The story of a woman who became a geisha at the age of 29.

In Kyoto’s geisha districts, most women enter this world in their teens, shortly after graduating from junior high school. They spend five or six years training as maiko (apprentice geisha) before becoming geisha themselves around the age of twenty.

But did you know that some women become geisha without ever training as a maiko?

Hidechisa, a geisha from Pontocho, entered the geisha world at the age of 29.
Because she was already an adult, she began her career directly as a geisha rather than as a maiko.

She recalls feeling uncertain about whether she could succeed. Everyone around her had entered the profession as teenagers and had already overcome countless challenges through years of training.

In fact, she had once tried to enter this world when she was a teenager. After moving to Kyoto from her hometown, she began training in a geisha district.
However, she struggled with the strict rules and customs, and the pressure eventually affected her health. Less than six months later, she gave up and left.

After graduating from university, she worked for a company and pursued a conventional career. Yet she could never completely let go of her dream of becoming a geisha.

Eventually, she decided to return.

Although many of the people around her are younger than she is, they are still her seniors, having trained as maiko for years. It is often said that geisha who skip the maiko stage face additional challenges because they have less recognition among customers.

There were times when memories of her earlier failure came back to her, leaving her frustrated and even in tears.

But having already experienced the regret of giving up once, she was determined not to live with that regret again. With renewed resolve, she returned to the geisha district and began a new chapter, striving to become a geisha worthy of the respect and recognition of those around her.

Even many local people know surprisingly little about the world of geisha.

The training is demanding, and life does not suddenly become easy after becoming a geisha. Yet some women return after setbacks, while others leave their families as teenagers to dedicate themselves to years of rigorous training.

What drives them to continue?

I believe the answer lies in a profound sense of mission and pride, the belief that they are the living custodians of traditions and culture that are gradually fading in modern society.

“They are not simply preserving tradition. They are living it, carrying it forward, and ensuring that it survives for future generations.”

Interested in learning more about geisha culture in the actual streets of Gion?
Join our Gion Geisha District Walking Tour.