Geiko and Maiko outside of Kyoto

Blog about Hanamachi culture outside of Kyoto. For those of you who ask stuff, I answer as best as I can, but I don't know everything :)

[maigeiko]

Geisha exist all over Japan...

Geisha exist all around Japan, not only in Kyoto!

Notes: -> If a city/district is crossed out, that means the Hanamachi is defunct. -> If there is no city listed under a prefecture name, that means I don’t know of any cities in that prefecture that have or had Hanamachi -> Hyperlinks lead to entries on this blog tagged with that specific city -> The content you see here is undergoing changes, since there is always a possibility that I find more informations 1: Hokkaido region 1. Hokkaido Asahikawa 旭川 Hakodate 函館 (Yunokawa onsen 湯の川温泉 ) Muroran 室蘭 Otaru 小樽 Sapporo 札幌 2-7: Tohoku region 2. Aomori Aomori (Asamushi onsen 浅虫温温泉) Hachinohe 八戸 3. Iwate Hanamaki onsen 花巻温泉 Oshu (Isawa onsen 石和温泉) Kamaishi 釜石 Morioka 盛岡 4. Miyagi Sendai 仙台 5. Akita Akita 秋田 Yuzawa 湯沢 6. Yamagata Sakata 酒田 Tsuruoka 鶴岡 Yamagata 山形 7. Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu 会津若松 (Higashiyama onsen 東山温泉) Fukushima 福島 Kôriyama 郡山 Nihonmatsu 二本松 (Dake onsen 岳温泉) 8-14: Kanto region 8. Ibaraki Mito 水戸 9. Tochigi Nasu (Nasu onsen 那須温泉) Oyama 大山 Utsunomiya 宇都宮 10. Gunma Ikaho 伊香保 Kusatsu 草津 Maebashi 前橋 Minakami 水上  - Sarugakyo onsen 猿ヶ京温泉 Takasaki 高崎 11. Saitama 12. Chiba Kisarazu 木更津 13. Tokyo Rokkagai: Akasaka 赤坂 Asakusa 浅草 Kagurazaka 神楽坂 Mukojima 向島 Shinbashi 新橋 Yoshi-cho 芳町 Outside the Rokkagai: Hachioji 八王子 Maruyama-cho 円山町 Otsuka 大塚 Shinagawa (Oi 大井/Omori 大森) - formerly known as Kon’nyaku-jima 蒟蒻島 Famous Hanamachi: Fukagawa 深川 Yanagibashi 矢作橋 Yushima tenjin 湯島天神 Other Hanamachi: Araki-cho 荒木町 Dogenzaka 道玄坂 Fujimi-cho 富士見町 Gotanda 五反田 Hakusan 白山 Himono-cho 檜物町 Kobusho 講武所 Nihonbashi 日本橋 Shiba 芝 Shibaura 芝浦 Shintomi-cho 新富町 Shitaya 下谷 Yoshiwara 吉原 14. Kanagawa Atsugi 厚木 (Iiyama onsen 飯山温泉) Hakone 箱根 Kamakura 鎌倉 Yokohama 横浜 Yugawara (Yugawara onsen 湯河原温泉) 15-23: Chubu region 15. Niigata Nagaoka Onsen 長岡温泉 Niigata 新潟 Shibata 新発田 (Tsukioka onsen 月岡温泉) Jôetsu (Takada 高田) Yuzawa 湯沢 16. Toyama Himi 氷見 Asahi 朝日 (Tomari-cho) 17. Ishikawa Kanazawa 金沢 Kaga (Yamanaka onsen 山中温泉) Katayamazu Onsen 片山津温泉 18. Fukui Awara (Awara Onsen 芦原 温泉) Fukui 福井 Obama 小浜 19. Yamanishi Kofu 甲府 20. Nagano Kamiyamada togura 上山田戸倉 Matsumoto 松本 Suwa (Kamisuwa Onsen 上諏訪)  Yudanaka (Yudanaka Onsen 湯田中温泉) 21. Gifu Gero Onsen 下呂温泉 Gifu 岐阜  - Higashi Kogan-cho 東高岩町 (Geigi Union) - Komeyacho 米屋町 - Tamanoi 玉井 Takayama 高山 22. Shizuoka Atami 熱海 Fujinomia 富士宮 Hamamatsu 浜松 Ito Onsen 伊東 Izunokuni (Izunagaoka Onsen 伊豆長岡) Shimoda 下田 (Izushimoda Onsen) Shizuoka 静岡  - Tokiwa-chô 常磐町 - Shimizu 清水 23. Aichi Anjo 安城 Gamagori 蒲郡 (Mitani Onsen 三谷温泉) Hotei 布袋 Inuyama 犬山 Kochino 古知野 Kônan 江南 Nagoya 名古屋 Toyokawa 豊川 Toyota (Asuke 足助) 24-30: Kansai region 24. Mie Kuwana 桑名 25. Shiga Hikone 彦桹 Otsu 大津 26. Kyoto Kyoto 27. Osaka Osaka 大阪 - Horie 堀江 - Kitashinchi 北新地 - Nanchi 南地 - Shinmachi 新町 Imasato 今里 28. Hyogo Arima Onsen 有馬温泉 Kinosaki 城崎 Kobe 神戸 29. Nara Nara 奈良 30. Wakayama Shingu 新宮 Shirahama 白浜 Wakayama 和歌山 31-35: Chûgoku 31. Tottori 32. Shimane Matsue 松江 (Tamatsukuri onsen 玉造温泉) 33. Okayama Obara 小原 Okayama 岡山 34. Hiroshima 35. Yamaguchi 36-39: Shikoku region 36. Tokushima Komatsushima 小松島 Tokushima 徳島 37. Kagawa Kotohira 琴平 Takamatsu 高松 38. Ehime Matsuyama (Dogo onsen 道後温泉) 39. Kochi Kochi 高知 40-47 Kyushu region 40. Fukuoka Fukuoka 福岡 Kurume 久留米 Tenjin-ka 天神下 41. Saga Takeo 武雄 Ureshino Onsen 嬉野 (tag exists but tumblr doesn’t recognise it - therefore a “search” link) 42. Nagasaki Nagasaki 長崎 43. Kumamoto Kumamoto 熊本 44. Oita Beppu onsen 別府 45. Miyazaki 46. Kagoshima Kagoshima 鹿児島 47. Okinawa last updated 08. May 2026

