Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) – Filming Locations
Drama / Romance / History · Directed by Rob Marshall · Starring Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi
In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.
Where was Memoirs of a Geisha filmed?
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – Sayuri arrives in Kyoto and walks through the traditional geisha district streets. The historic Gion district, home to traditional machiya wooden houses and geisha culture, was used for establishing shots and street scenes to authentically portray Kyoto's geisha quarter
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – Wide shots of Kyoto's landscape and temple district establishing the film's setting. The iconic five-story Yasaka Pagoda and surrounding historic temples provided authentic Kyoto landscape and atmosphere for the film's establishing sequences
- Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles – Interior scenes of the okiya house, geisha training sequences, and banquet scenes. Most interior scenes were filmed on studio sets in California due to logistical constraints and the need for controlled environments for the elaborate production design and cinematography
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – Sayuri reflects on her past and future while viewing the city from the temple's elevated platform. The UNESCO World Heritage temple's scenic overlook serves as a contemplative location where Sayuri observes Kyoto and reflects on her transformation
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – Outdoor sequences and nature shots establishing the beauty and serenity of Kyoto. The park's natural scenery and adjacent shrine grounds provided authentic outdoor locations for scenes capturing the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of Kyoto