in real life. Money well spent and such a wonderful experience. Thank you so much Yuko.

The tour was interesting and informative. Our tour guide, Koichiro was very pleasant and knowledgeable. He was punctual and made the tour worth while and took us to places which we would not have visited or known about. Highly recommend this tour

Although this was a bus tour and there was no English guide, I got the experience I wanted from this trip. I think it was great, as it’s hard to find a place in Kyoto at this price where you can see a geisha performance.

I cant put a 6 star rating so here's a 5 star. Mrs Kiku and our driver was very helpful, accomodating, and kind. They also spoke english very well!