Don’t Miss a Maiko Performance at Kyoto’s Miyagawa-cho Beer Garden

ByJustin Hanus

Beer, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Jul 25, 2016

Don’t Miss a Maiko Performance at Kyoto’s Miyagawa-cho Beer Garden

One of the most entertaining evening activities during the summer months in Japan is enjoying drinks from one of the many glittering rooftop beer gardens that light up in the cities. With prime views of the lively streets and the quiet river, choosing any one of Kyoto’s beer gardens is sure to make a lovely summer night for you and some friends or coworkers.

Though any rooftop restaurant in the ancient capital would be wonderful, for a limited time in August, dining and drinking at the Miyagawa-cho Beer Garden will also provide you with a unique cultural experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Being that the Miyagawa-cho neighborhood is one of Kyoto’s five geisha districts, it would only be fitting to serve up some rooftop brews with some of the traditional entertainment famous in the area. For the first few weeks of August, head over to the Miyagawa-cho Beer Garden for a summer special of refreshments accompanied by traditional geisha and maiko performances.

Located next to the Kaburenjo theater, a historic theater famous for providing geisha performances throughout the year, this beer garden is in the optimal place to experience the magical art of the geishas. Limited seating is available in the evenings between 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., so be sure to make a reservation and arrive early!

You can receive a tasty dinner meal and all-you-can-drink beverages for ¥5,000 with talented geishas as your hosts and entertainers. During the meal, you will be entertained by various traditional performances by the maikos and geishas such as dancing, singing, and instrument playing. The garden is a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, and it was implemented by community members and groups who believe in preserving Kyoto’s history and making it accessible in the modern day.

Miyagawa-cho Beer Garden

Where: Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theatre 570-2 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0074, Kyoto Prefecture
When: Evenings from the end of July to mid-August
Admission: ¥5,000 per person for performances, dinner, and all-you-can-drink
Tel: 075-561-1151
Website (Japanese): http://www.miyagawacho.jp/

By Jon Rawlinson (geisha dance) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons