"Miyako Odori" allows you to enjoy the dance of geisha and maiko from Gion Kobu, Kyoto's largest entertainment district. The 152nd performance will be held at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater from Wednesday, April 1st to Thursday, April 30th.
The Miyako Odori changes its theme every year, and the geisha, who play the roles of tachikata, jikata, and nakimono, work together to create a gorgeous and sophisticated stage world. In 2026, the 8th year of the Reiwa era, they will perform "Kan'ei Gyoko Miyako Splendor," commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Kan'ei Imperial Visit to the Capital.
Reiwa 8th 152nd performance"Miyako Odori" poster original drawing
The Kan'ei Imperial Visit was a banquet held when Hidetada, the leader of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and the third Shogun, Iemitsu, welcomed Emperor Gomizunoo to Nijo Castle. It was a major event held to mark the reconciliation between the Imperial Court and the Edo Shogunate, and the arrival of a peaceful world.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Kan'ei Imperial Visit, and the exhibition is designed to evoke the atmosphere of the lavish banquets that took place at Nijo Castle and the spirit of Kan'ei culture.
From the 7 performance (Scene 8: Cherry Blossom Clouds at Heian Shrine)
As has been the case since its premiere in 1872, the Miyako Odori opens with the So Odori, in which dancers dressed in matching light light blue kimonos all appear at once to the call of "Yoiyasaa." Starting with the So Odori this year as well, the performance depicts scenes associated with Kan'ei culture and Kyoto, along with beautiful motifs of the four seasons. One of the highlights is the stage changes that take place throughout the approximately hour-long performance, without the curtain ever falling.
There is no end to the highlights, from the splendid dances of the geisha to the beauty of the Kyoto Yuzen kimonos and Nishijin-ori obi sashes that are newly made every year, to the live performances of shamisen, singing, and musical instruments, and the interior design of the historic theater space.
If you purchase a first-class ticket with a tea voucher, you can watch a tea ceremony performed by a geisha dressed in formal attire with a Kyoto-style Shimada topknot and a black crested kimono with the collar turned inside out before the performance, and enjoy sweets and matcha green tea.
Anyone can enjoy the Miyako Odori, even if they don't have a connection to a teahouse. Why not immerse yourself in the world of elegant dance in the beautiful spring weather of Kyoto?
Miyako Odori Dance
[Period] April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to April 30, 2026 (Thursday)
Three performances per day (each performance lasts approximately one hour)
1st session: 12:30~ 2nd session: 14:30~ 3rd session: 16:30~
[Venue] Gion Kobu Kaburenjo (570-2 Minamigawa, Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
[Price] Theater ticket (all seats reserved, tax included)
・First class seat with tea ticket: 7,000 yen
・First class seats: 6,000 yen
・Second-class seats: 4,000 yen
・Student fare (second-class seats only) 2,000 yen
*Performance program 1,000 yen
