Geisha Tours

Kyoto Sights and Nights Presents:

"World famous Walking Lectures"
hosted by Peter MacIntosh


Peter MacIntosh is one of the few Westerners in the world who has the privilege of living, learning, and entertaining with geisha and maiko in Kyoto. Peter has appeared in numerous documentaries, participated in many lectures, and organized for the recent visit of geiko and maiko to the United States of America.

Peter has put his years of experience and knowledge into the development of delightful and entertaining “Walking Lectures” about Kyoto, geisha and maiko, and various traditional arts. His walking lectures have been featured in guidebooks such as:

Lonely Planet (Japan) (pp.344)
Let’s Go (Japan)
The Rough Guide (Japan)

In addition to the “World Famous Walking Lectures”, Peter MacIntosh specializes in Unique Tours where you can create your own tour, Pro Shopping for Collectors and Retailers, Media Location Services, Culture Workshops, Event Coordinating, Lectures and Weddings. Please read below for information about his walking lectures, or visit his website here.

Morning Walk
10:30a.m.-12:30p.m.

The walk lead by Peter MacIntosh will last approximately 90 minutes and will take you through old wooden house lined back streets and alleyways of Kyoto’s world-renowned geisha districts as the geiko and maiko make their way to and from their lessons. While answering your questions Peter will give you an insider’s view into the past, present and future of this unique and exotic world.

The walk will finish at The Tetsuo Ishihara Museum of Traditional Hairstyles where you can see over 100 Japanese hairstyles and more than 200 antique decorative hair ornaments, combs and setting pins used by the courtesan’s, geiko, maiko and townspeople of the past. A video showing the procedures of setting the maiko’s various hairstyles, applying the white make-up and kimono dressing can also be seen here.

Details: Please Visit Kyoto Sights and Nights for Cost and Reservation details.

Evening walk
4:30-6:00 p.m.

The walk lead by Peter MacIntosh will last approximately 90 minutes and will take you through old wooden house lined back streets and alleyways of Kyoto’s world-renowned geisha districts as the geiko and maiko make their way to their evening’s engagements. While answering your questions Peter will give you an insiders view into the past, present and future of this unique and exotic world.

You will see Geisha schools, ochaya, okiya and traditional artisan’s shops. There are some great photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera!

Details: Please Visit Kyoto Sights and Nights for Cost and Reservation details.

Evening walk and private engagement.
6:30pm-10:00pm.

The walk lead by Peter MacIntosh will last approximately 90 minutes and will take you through old wooden house lined back streets and alleyways of Kyoto’s world-renowned geisha districts. While answering your questions Peter will give you an insider’s view into the past, present and future of this unique and exotic world.
The walk will take you through two geisha districts followed by a light dinner and drinks with approximately an hour of maiko/geiko entertainment ie: jovial conversation and dance (by tape), a chance to have your questions about the geisha and their world (translated in to English by Peter MacIntosh), excellent food, drink, and great photo opportunities. So don’t forget to bring your cameras!

Important Note: This is not a photo session for semi-pro or professional photographers/film makers. All images taken during the entertainment should be for personal use and are not to be sold or used professionally in anyway.

Details: Please Visit Kyoto Sights and Nights for Cost and Reservation details.

Be Entertained by Kyoto Geisha/Maiko in an ochaya
"A Walking Lecture Through Kyoto’s geisha quarters plus a Traditional Geisha Party (ozasshiki) in an Teahouse (ochaya) "

The walk lead by Peter MacIntosh will last approximately 90 minutes and will take you through old wooden house lined back streets and alleyways of Kyoto’s world-renowned geisha districts. While answering your questions Peter will give you an insider’s view into the past, present and future of this unique and exotic world.
Geisha entertainment is exactly what it says, “entertainment” that can be enjoyed by both men and women. During the geisha party there will be song and dance to the accompaniment of the shamisen, jovial conversation and a chance to have your questions about the geisha and their world answered and translated in to English (by Peter MacIntosh), excellent food, drink and rare photo opportunities (so don’t forget you camera!).

Details: Please Visit Kyoto Sights and Nights for Cost and Reservation details.



* ImmortalGeisha.com has received permission to reproduce the above text from Peter MacIntosh, owner of Kyoto Sights & Nights.