Kamishichiken Beer Garden｜上七軒ビアガーデン

Though tourists in Kyoto come from many different countries and for many different reasons, there's one thing almost everyone has in common: the hope to see a geisha (called geiko in Kyoto) or maiko apprentice.  These lovely ladies are masters of entertainment, trained in traditional arts that have been preserved for hundreds of years.  Kyoto is home to five different hanamachi, districts in which these women live and work, and each hanamachi performs a large dance open to the public once a year... But if you're visiting in the summer, do you have any chance to meet one of these artists?  In fact, you do!

The Kamishichiken district opens their Kaburenjō theater as a beer garden, operating between July 1^st and September 5^th from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm (see below for closing schedule).  Unlike private banquets or parties, no invitation or contact in this elite world is necessary – you can either make a reservation by calling the Kaburenjō (in Japanese) or show up during operating hours and see if there are any free seats available.  While there you can enjoy a nice cold beer and some tasty appetizers like at any beer garden... but here geiko, maiko, and the many women of Kamishichiken come by to take orders, pass out their "flower business cards", and have a small chat with customers.

Entrance to the beer garden is paid with a "Starter Set" of beer for 2,000 yen, and then additional drinks and food carry their own respective charges. 

This sort of opportunity to interact closely with geiko and maiko doesn't happen that often, so if you're in Kyoto this summer don't forget to enjoy yourself at the Kamishichiken Beer Garden, combining the relief of a cold drink on a hot night with the experience of meeting one of Kyoto's famous artisans face to face!