I visited Kyoto's famous Gion district seeking to spot geishas—entertainers trained in traditional Japanese performance arts. Research indicated they're rarely seen and only visible around 7pm when heading to work.

Worth Seeing: 4 out of 5. Worth the evening visit if you understand what you're looking for.

Geishas are on the other end of the entertainment spectrum from what Western pop culture suggests, with years of training in instruments and performance. There are some important ground rules to know: authentic geishas won't stop for photos (tourists dressed as geishas will), and pursuing them aggressively is disrespectful—they're simply commuting to work.

Arriving after 8pm, I initially thought the opportunity had passed. However, within ten minutes, two geishas appeared in the crowd—one under an umbrella moving quickly, the other passing through like a ghost. Despite attempting photos, the darkness made clear images difficult.

The evening concluded with an unexpected reunion at a British pub with university friends, who provided travel advice for the remainder of the trip.