Geisha culture. Maiko walking to work along a narrow residential street in Kyoto

Photo: Alpgiray Kelem · Japan · 2026-06-12 · Editorial use

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Kyoto, Japan - June 12, 2026: A maiko walks down a narrow residential street in Kyoto on her way to work in the teahouse district. Seen from behind, she wears a pale green kimono with a black obi decorated with round motifs, and her hair is styled in the traditional manner with ornaments. She carries a red bag in her right hand and a small light blue item in her left as she follows the yellow line along the edge of the asphalt. Low apartment blocks and older wooden houses line the street on the left, while scaffolding stands against a dark building beside a gravel lot on the right. Utility poles and a dense web of overhead wires run toward the end of the street. Maiko are apprentice geiko, trained in Kyoto in traditional dance, music and the hosting of guests at teahouses.

• City Life
• City Street
• Street
• Traditional Clothing
• Apartment
• Asian Culture
• Asphalt
• Bag
• Candid
• Carrying
• Diminishing Perspective
• East Asia
• Geisha
• Gravel
• Hair Accessory
• Hairstyle
• Honshu
• Japan
• Japanese Culture
• Kimono
• Kyoto City
• Kyoto Prefecture
• Narrow
• On The Move