Musings 
2 Comments Travel Experience: The Path to Becoming a Maiko
Yes even the back of your neck is painted white
When most people think about Kyoto they think Geishas. Before they become the glamorous geishas, though, most start off as maikos. The most important thing to dispel about geishas and maikos is that they are NOT prostitutes, at least not true the geishas and maikos. They are more or less entertainers trained in the arts of tea ceremony, dance and music. Maikos can range in age from 15 to 20. Any woman older than that is deemed too old to be a maiko, but can become a geisha without any training as a maiko. For maikos and geishas, there is generally a year long training session where the women learn the various aspects of hospitality, traditional dance and playing the shamisen. Lucky for me, there are plenty of places scattered in Kyoto that offer you the Maiko experience without having to train. All it takes is a kimono, some white make up and lots of hair wax.
