Kamishichiken
Encyclopedia
is a district of Kyoto
, Japan
. It is the oldest hanamachi
(geisha
district) in northwest Kyoto, just east of the Kitano Tenman-gū
Shrine. The name Kamishichiken literally means "Seven Upper Houses." These refer to the seven teahouses built from the equipment and material leftover from the rebuilding of the Kitano Shrine in Muromachi era (1333–1573).
Kamishichiken is located in Kyoto’s Nishijin area, which is known for traditional hand-woven textiles. The quiet streets of Kamigyo-ku are made up of dark, wooden buildings, mainly o-chaya (teahouses) and okiya
(geisha houses). The geisha of this district are known for being subtle and demure, few in number but each highly accomplished dancers and musicians. There are approximately 25 maiko and geiko in Kamishichiken, along with 11 teahouses.
The district crest is a ring of skewered dango (sweet dumplings). On lanterns they appear as red circles on white paper (as opposed to Gion
, which uses white dango on a red background).
. In addition to the plum blossoms, this features a open-air tea ceremony (野点, nodate), where tea and wagashi
are served to 3,000 guests by geisha and maiko.
The annual district-wide dance, is performed in April in the distinctive Hanayagi-ryu style of Kyo-mai dance, sometimes called Kitano Kabuki.
As of 2010, a beer garden
is open to the public at Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre during summer months and offers a unique chance to be served by maiko
and geiko from July 1 until August 31st (from 6pm until 10pm); it also features traditional dances by the geisha in the evening.
The Ichi teahouse in Kamishichiken district maintains an extremely popular blog written by Ichimame , an 18-year-old maiko at the teahouse. Now translated into English, the Ichi teahouse web site also intends to promote district which is not as well-known because it is not located near the busy Yasaka Shrine
area.
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is the oldest hanamachi
Hanamachi
A hanamachi is a Japanese courtesan and geisha district. The word's literal meaning is "flower street". Such districts would contain various okiya . Nowadays, the term hanamachi is commonly used in modern Japan to refer to the areas where modern-day okiya are still operating. In Kyoto's Gion...
(geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
district) in northwest Kyoto, just east of the Kitano Tenman-gū
Kitano Tenman-gu
' is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan.-History:It was built in 947, to appease the angry spirit of bureaucrat, scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane, who had been exiled as a result of political maneuvers of his enemies in the Fujiwara clan....
Shrine. The name Kamishichiken literally means "Seven Upper Houses." These refer to the seven teahouses built from the equipment and material leftover from the rebuilding of the Kitano Shrine in Muromachi era (1333–1573).
Kamishichiken is located in Kyoto’s Nishijin area, which is known for traditional hand-woven textiles. The quiet streets of Kamigyo-ku are made up of dark, wooden buildings, mainly o-chaya (teahouses) and okiya
Okiya
An is the lodging house in which a maiko or geisha lives during the length of her nenki, or contract or career as a geisha.A young woman's first step toward becoming a geisha is to be accepted into an okiya , a geisha house owned by the woman who will pay for her training. The proprietress of the...
(geisha houses). The geisha of this district are known for being subtle and demure, few in number but each highly accomplished dancers and musicians. There are approximately 25 maiko and geiko in Kamishichiken, along with 11 teahouses.
The district crest is a ring of skewered dango (sweet dumplings). On lanterns they appear as red circles on white paper (as opposed to Gion
Gion
is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine...
, which uses white dango on a red background).
Events
On February 25 the Plum Blossom Festival (梅花祭, baikasai) is held at Kitano Tenman-gūKitano Tenman-gu
' is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan.-History:It was built in 947, to appease the angry spirit of bureaucrat, scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane, who had been exiled as a result of political maneuvers of his enemies in the Fujiwara clan....
. In addition to the plum blossoms, this features a open-air tea ceremony (野点, nodate), where tea and wagashi
Wagashi
is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, azuki bean paste, and fruits.Wagashi is typically made from natural ingredients...
are served to 3,000 guests by geisha and maiko.
The annual district-wide dance, is performed in April in the distinctive Hanayagi-ryu style of Kyo-mai dance, sometimes called Kitano Kabuki.
As of 2010, a beer garden
Beer garden
Beer garden is an open-air area where beer, other drinks and local food are served. The concept originates from and is most common in Southern Germany...
is open to the public at Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre during summer months and offers a unique chance to be served by maiko
Maiko
is a Japanese word for dancing girl and is an apprentice geisha. Maiko is also a feminine Japanese given name.-Possible writings:Maiko can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:*舞子 or 舞妓, apprentice geishaas a given name...
and geiko from July 1 until August 31st (from 6pm until 10pm); it also features traditional dances by the geisha in the evening.
Maiko and geiko of Kamishichiken
The most common geisha lines of descent in this district are Ume-, Katsu-, Nao-, and Ichi-.The Ichi teahouse in Kamishichiken district maintains an extremely popular blog written by Ichimame , an 18-year-old maiko at the teahouse. Now translated into English, the Ichi teahouse web site also intends to promote district which is not as well-known because it is not located near the busy Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine
', once called , is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri , the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage.-History:...
area.
See also
- Hanamachi in Kyoto ("Gokagai")
- GionGionis a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine...
-Kobu - GionGionis a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine...
-Higashi - Kamishichiken
- PontochoPontochoPontochō is a Hanamachi district in Kyoto, Japan, known for geisha and home to many geisha houses and traditional tea houses. Like Gion, Pontochō is famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.-Etymology:...
- MiyagawachoMiyagawachoMiyagawachō is one of the hanamachi or geisha districts in Kyoto. Miya-gawa means “Shrine River”, referring to the nickname of the Kamo River just south of Shijō...
- Gion
- Another in Kyoto
- ShimabaraShimabaraShimabara can refer to any of the following:* Shimabara, Nagasaki, a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan* Shimabara Peninsula, the geographic feature that hosts Shimabara, Nagasaki* Shimabara Castle, in Shimabara, Nagasaki...
- Shimabara