It's been almost two years since setting out on my two-week cruise around
mainland Japan. I hope to return sooner rather than later, so this year, I am
focusing on completing this blog series! I want to share this trip with you
before I embark on my next one 😉 In the
last installment, I shared my daytime adventures in Niigata. Now it's time to reveal the true
highlight of the day: the Geisha Dinner Experience!
Wednesday 22 March 2023 - Nighttime in Niigata
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Kappou Daizen was AWESOME because they had no problem offering vegan
food 💚
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Having the best time with Sean! We enjoyed chatting with our tablemates
throughout the night.
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One of my vegan courses: konjac sashimi and grilled tofu 😋
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It was mesmerizing to watch the geigi (芸妓; Niigata geisha) dancing 🩵
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The long kimono sleeves show that this is a junior geigi.
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This dance had two geigi performing together.
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The synchronized dance was enchanting!
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In another dance, a senior geigi joined.
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You can see the shorter sleeves that the senior geigi wears, as well as
the subtler accessories.
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After the dances, we were taught about various aspects of everyone's costumes.
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Here you can see the white makeup that continues even around the back.
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We had a wonderful interpreter helping us understand the information that was being shared 👏
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This geigi looks so elegant in this photo! 💖
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Group photo with the geigi! Sean forgot to put his mask on 😆
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Group photo of the beautiful entertainers 💙
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This geigi had just debuted! She gave us stickers featuring her new
geigi name: Sachiko (咲地子) which could be translated as Child of the
Flowering Land 🌸
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I'm not 100% sure but I believe this was steamed yuba!
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Fried butterbur and fatsia sprouts 🤤
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For dessert, a wee chocolate cake and strawberry 🍓✨
(In this post, I've only included a small selection of the plentiful food & drink I enjoyed!)
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The room we were seated in was decorated richly; this was one of my
favorite pieces.
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After returning to our cabin aboard the Silver Muse, we were greeted
with our breakfast menu, an end-of-cruise travel arrangements form, and
our daily newsletter, along with more tasty chocolates 🍫
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So ended our fantastic day in Niigata. One of the employees of Kappou Daizen
invited me to return, and so I shall, someday! I hope to see Sachiko again and
ask her how work as a geigi has been going. Sooner rather than later, if
possible. I still have the sticker she gave me; I keep it in my clear phone
case, where I see it every day 🥰 But that's all for my adventures in Niigata
in 2023. Next time, we'll be visiting Akita! Please look forward to it. Until
then, may you remain happy, healthy, and safe 💖
