Kokoro Hanashizuku Maiko Experience — Local services in Kyoto

I would highly recommend this experience! The photos look great and the staff were amazing. I reserved about two weeks in advance through email (in English) for my friend and I. My friend picked the Jorogumo plan and I picked the Oiran B plan. The location of the store may be a little hard to find, as the signage isn't super obvious until you're right in front of the store. You have to walk down a little narrow alleyway to find the door. We were asked to arrive 15 minutes before our booking time.

The whole experience: Once we arrived, we filled out some forms in the waiting area and then ushered to a room to store our things in a locker. You will be asked to store your valuables in a smaller locker at the waiting area. We changed into gowns in a changing room, and we were given baskets to bring some small items such as phones and water in with us. We moved to the makeup room next, where some very nice ladies did our hair and makeup. The Oiran B plan had a lot more choices involved: Colour of your inner kimono, colours of your outer kimonos, eyeshadow colours (depending on the vibe you're going for), hair accessory colours, obi colour, and ribbon colour. The colour selection was a little overwhelming and I did wish they could have just picked for us since I had some decision paralysis going on. For Jorogumo, I believe my friend just had a choice of using her real hair or a wig, as well as how "dark" (edgy?) she wanted her makeup. We were asked if we wanted nails, which was an additional fee but I strongly recommend it. After hair and makeup, we were helped into our kimono and lead downstairs to the photo sets. My photographer was very nice and funny and my friend said her photographer was also very nice. I speak enough Japanese to communicate with the staff, but my friend speaks no Japanese at all and was fine. For the Oiran B package, I did 5 poses using various props. My friend was able to select 3 props for her Jorogumo package. After the photo session, we were lead to a room where we could take some selfies/photos with our own phones. Then we went back to the makeup room to remove our hair accessories and some makeup, and then back to the dressing room (which has sinks and cleansers) to wash off the remainder. The hair and photography took us 2 hours and then we spent about 45 minutes in the waiting area browsing our photos on a tablet and selecting which ones we wanted. We left the store pretty much exactly 3 hours later, which was what the site said. I suspect if you're fast at picking, you could finish a little earlier.

Hakama: I didn't do this but i did see other couples doing this. From what I saw, the person dressing up as the oiran goes in for hair/makeup/dressing immediately while the guy waits in the waiting area. About 45 minutes in, the guy is ushered in to change. After changing, he goes back to the waiting room to presumably wait for when the oiran-only portion of the photoshoot is complete and he can join at the end.

Photos: I can't comment on the quality of the retouched photos yet as the photos take up to 10 days to be sent to you. You have a choice of receiving them by email or by LINE. That said, we were very impressed by how the photos turned out. Both my friend and I had so many photos we liked that we both ended up paying extra for an additional selection. You can also decide to purchase all data (untouched). When we were leaving, we were also each given a little business card sized print of one of the photos we had selected, which already looks amazing!

Overall: This was our first time doing such a photoshoot and it was a great experience. The staff were so friendly and skilled. It was raining when we left and they kindly called a taxi for us, and even came out in the rain to check on us multiple times when the taxi was late. I would love to come back and do another photoshoot next time. Thank...

10/10!! Overall the whole experience was an absolute wonder!

I was originally still deciding which shop to choose when I saw this shop had so many great reviews and I’m so glad I chose right. There’s so many different choices/looks/plans to choose from and everything is very clearly listed on their website (prices, choices, additional fees, etc)

I booked 2 plans for the same day through email (Hagoromo Tennyo Plan + Nine tailed white fox). The reservation went very smoothly and no deposit was needed, they replied rather quickly with all details you need to know.

After arriving, you remove your shoes at the door and change into the slippers provided. The waiting area is very calming with some soothing music playing and someone comes right away to help you get registered. You fill out a little survey with some simple questions and they double confirm the plan you’ve chosen then they bring you up to change into a simple one piece gown then lockers are provided to store your clothes and belongings.

After changing, you go into the makeup room where the makeup artist will introduce themselves and start your transformation from makeup then wig then outfit. You can tell they are professionals based on the speed and precision they have. I definitely recommend the press on nails for 500 yen, the nails are worth every penny when taking the photos.

Once you’re all set, they bring you to the photo room (different plans go to different rooms), then you meet the photographer and start to have fun! My photographer was fantastic, he was very kind and was a huge help in regard to posing, his instructions were very clear and easy to understand. He even made the atmosphere so fun with all the compliments and little jokes. Once the shoot is over, the photographer guides you into the selfie room where he will even take photos of you with your own phone and also teach you amazing poses then you can selfie with no rush at all.

After the shoot is over, they even provide makeup cleansers and face wash alongside hair dryers, curling irons, straighteners, etc. once you’re back into your own clothes and makeup, they bring you back down to the waiting area where you will choose which of your photos you want for retouching. I also splurged on the all jpeg data where they send you all the unedited photos from the shoot (really recommend 👍🏻)

Before leaving, they even have a little photo of the photographer favorite from your shoot that day and they make it into a business card size so it fits very nicely into your wallet💜

I can’t begin to explain how wonderful this experience was to me and I will definitely be coming back next time...

I had wanted to do a photoshoot at one of the Studio Kokoro locations for ages, after seeing the stunning photos friends had received from doing it. I took part in the special New Year's themed shoot, and had a fabulous experience. It was a little tricky to find the studio, which is tucked on a back street, but Google Maps did a good job. Although the staff generally had limited English (still significantly better than my Japanese), they knew enough to explain everything well and make me feel comfortable and looked after. My dresser/hair/makeup artist took time and care to make me look my absolute best, and the photographer was absolutely wonderful, checking my posing preferences and what I was happy and comfortable showing. Although the shoot seemed over in a flash, it also didn't feel at all rushed- just efficient! I also had the chance just after it to take some selfies at a specially prepared background, and the photographer also took some phone shots for me. I was given tea and plenty of time to decide which shots I wanted to have printed, and also offered the chance, with no pressure, to have digital copies of the full shoot for an extra payment, which I took up because I was absolutely delighted with the whole set! The photos made me feel so incredible and will be something I look at for years to come to reassure me when I feel negative about my appearance. I really can't stress how positive and affirming the whole experience was. Studio Kokoro do an amazing job and I wholeheartedly...