Ochaya in Gion; extreme hospitality with entertainment

Hanami-koji alley in Gion, Kyoto is an attractive place for those who like to take photos of the atmosphere of this old entertainment town for adult-men. And they eagerly want to take photos of a “maiko-han” or a “geiko-han”, who is a professional hospitable woman wearing a beautiful kimono. Once they find a maiko-han or a geiko-han, they will rush to walk to her to take photos.

The house in which a maiko-han or a geiko-han welcomes a guest is called an “ochaya”. What kind of entertainment is in an ochaya? This time, I will write about the hospitable entertainment in the ochaya. Please follow me imagining that you are a guest.

Ochaya


A unique colored Japanese lantern is the symbol of an ochaya. Once you set foot on the ochaya after opening the gate door, immediately there is an unusual world. It’s so clean and elegant. 


A welcoming doll welcomes you. The host lady of this ochaya invites you to a room where you will be given a lot of hospitality. The room, which is already set to start and is adorned by a Japanese elegant kimono painted with birds, flowers and the four seasons, is empty waiting for your entrance. You are the first man who should sit on the guest’s zabuton. After your sitting the host lady calls a maiko-han, a geiko-han and a jikata-han and so on.


The imagination of the appearance of women in kimono on a stage of kabuki may be suitable.

Such elegant women sit close to you ( they have no zabuton). Their perfume of Japanese cosmetic powder shall add a never-before-experienced sensation to you.

Now, let’s start with them. One of them pours beer into your glass, but wait for a minute. You have to give them glasses to drink. You should drink beer together with them, it’s the manner in ochaya and the spirit of “Wa”, Japanese fundamental spirituality. You are the guest and they are the servers, but that classification is just an obstacle to be given extreme hospitality. OK, cheers!

Enjoying with communication


Let’s communicate proactively with them. They talk with you in the unique dialect of Gion ( you may not be able to understand it). It is slow, elegant intonation and vague. In a lot of dialects in every place in Japan, it might be necessary for guests not to notice the server’s city of birth and to enjoy the party without being aware of guests’ city of birth. It’s the traditional way of no consciousness or no stress against the classification of cities of birth similarly. Even if you can’t speak Japanese, don’t worry. They are the professionals of extreme hospitality. They shall talk with you using their body language.


They will give you unique name-cards. It is said that if you attach them to the skin of your wallet you shall get more money.


Japanese dances

If the air of the party was warmed dancing time starts. For them it’s the earnest entertainment time when they show their professional skills by training day by day. The air in the room changes to a kind of high tension. Actors of kabuki sometimes visit there, and they have to show their dances to the professional kabuki actors who often dance on stage.


Maiko dancing video Instagram

Firstly, the maiko-han dances like the flattering petals of a flower.

All maiko-han are young entertainers under the control of a host lady.


The jikata-han plays a shamisen-instrument and she sings Japanese songs. Maiko-han dances along to the words of the song.


Geiko dancing video Instagram

Secondly, the geiko-han dances. All geiko-han are independent. Her detailed way of dancing, like the form of her fingertips or the gazes of her eyes, is more elegant than the young maiko-han. It’s the appearance of training in every way with time. You shall be introduced to the world of mysterious profundity.


Exciting time by game


Playing video instagram

After their dancing their tension decreases and the air of the room relaxes you. They come back next to you and you may raise your glass with them again. They, who are relaxed, shall talk with you more naturally. Games in ochaya fit this time. You will play games with them to the music and all participator’s clapping. And if you lose the match you have to drink a cup of sake. Although you equally have a chance to win, they are veterans of these games, you shall lose the match and drink sake. After enjoying their professional hospitality and drinking firmly, you will be satisfied with the playing in the ochaya.


Is it fun? Aside from your taste, Gion is the best entertainment place in Japan, because Gion has the longest traditional skills which are hospitable. However, ochaya in Gion is not open to everybody, but if you have a relationship with a person who is already a usual guest of an ochaya, you have a chance of visiting the ochaya through him. It’s only to be expected, the cost of playing in ochaya with geiko-han, maiko-han, and jikata-han is expensive.


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