Traditional Geisha Culture from the Port City of Niigata
Like Gion (Kyoto) , Niigata’s Furumachi area has long been known as a famous geisha district. With 200 years of history, the Niigata Furumachi Geigi are an important cultural legacy from Niigata’s past as a port city. We hope you’ll visit Niigata’s traditional Ryotei restaurants to savor fine local cuisine, history, and the captivating performances of Geigi dressed in lavish kimono.
The origins of the Niigata Furumachi Geigi go back nearly 200 years, to the Edo period. Niigata was flourishing as a major port-of-call and trade town on the Kitamaebune sea route. In time, a Geisha district formed, and Niigata’s Furumachi Geigi came to entertain guests with elegant performances. Niigata is home to the Ichiyama School of Japanese dance. Highly regarded for its artistry, Ichiyama is both Niigata City’s foremost Intangible Cultural Property and the only regional school of dance to boast over 120 years of history.
Geigi are both a vital part of Niigata’s traditional heritage, and the symbol of the Furumachi Geisha District, where atmospheric streets of traditional Ryotei restaurants serve fresh, seasonal cuisine together with Japan’s best rice and local saké.
The origins of the Niigata Furumachi Geigi go back nearly 200 years, to the Edo period. Niigata was flourishing as a major port-of-call and trade town on the Kitamaebune sea route. In time, a Geisha district formed, and Niigata’s Furumachi Geigi came to entertain guests with elegant performances. Niigata is home to the Ichiyama School of Japanese dance. Highly regarded for its artistry, Ichiyama is both Niigata City’s foremost Intangible Cultural Property and the only regional school of dance to boast over 120 years of history.
Geigi are both a vital part of Niigata’s traditional heritage, and the symbol of the Furumachi Geisha District, where atmospheric streets of traditional Ryotei restaurants serve fresh, seasonal cuisine together with Japan’s best rice and local saké.
