A few nice vacation package deals images I found:
Geisha
Image by Sprengben [why not get a friend]
Ever seen a Geisha?
This is one was spotted in Kyoto.
Tell me how you like her :D
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Hey everyone, a little update to the so called Geisha :D
Miss Myloko gave me an interesting briefing about japanese culture. If you are interested read the below and not be fooled if ever visiting Kyoto!!!
Check her out if you like to: www.flickr.com/photos/myloko/
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Maiko henshin (transformation) studios are extremely popular in Kyoto, especially among Japanese, Chinese and Korean tourists (hence why it can be hard to tell them appart at first). It's not cheap either (the basic package runs afor around 0 USD) but it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing (if I went to Kyoto I'd do it too!)
Once you start comparing tourists to the real thing it becomes easier to tell who's a fake and who's the real deal. Here's some things to help you out:
Kanzashi (hair ornaments): Real maiko wear flowers that correspond to certain months. The woman in your photo is wearing chrysanthemums, which are correct for October, not February. The kind of kanzashi that she is wearing isn't even the kind that real maiko wear. The kanzashi that this girl is wearing are used for 7-5-3 and Coming of Age events.
Eri (kimono collar): Real maiko wear specific colors based on their ranks and experience. The hair ornaments and collar always match each other in rank. If her hair ornaments were to match her collar then her collar would have been almost all red instead of mostly white or colored with red.
Make-up: Like the hair ornaments and collar, a maiko's make-up also corresponds to their rank. If these woman were real maiko only their bottom lips would be painted instead of both.
Kimono: Most henshin (maiko dress up) studios often stock regular dance kimono that look similar in design to a maiko's kimono. However, these are poor in quality compared to what a maiko would wear. The studios constantly need to keep a stock of kimono for customers so they are often bought in bulk and made of polyester for easy washing. The large flowers patterns on it give it away as a dance kimono since a maiko's kimono has most ornamentation at the bottom of the sleaves, hems and on the shoulders for the more junior maiko. Dance kimono are meant to be flashy and seen at a distance unlike the maiko kimono which are more subdued and meant to be seen in a personal setting. For large dances such as the Miyako Odori (the dance performed by the maiko of Gion Kobu in April) they have specially designed dance kimono that are flashy but they would not use them in normal engagements.
Kago (handbags): Real maiko would carry their dance fans, business cards, make-up, hand towels, cell phones etc. in them. These girls all have empty ones.
and the biggest giveaway of all...
Hair: These girls are ALL wearing wigs! Real maiko style their own hair :)
I hope this helped to clear up some confusion :D
Ben
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Drop Zone at Kings Island Theme Park
Image by Warren County CVB
Feel your heart drop on Drop Tower when you plunge 26 stories from a height of 315 feet straight down at speeds
Get discounts to Kings Island and other Ohio vacation packages in Warren County! of over 61 mph on the tallest Gyro Drop in the World!
Dinner
Image by ianbckwltr
The free dinner that came with our package deal at the 'Hof. Fondue. Dreamy.
