"Unveil the secrets and discover
the hidden beauty of Kyoto's enchanting geisha culture,
one step at a time."
Details About Our services
Why Chose Us
Peter MacIntosh
Our Mission & How It Began
We are the original Kyoto Geisha Walking Tour created in 2002 by Geisha Culture Expert
Peter MacIntosh
30 plus years of experience
A unique and intimate insight in the geisha world.
10,000 plus satisfied customers
Worked on
"Memoirs of a Geisha"
Small, intimate group sizes
(2 -9 participants).
No flags or megaphones
A set of original postcards
We are the original Kyoto Geisha Walking Tour created in 2002 by Geisha Culture Expert
Peter MacIntosh
30 plus years of experience
A unique and intimate insight in the geisha world.
10,000 plus satisfied customers
Worked on
"Memoirs of a Geisha"
Small, intimate group sizes
(2 -9 participants).
No flags or megaphones
A set of original postcards (geisha photographs)
We actively support all five of the geisha communities by attending their recitals and public events, as well as hire geiko and maiko from districts for private and other business-related activities throughout the year, even during the slower times in recent years.
Our tours are meticulously designed for small, closely-knit groups, with a maximum limit of 9 participants, guaranteeing an intimate and immersive experience.
We take great care to ensure that proper etiquette is observed by both ourselves and our guests as we walk through the neighbourhoods.
Moreover, we enrich our tours with captivating facts and entertaining anecdotes, drawing from Peter's extensive research and his more than three decades of personal involvement within the enchanting realm of the geisha districts.
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Our Mission & How It Began
Peter MacIntosh
Our Mission & How It Began
To give the most ace information and enjoyable experience learning about geisha culture while walking through Kyoto's beautiful cobblestone streets
After the global success of the best-selling novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the unique access gained to Kyoto's geisha community over the years, Peter MacIntosh was flooded with requests from
To give the most ace information and enjoyable experience learning about geisha culture while walking through Kyoto's beautiful cobblestone streets
After the global success of the best-selling novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the unique access gained to Kyoto's geisha community over the years, Peter MacIntosh was flooded with requests from abroad. People were eager to have him work as a liaison, an interviewee, or sometimes both for various media outlets. During this time, He realized the depth of interest the West had regarding geisha culture and the privileged position and access afforded him.
As this interest grew, MacIntosh started contemplating how to share his knowledge and perhaps even make a living. This led him to create something entirely novel – the first-ever Geisha Walking Tour conducted in English in 2002. Since no other foreign residents or Japanese tour guides had ventured into this territory, Peter took the initiative to promote my innovative service and then began reaching out to travel companies, advertising his unique tour, and gradually building a reputation.
In 2002, he took a leap of faith and left his secure, full-time job as a high school English teacher, marking the start of a new chapter in his life. This new endeavour has spanned over three decades, continues to be passionately immersed in it.
He looks forward to taking you on a magical journey through the historic streets of Kyoto's floating world while explaining the history and sharing fun facts and stories about the mysterious world of the geisha.
-Kyoto Geisha Walking Tours 2026 -
Peter MacIntosh
Peter MacIntosh
Peter MacIntosh
Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, MacIntosh embarked on an artistic journey at 22, influenced by his folk artist mother. He landed in Kyoto in 1993, captivated by its rich cultural heritage. Initially, photography was his medium to capture the city's essence. However, his true passion unfolded when he delved into the world of the geisha,
Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, MacIntosh embarked on an artistic journey at 22, influenced by his folk artist mother. He landed in Kyoto in 1993, captivated by its rich cultural heritage. Initially, photography was his medium to capture the city's essence. However, his true passion unfolded when he delved into the world of the geisha, immersing himself in Kyoto's traditional culture..
MacIntosh's dedication led him to study arts such as shodo (calligraphy), haiku (poetry), sumi-e (Indian ink painting), and ikebana (flower arrangement). Nihon buyoh (Japanese dance and kouta (Japanese ballads sung by the geisha.) As of 1999, he became a cultural liaison, offering exclusive access to Kyoto's hidden world for Western media. Notably, he played a key role in "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005) location scouting and directed, wrote and produced the documentary, "Real Geisha Real Women" (2009).
He also created and taught the course "Geisha-Past, Present, Future" at Kansai University and established a leisure and entertainment enterprise in 2002, offering unique Kyoto experiences. MacIntosh is a versatile artist, excelling in photography, writing, and painting, with his works gracing collections worldwide. To see his works, visit his atelier, Gallery Kohfu, nestled in Kyoto since 2016.