Condé Nast Traveler carried the story on Japanese cultural tour focusing on Geisha in its October 2009 issue.
The article titled "My Life as a Geisha" written by a jounalist Shoba Narayan talks about alluring beauty of culture, art and life surrounding Geisha (Geiko and Maiko in Kyoto's dialect).
Below are excerpts from the article of Condé Nast Traveler.
What woman can't use some lessons in feminine allure? Shoba Narayan travels to Kyoto to pick up some tips from the masters--the city's renowned geishas. Trust us--there's much more to Japan's most enduring icons than white face-paint and a bee-stung pout
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The dictionary defines allure as "the power to entice or attract through personal charm," which has more to do with gait and bearing than with beauty. The geisha are masters of allure. This, I believe, is why we are fascinated by them. It isn't that they are beautiful, although many of them are. Beauty is a wild card anyway, beyond our control. Sexy, after a certain age, borders on tawdry. Mystique is too much work. But allure, as the geisha so magnificently prove, can be taught and learned. Just like etiquette.
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Japan, as all first-time travelers there can attest, can be difficult to navigate. My trip to Kyoto was arranged by the Tokyo-based Michi Travel Japan, which specializes in tailor-made luxury experiences. Although many companies offer geisha-oriented itineraries, I found Michi not only the most affordable but also the most flexible (and all of its staff speak fluent English).
Michi Travel Japan is a Japan-based travel company specializing in offering customized tours for people from all over the world to Japan. Please see michitravel.com for more details.
