Interview with a geiko (geisha): overtourism in Kyoto
As Kyoto, and specifically its geisha district, Gion, becomes more and more popular with foreign visitors, it’s important to understand the impact on geisha themselves. So, our Japan-based Head of Operations, Tyler, went to find out. He sat down with Tomitsuyu, an experienced geiko (to use the Kyoto term) who was born and raised in Kyoto. Here, Tyler shares the highlights from their conversation. What made you reach out to Tomitsuyu initially? The media have reported fairly heavily on overtourism in Kyoto, but that narrative doesn’t include voices from the people at the heart of it: the geisha themselves. I had a special opportunity to speak directly with Tomtisuyu one-on-one, and it was such an honour to sit down and hear her honest opinion. How did Tomitsuyu become a gei ...
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