Step back in time and into the hidden world of Japan’s most iconic female figures: the geisha. This 3-hour storytelling walk takes you from the cobbled streets of old Tokyo to the polished glamour of Ginza, tracing the evolution of Japan’s traditional entertainers and their modern-day counterparts.

We begin in Kagurazaka, one of the few remaining hanamachi in Tokyo. You’ll walk through atmospheric lanes where a few geisha still perform in exclusive ryotei. We’ll reveal what really happens behind the scenes, and why the life of a geisha was far more complex and respectable than Western myths would have you believe.

Next, we visit Yasukuni Shrine, a place steeped in history and controversy. Here, we’ll explore how World War II shattered the geisha world.

A quick subway ride brings us to the tranquil Imperial Palace Gardens, where we’ll reflect on how Japan’s modernization and changing social structures led to the decline of geisha culture.

From there, we walk to Marunouchi and Nihonbashi. But the spotlight has largely shifted. Enter the kyabajo, or modern-day hostess: a sharp, savvy, emotionally intelligent woman navigating Japan’s unique form of nightlife.

Our tour ends in Ginza, Tokyo’s most sophisticated entertainment district. We’ll explore the parallel realities of appearance and emotion, and hear how the women of Tokyo’s night scene, past and present, have always been far more than they seem.

This is not a tour of costume and cliché. It’s an intimate look into female resilience, shifting societal roles, and the cultural fabric of modern Japan.