Imagine you bathe in hot-springs, eat fresh sushi and sashimi and see a Japanese dance. And with Japanese sake, hot-springs again before you go to bed. Too extravagant, luxurious and sumptuous with something amorous in your mind? This is what Atami wanna provide to the tourists.
They surely have first-rate Hot-Springs, perfect dishes, the wonderful sea, first-class fishing points, and hundreds of local events through 12 months. And what is more, there is something special you can go through exclusively in Atami!

Typical dance performance

That is “Geisha”. Ever heard of it?
Ok, look it up in a dictionary…yes, it says:
“a Japanese woman trained as a professional singer, dancer, and companion for men”.
“for men”…I’m not sure if this word is to the point now but I can say for sure that they are women who perform Japanese dances with pride and confidence of our tradition.
I got assured of it by seeing “Atami Odori” the other day.

White as snow-white?

The first dance was a folk story for the plumage. It is a story of a beautiful houri from upper region, who came down on the Miho seashore with a plumage.
Very slowly and decently, Geishas moved along the story songs with folding funs in their hands. No sound from the audience, overwhelmed with solemnity of history, I believed.

Oh, boy, marry me!!!

The second one was rather a kind of comic performance. “Cinder Princess”, I would say Japanese Cinderella. So humorous and entertaining in the seriousness of tradition that everyone laughed, clapped their hands and felt better off with it. Guess what? They used sandals instead of glass slippers! I was suspicious that every woman, who had wanted to get married with the prince, had a chance and the way to go, but somehow they eventually came to a happy end.

Oh, the sandal lady...

Atami Odori is put on the stage on April 28th and 29th every year. This year it has reached to the 21st stage and naturally the 22nd stage comes on April 28 & 29th, 2011.
Now raise your hand if you can’t wait until next year? Good information for you! ^^
People with sufficient budget could request the Hotel to call Geisha for dance or engagement during dinner, and this is supposed to be our traditional stylish pleasure allowed only to wealthy people. But I know everyone wants to save money in this economic recession. Now, here is a good news!

Happy ending ＾＾

It is said that around one-tenth of Japanese Geisha is in Atami. If you are interested enough in seeing Geishas, they have the stage on Saturdays and Sundays for the tourists with low cost. You can check it out in this official page but I show the information in English below for the people who don’t read Japanese.
Be sure this information is as of May 7th.
Better ask them before you join the party.

Have a good trip and Feel the tradition! ^^

Curtain time ： from 11:00, every Saturday and Sunday
Admission ： ¥1,300
Place ： Atami Geigi Kenban
Access ： From JR Atami St.
⇒ Take the bus bound for Momijiga-oka
⇒ Get off at Shimizu-cho (About 10 minute-bording)
⇒ 30 second-walk to Atami-Geigikenban
Atami information center ： Ataminews
You can see real good English map from here.

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