Shimada
しまだ
Tokushima's Only Restaurant with Live-in Geisha, Preserving the Culture of Awa's Fuugai District.
Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
In this district where geisha culture remains vibrant, Shimada continues to employ geisha and uphold Fuugai's traditions. Accomplished geisha in elegant kimono move between rooms, performing dance and shamisen. They entertain with pride in their profession and the spirit of Awa, always attentive to their guests. We have prepared plans for experiencing the proprietress of Shimada's introduction to Fuugai, the story of a certain foreigner who was captivated by Tokushima's culture, and geisha culture.
- The Seven Graces of a Ryotei Experience
- A ryotei, a traditional restaurant, is a high-end restaurant where you can experience a comprehensive art that brings together Japanese beauty and artisanal skills, including authentic Japanese cuisine, architecture, hospitality, and traditional culture. We will introduce you to the charms of the restaurants in the seven Setouchi prefectures by dividing them into "seven graces," and take you on a journey through their profound world.
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1 The Grace of Performance
Shimada preserves Fuugai's geisha traditions for modern times. Their geisha, proud bearers of tradition, constantly refine their skills through daily practice in dance, shamisen, and musical accompaniment. Please experience the world of geisha who enliven banquets with Japanese traditional culture in an elegant and enjoyable way.
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2 The Grace of Japanese Hospitality
At the entrance, fine incense wood is burned in time for guests' arrival, welcoming them with a subtle lingering fragrance. The spirit of hospitality can be felt from each staff member, not only during banquets but also in their deportment until guests are shown to their rooms, their attentiveness and consideration, and the timing of serving dishes.
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3 The Grace of Cuisine
The kaiseki cuisine celebrates seasonal aesthetics and flavors, striving for local production and consumption using primarily Tokushima ingredients. Conversation with geisha flows naturally over various Japanese dishes that delight all five senses, including meticulously presented appetizers, rich broth soup bowls, and perfectly grilled Awa beef steak.
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4 The Grace of Architecture
The building, with its impressive Japanese modern exterior using bamboo, was renovated in 2000. Skilled carpenters from one of Japan's leading construction companies built it using traditional techniques. Everything from the transoms and fixtures to the layout of guest rooms for performing arts is carefully calculated. A prominent garden designer maintains the grounds' bamboo grove and maple trees.
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5 The Grace of Décor
Each space showcases seasonal hospitality through geisha paintings, hanging scrolls, flower arrangements, and fine furnishings. The space is also adorned with bamboo crafts featuring Awa Odori dance motifs, calligraphy by the head priest of World Heritage site Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, and zodiac decorations made from over 200-year-old bamboo on the stair landing.
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6 The Grace of Tradition
Awa Odori dance gained nationwide recognition through Awa Yoshikono, performed by Fuugai geisha Ms. Koi (Tada Koyurugi). Ms. Koi, who was the leading authority on Awa Yoshikono and devoted herself to passing on and developing Awa culture and training successors, was the teacher of Shimada's current proprietress, Shimada Yukari. That traditional flame continues to be passed down steadily today.
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7 The Grace of Legacy
Loved by political, business, and cultural figures mainly in Tokushima, Shimada is highly valued for business talks, meetings, banquets, and commemorative gatherings. Private rooms can accommodate family meetings and engagement ceremonies. Each occasion features carefully curated hospitality and imaginatively prepared dishes suited to the moment.
- Introducing Shimada
- Founded in 1904 as Okina-tei, the establishment was renamed Shimada in 1961 after then-proprietress Shimada Kimiko, who passed it to her daughter Keiko. Today, proprietress Shimada Yukari and young proprietress Fumie, both geisha, maintain tradition as Tokushima's only restaurant with live-in geisha.
The dignified deportment of the geisha and their dance and traditional music that add excitement to banquets are the fruits of daily training. Beyond the banquet rooms, they showcase their talents at Awa Odori dance venues and local cultural events, promoting Tokushima's proud geisha heritage. Shimada captivates guests through seasonal cuisine, thoughtful hospitality, and meticulous attention to detail. Experience the essence of Japanese tradition and Fuugai's living geisha culture at Shimada.
- Address
- Tomidacho 2-7-4, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
- TEL
- +81886231181
- Business Hours
- 17:00-23:00 *By reservation only
- Closed
- By reservation only
- Parking spaces
- None
