Geisha Makeover Experience

Maiko makeup is an extraordinary world for our customers. Many customers have concerns, such as "Will white maiko makeup suit me?"

Since its establishment, GION AYA has provided beautiful maiko makeup to a total of 20 customers. Our makeup staff are highly experienced and know all the tricks to making maiko look beautiful with their white makeup.

Please tell our staff as much as you can about the image of the maiko you want to become and your requests. We will also make corrections if we are unable to meet your requests. We will carefully analyze your requests and each individual face to create a beautifully balanced maiko makeup.

Real maikos wear their own hair tied up.
At GION AYA's maiko experience, you will wear a half wig that looks like your own hair. At the Geisha experience, you will wear a full wig. Both are included in the plan fee.

For half wigs, we will use your own bangs and sides of your hair to set the half wig, so your hairline will be beautiful and you can take natural and beautiful photos even when you go for a walk.

At GION AYA, we offer pure silk kimonos sourced from a long-established kimono store in Kyoto.

We have carefully selected gorgeous kimonos that look great in photographs, with a focus on elegant, classic patterns, and patterns that can be seen while standing, sitting, or from the back.

You can choose the kimono you like, but if you are not sure what kind of kimono suits you, our staff will be happy to advise you on the day on which kimono would suit you best.

The obi worn by maiko is a round obi that is nearly 7 meters long. It requires skill to tie the obi, but we will tie it by hand to fit the customer's body type and height, so the back view will be beautiful.

You can choose your favorite obi to match your kimono, from simple ones to luxurious ones with lots of embroidery.

If you are unsure of what type of obi would go well with your chosen kimono, don't worry, our staff will be happy to advise you on the day on which obi would suit you best.

You can choose your favorite flower hairpin from a selection of 12 seasonal hairpins worn by real maiko, regardless of the season you visit.

It is possible to coordinate it with the color of the makeup and kimono. There are also many hairpins for older maiko that do not have a dangling part.

We provide high-quality and cool hairpins made from materials such as tortoiseshell and boxwood for geisha.

Maiko Experience Studio GION AYA is a renovated teahouse. In addition to the tatami studio, the shop has a Kyoto-style small garden, making it a popular spot for authentic outdoor photo shoots. Each studio is equipped with lighting, so you can take beautiful photos of the maiko with their white face paint.

A photographer who is well versed in the typical poses of maiko will instruct you on how to capture the best moments and take several shots for each pose.

The plan price includes skin smoothing, so customers of all ages can receive beautiful photos.

You can take the photos home on the day. We can give you the photos in a variety of ways, including prints with skin smoothing, data on a USB stick, or LINE images.

All the necessary accessories for the Geisha and Maiko experience, such as tabi socks, undergarments, towels, etc., are provided free of charge. Please bring only your usual makeup tools that you will use after the maiko experience.

We also have five shampoo dressers, so even if you dye your light-colored hair black with black dye spray, you can go home with your hair restored to its original color.

GION AYA is located in the famous tourist spot of Higashiyama, Kyoto. There are many popular spots in the surrounding area, such as Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Kodaiji Temple, and Yasaka Koshindo, making it a perfect location for strolling around in a maiko costume or taking outdoor photos.

Kyoto's downtown area (Shijo Kawaramachi, Nishiki Market, etc.) is within walking distance. After your maiko experience, you can enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto, such as dining and shopping.