Higasiyama Hanatoro coming this week!

Dear guests and patrons,

You are invited to Higashiyama Hanatoro in Kyoto Kagai, a beautiful lantern event celebrating the beginning of spring. During Hanatoro, the streets of Higashiyama are softly illuminated, creating a magical evening atmosphere throughout the district.

Stroll through the glowing paths, enjoy traditional geisha dances at Yasaka Shrine and feel the charm of Kyoto as the trees begin to bloom. It is the perfect opportunity to explore Kyoto Kagai in a warm spring setting and experience the elegance of its culture and traditions.

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM SLT

📅 Date: Saturday, March 14th

📍Your Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/168/232/33

Hina Matsuri ozashiki with Geiko san and Maiko san from Hanafusa okiya!

You’re invited to celebrate Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day) at Higashi Chaya Tea House in Kyoto Kagai Sim, Second Life.

Let’s gather to enjoy the beauty of this traditional Japanese festival, with hina doll displays, seasonal touches, and the quiet charm of a tea house setting. Come relax, spend time with friends, and share in the spirit of wishing happiness and good health for all girls.

Date&Time: Friday, March 6th, 6 AM SLT

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kyoto/70/169/31

Kimono or festive attire welcome. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Higashi Chaya 🌸

🌸Baikasai tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangu shrine 🌸

This week, Komayaka Okiya and Hanafusa Okiya hosted a Baikasai Tea Ceremony in Kyoto Kagai Sim, and it was a lovely reminder of why we continue to hold these seasonal gatherings.

Baikasai (梅花祭), the Plum Blossom Festival, is most famously associated with Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. It marks the blooming of the plum blossoms and honors Sugawara no Michizane. Traditionally, maiko and geiko serve tea beneath the blossoms, welcoming guests to share in the quiet beauty of the season.

To make sure everyone had the chance to attend, two ceremonies were held at different times. Our community spans many time zones, and it meant a lot to see people able to join without having to stay up at impossible hours.

Both ceremonies felt calm and focused. The tea was prepared carefully, the greetings were formal but warm, and there was a real sense of attentiveness from everyone present. The Maiko and Geiko carried themselves with grace, and you could see the effort put into making the experience feel respectful to the tradition we were honoring.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported Komayaka and Hanafusa Okiya. Events like this may take place in a virtual world, but the dedication behind them is very real. 🌸

Photo by the guest, Mari san

Photo by Maiko Kikuno

Geiko Toshiha san performing tea cermeony