Where To Get Geisha/Maiko Pictures Taken in Kyoto

I love getting dressed up in period costumes and getting my picture taken. Through the years I’ve been a Cowboy, Civil War General, Canadian Mountie, Samurai, and plenty of other strange occupations. During my visit to Japan I wanted to make sure that there were plenty of opportunities for touristy dress up pictures.

The one thing I really wanted was traditional Geisha or Maiko pictures, but I was pretty sure the chances of me bumping into any real life Geisha walking the streets on Kyoto was pretty slim. So, with my wife’s permission, I booked a photo session with one of the top studios specializing in Geisha and Maiko pictures.

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Finding Long Term Accommodations in Osaka & Kyoto

Looking for short term accommodations in Japan is relatively easy with a wide variety of choices – from Japanese style inns (ryokans) to ultra modern business hotels – making booking short term stays a snap. But what if you are staying in Japan for longer, say a few months? Now things start to get a whole lot more difficult.

After doing some heavy research for a longer stay in Japan, here’s what I’ve found about booking accommodations for the Osaka and Kyoto area.

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Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) is to Kyoto what the Empire State building is to New York- a quintessential piece of architecture that defines the area. It is pretty rare to see a mention of Kyoto in a web site or magazine without at least one picture of this beautiful, gold-covered building.

But what is Kinkaku-ji and why was it built? And if you’re planning to visit, what camera gear should you take to get the best shots?

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