We bought the tickets including the tea ceremony. It spoiled our expectations right at the start. The whole thing goes on so fast it a ridiculous (less than 10 min). People speak loudly, no one looks and listen at the geishas, and the hostess rush you out even before you have had you tea and cake. It is an insult to their culture to do things in such an industrial manner. Don’t waste time and money on that scam! We did like the dance very much though. The music, the signing, the costumes, seeing geishas dancing in their very subtle and gracious way. We loved everything about it and were very touched to witness such beautiful cultural demonstration. It is one of the highlights of our trip to Japan.

With a friend we were determined to see a geisha spectacle. After feeling that Gion Corner is a bit too touristy we decided to go here. Tickets could be bought outside this Cultural Center on the day of the show (running 3x daily from 1st till 16th April in 2017), without akward waiting in the queue for an hour before the show (approx. ¥2000-¥3500 depending on the seat and of you wish to include tea service). The staff was really helpful: they explained us where we can park our bicycles and guided us to our seats. We also got a modest yet helpful English description of what was being shown (similar to ballet/opera programs). I am not an expert on geisha dances, but it had a cultural center (not: theater) touch to it. It doesn't mean it was cheap. It felt small yet engaged, local and hearty: I could feel a sheer joy of other locals watching their friends, maybe family or reminding themselves once they did that dance? Not too touristy either, which I liked as well. Show itself was magnificent. It was forbiden to take photos and there are none on TripAdvisor that show how magnificent they were. Finally I understood the difference between Gaiko and Maiko, watched the dresses and highly trained and synchronised moves with amazement. Understood what and why they train (you could tell a slight difference in experience between Geiko and Maiko). Scenography was rather simple, yet the show was not about scenography :) We skipped tea ceremony. Just because. The show in Miyako Odori might be just a bit better but as for a tourist and after watching a few photos of it - I don't feel it is worth a pain if you don't have resources to get tickets to that one. You won't be able to tell a difference (apart from bigger scene and even more dancers - which was certainly big enough at Miyagawa-cho at around 30). And definitely better than Gion Corner from what has been said in hostel's kitchen :) Just go there and tell by yourself! :)