In the movie *Memoirs of a Geisha*, geisha captivate guests with their stunning grace and exquisite skills, elevating private gatherings to a crescendo of luxury. To experience such a visually and gastronomically stunning feast, you no longer have to go to Japan — the top-tier Japanese hot spring resort HowToTrip’s Kasuga-ya in Beitou also offers a mysterious and luxurious geisha banquet experience. From April 30 to May 6, 2015, Kasuga-ya is launching the “Spring Fragrance: Feast of Art” package, featuring an authentic Japanese kaiseki course served in tatami rooms, along with live performances by geisha from the ancient capital of Kanazawa, Japan.
Left: Miss Yui, a street-sign geisha from Nishi Chaya in Kanazawa. (Photo provided / HowToTrip’s Kasuga-ya)
According to the traditional Japanese geisha code of “Ichigen-san o Oewazu” (refusing first-time or unfamiliar guests), inviting geisha to a banquet usually requires an introduction through regular patrons. To provide guests with a deep cultural experience, HowToTrip’s Kasuga-ya in Beitou has gone to great lengths to break this barrier by bringing geisha from Kanazawa, Japan to Taiwan. The geisha will not only perform during the kaiseki dinner but will also interact with guests through music and other forms of entertainment.
2015 Geisha Dinner. (Photo provided / HowToTrip’s Kasuga-ya)
In line with the “Spring Fragrance” theme of the geisha banquet, HowToTrip’s Kasuga-ya Executive Chef Tōru Shibazaki specially sourced seasonal spring ingredients and crafted dishes that evoke the feeling of spring through presentation and tableware. One of the appetizers is “soft-shelled turtle tofu i
To match the geisha banquet theme "Spring Aroma," the Executive Chef of Kagaya, Tōru Shibazaki, specially gathered seasonal spring ingredients and used tableware and plating to create a sense of spring. (Photo provided by Nikken Sekkei Kagaya)
The dish is available only as part of the limited-edition "Spring Aroma, Art Banquet" package. (Photo provided by Nikken Sekkei Kagaya)
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