[maigeiko]

Map of Tokyo Hanamachi and their establishements

Thanks to the ask that @the-fuzzball sent, I remembered today that a fellow member of Tsurukomaiko made a custom map of the Kyoto Hanamachi years ago. So I decided to make a similar map of the Tokyo Hanamachi. All Ryotei listed on the current websites of Shinbashi, Kagurazaka, Akasaka, Mukojima and Asakusa are on there, plus some shrines and event locations. I'm currently adding Mukojima Ryotei that were on the website once but seem to have closed meanwhile, and then I'll see if I can add anything to the other Kagai too. So if you're ever in Tokyo and want to check the locations out... here's a map that might help! Tokyo Hanamachi – Google My Maps

[maigeiko]

Over a year has passed since the original installment of this map. There have been a lot of updates to Tokyo Hanamachi old and new (finding addresses of former Ryotei in Yanagibashi? Impossible). I have recently acquired an Azuma Odori program from 1959, and included is a list of all Shinbashi Ryotei that operated at this time: 75 in total! For comparison, the Shinbashi Kumiai website lists 5 Ryotei currently (that are probably associating with the Shinbashi Geisha). The list includes the names of the business, their addresses, telephone numbers and names of contact persons. The Shinbashi Hanamachi used to be (geographically) much larger than I thought!

[maigeiko]

Do yuzawa geiko nemaki cut like other geiko in kyoto

Probably yes. There is this picture from Fukino's debut in 2019. The front Geiko (I think she is Kanohana) has uncut nemaki. I watched a video of Fumika's Erikae and she had uncut nemaki too.

Image source: https://www.facebook.com/akitayuzawa.yunohanageigi/photos/2652090805027780

This is a picture of Kanohana from 2021 (she became a Geiko in 2019), with cut nemaki. Image source: https://www.facebook.com/akitayuzawa.yunohanageigi/photos/3394888464081340 Sadly I don't have many pictures of Yuzawa Geiko in general, and even fewer where you can see the back of their wigs properly, so this is more speculation than facts, but I think yes, they have full nemaki on their wigs upon debut (unless they wear tsubushi shimada from the start), and have them cut at a later point.

[maigeiko]

Kanazawa debut+general Shinbashi news

►Kanazawa On 2. June 2026, a Shinbana Geigi will debut in Kazuemachi, Kanazawa. Her name is Hikaru 光流. https://kanazawa-tourism.net/kazue-topics/hikaru/ ►Shinbashi Momoka 百々香, Jikata specialised in Hayashi, debuted around 2009, has retired. Mahiro 万尋, student of the Onoe school of dance, debuted 2024, has retired. Chihiro 千尋, also an Onoe student, debuted with Mahiro, has become a Jikata Geisha, on the Shinbashi Kumiai website grouped in the Nagauta section. https://shinbashi-kumiai.tokyo/%E6%96%B0%E6%A9%8B%E8%8A%B8%E8%80%85/ Last Friday, on 22. May 2026, a new Geisha debuted in Shinbashi. Her name is Momo 百. Source: Kotama on instagram

[maigeiko]

13. May 2026 in Niigata: Debut of Hajime はじめ and Natsuki 菜月. There are now seven Furisode-san, three Tomesode-san and about seven independent Geigi in Niigata. Photos by Ryuto Shinko

[maigeiko]

Hamachiyo 浜千代, Takamatsu Geiko in the late Shôwa era. Hamachiyo was a natori of the Kiyomoto school of Joruri, studying under master Umejû 梅寿. The Takamatsu Hanamachi was established in the late 1800's. Around 1885, the first Kenban (registry office) was established. Around 1892, a second Kenban was established in Katahara-machi, called "Higashi 東" (eastern)". The older one was remaned to Nishi 西" (western) Kenban. In the time between 1900 and 1930, there were over 100 Geiko and about 15 Maiko. Higashi Kenban was renamed to Tamamo 玉藻-Kenban before 1909, and at a later point renamed afain to Naka 中-Kenban. Takamatsu Geiko likely studied Kineya 杵屋-ryu for Nagauta and Fujima 藤間-ryu for dance. Photo published in Hana Akari: Shôwa Meigiren, p. 212, quick paint job by me

[maigeiko]

Do you know those symbols on the walls of okiya and ochaya like when they were put on and what they are for?

Yes, thankfully @missmyloko received a similar ask years ago, otherwise I wouldn't know either :D Let's give Myloko credit. Read her answer, it should contain all infos about the plaques :) https://www.tumblr.com/missmyloko/175634497993/what-are-the-seals-little-plaques-up-on

Short version: these are plaques of organisations the Ochaya/Okiya is a member at, like the Ochaya Union. Sometimes you might also find plaques of media organisations like NHK if they have worked together frequently.

[maigeiko]

Yes. I am also interested in other Hanamachi. I wish to see what their maiko and geiko looked like and what songs they sung and performed. I think Gion Kobu is more admired and respected because Gion Kouta is sung by other Hanamachi too. I have not heard songs from other Hanamachi for example Miyagawa Kouta or others being sung in Gion Kobu or other Hanamachi. I heard a poet wrote Gion Kouta in Teahouse Yoshiuta and he used to say “No matter what you say, I love Gion”. Gion Kouta also mentions Kamo river which is in Pontocho so I think Gion Kouta symbolizes 4 Hanamachi through 4 season poetry because Gion Higashi was part of Gion Kobu in the past. It was written in Gion so it is named Gion Kouta is what I think.

Valid! I think Kyoto songs are documented fairly well. The songs of 2026 are mostly the same as in 1926. But what they looked like in the past, let's say before the late 2000's? Gion Kobu is documented best, the others fall off the edge.

There are plenty of books documenting life in Gion Kobu in the time before internet (for example "Showa no Gion" by Hiroshi Mizobuchi). I think "Showa no Gion Higashi" would be a nice follow-up!

Regarding Gion Kouta – Gion in this case doesn't refer to Gion Kobu only, but to an area in Kyoto that includes both Gions, Miyagawacho

@missmyloko has translated the song, if you're interested!

Post by @missmyloko · 1 image

💬 0  🔁 53  ❤️ 118 · What’s In a Dance? Part 1 · After requesting this topic many times I’ve decided to do it as a series rather than just ma

[maigeiko]

Which hanamachi in Kyoto is your favorite and why

None really. I like them all equally. However, I find it sad that old publications about the Kyoto Karyukai almost exclusively focus on Gion Kobu. I want to learn more about the past of the other districts, too!

[maigeiko]

What can be the name lines of newly opened okiya nomura in gion kobu if you know?

Since Nomura didn't have any Maiko or Geiko to debut yet, that would be impossible to know, so you will have to wait until there were any debuts :) I read that Nomura had three Shikomi in April, but no info about how far along they are.

[maigeiko]

Since all three of the Nomura Shikomi became Maiko now, let's revise this ask again.

The naming lines are "chizu" (coming from Okâsan Mamechizu), "ha" (from Fukuha), and "Mame" (from Ninben Okâsan Mamehiro).

"Chizu" 千鶴 originates in Tama, Mamechizu herself comes from Kineya's "zuru" line.

"Ha" 葉 also originates in Fujimoto, where Takeha, the grand onêsan once debuted.

"Mame" with the 豆 kanji comes from Yoshimame, who was Shibata's okâsan before the Okiya closed. Thanks to Yoshimame and her imôto Mamehiro, who founded Ninben Okiya, this naming line is widespread all over Gion Kobu.

[maigeiko]

Did Maiko Kikune from Hanafusa become a Geiko? She lived with Kikuyu, Kikumaru and Kikuno. Someone said she retired and did not become a geiko.

Nope, she retired in 2012 after a long apprenticeship of 6 years and did not become a Geiko. You might be confused because you saw her in Hanafusa-related events way after 2012 (Kikuno's wedding and Kikuyae's Erikae). Apparently, multiple former GeiMaiko from Hanafusa still have a good relationship with the Okasan and with their Okiya peers.

[maigeiko]

How long is the training period in Yuzawa for Maiko? Do they learn same skills like other maiko and hangyoku and how old are Yuzawa maiko? 😊

Fumika is the first Yuzawa Maiko where both the debut and Erikae date are known - but her Maiko period was quite short. She debuted in March 2024 and became a Geiko in March 2026 - two years later. Fukino, for example, was a Maiko for about five years until she disappeared from the public for a few months and came back as Geiko. I presume Yuzawa Maiko have a similar curriculum to Maiko/Hangyoku elsewhere. Arts they are definitely trained in are dance, Kotsuzumi, Shamisen, a type of flute (likely Shinobue). Like Maiko from all over the country, they usually start at 18 and graduate at 21. 18 is the youngest entry age - Fumika progressed very quickly (became a senior Maiko less than a year after her debut), so I presume she was a bit older already. Also seeing Fukino's long apprenticeship, 21 isn't a cut-off-age either. Sadly, for the Maiko who became Geiko before them, I don't have enough pictures to judge for how long they were Maiko.

[maigeiko]

Thank you. If Yuzawa did not have Kyoto style maiko then how do you think their maiko and geiko would look? I think they would still look like Kyoto maiko and geiko because mostly maiko and geiko from past look similiar to each other in very old photos.

There is this picture and I'm quite sure on the left it's a Maiko. The photo is probably from the earliest years of the Taishô era. Overall style of dress and photography looks like "Meiji" to me, but the caption says the lady on the left was named Rôra ローラ and came from Russia to work in Yûzawa in the Taishô era. It's not a good picture, but the only pre-2015 Yuzawa Maiko I can offer. Back then, there was less uniformity in Maiko looks, but let's say she represents the typical prewar Yuzawa Maiko. Hairstyle: Shimada, likely Yakko Shimada. Kimono: Furisode without shoulder tucks. (Hikizuri are draped differently on the floor, you'd see a lot more fabric) Obi: could be Otaiko Musubi, which was not restricted be worn by to Geiko/Geisha

[maigeiko]

由喜千代 on Instagram: "料亭濱長で現在私含めて2人の土佐芸妓がおりましたが、もう一人デビュー致しました❣️ ⁡ 土佐芸妓 涼万(りょうま)です🙇‍♀️ ⁡ 沢山お稽古を重ね、この日をようやく迎えられました！ まだまだ未熟ではありますが、彼女の魅力の一つでもある«努

75 likes, 2 comments - yukichiyo0029 on May 5, 2026: "料亭濱長で現在私含めて2人の土佐芸妓がおりましたが、もう一人デビュー致しました❣️ ⁡ 土佐芸妓 涼万(りょうま)です🙇‍♀️ ⁡ 沢山お稽古を重ね、この日をようやく迎えら

New Geiko in Kochi Yukichiyo announced that recently, Ryoma (涼万) debuted and with her, three Geiko work at Hamacho. We should also see the debut of a new Maiko named Tamachiyo (秋千代) soon!

[maigeiko]

View this post on Instagram

March 2026: Honoka ほの佳 from Tokyo-Shinagawa became a Geisha after being a Hangyoku for the past 5 years. Congratulations!

[maigeiko]

Origin of Akita Hanamachi in Yuzawa City

In case this is a question... here's all I know: https://maigeiko.tumblr.com/post/680748385052016640/

[maigeiko]

7. May 2026 in Asakusa: Debut of Otoaki おと晶 (Geisha) and Miyaaki みや晶 (Hangyoku). Congratulations for passing the first part of your apprenticeship to both! I don't know if any other debuts are scheduled in Asakusa this year, but the last time there were four debuts in a year was in 2017 with two Hangyoku from Kawamura and two Geisha from Kawai. Picture credit: Eirô Kawamura on instagram