Dining at the ochaya with the geiko and maiko was a rare and beautiful experience. Their elegance, warmth, and artistry made the evening feel intimate and genuine, not staged. The dances, music, and conversation offered incredible insight into a living tradition that few get to experience so closely. Our translator was exceptional, very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and engaging. She provided rich cultural context throughout the evening and made the experience feel seamless, personal, and truly meaningful. The food, atmosphere, and hospitality came together perfectly, creating an evening that felt timeless and refined. I left feeling incredibly grateful and inspired. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I cannot recommend highly enough.

This will be my third visit to Kyoto. It's also the second time we've met up with Ayane at a "man" teahouse thanks to Yukari's heartwarming arrangements. If you count, this is the fifth time I have met Ayane. We have already had a long relationship since we started going to Kyoto every year. Once again, I would like to thank Yukari from the bottom of my heart for her help and excellent interpretation. Thanks to Yukari, I was able to share my thoughts in more detail and accuracy. It was a truly unforgettable and beautiful golden night. We will definitely be back here next November to reunite with this wonderful friend.

During our family trip to Kyoto last year-end, we hoped to experience a private geisha performance in a traditional teahouse (ochaya). Initially, our hotel concierge informed us this would be impossible since we could only arrive on December 29, when geishas begin their annual holiday break. However, while researching online, I discovered Exclusive Kyoto and was impressed by their TripAdvisor reviews. To our delight, they were able to arrange this cultural experience for us! We arrived at the ochaya on schedule and were warmly welcomed by Yukari-san from Exclusive Kyoto. She led us to a spacious and cozy private room with a designated performance area. When the maiko (apprentice geisha) and geiko (fully-fledged geisha) entered, we were absolutely mesmerized by their elaborate makeup, intricate hairstyles, and exquisite kimonos. Throughout our Japanese dinner provided by the ochaya, they entertained us with traditional dances and games, and graciously answered our questions. Yukari-san provided excellent English translation throughout the evening, which concluded with a photo session. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we highly recommend!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Thanks a lot for kind and dedicated Yukari-San. With her best help, I can have the reunion with my friend Maiko Masane-San of GionHigashi. That was such an impressive night that we meet again since last summer we came across several times and we made the appointment to meet again this autumn. And luckily with the help from dear Yukari-San, we can successfully meet together at Ochaya Man. And Masane-San was so happy and now both of us are hopefully waiting for the next time next autumn. Thanks again for Yukari-San.