Go to Gion in the early evening. That is when the Maiko are going to work. Please be polite about taking photos and don't try to stop them, they are busy. There has been problems with tourist (including Japanese) taking their photos. Have fun!:ywave:

Go to Kyoto or Gion and you can spot Geisha and Maiko almost guaranteed. Their services can be rented, but it is very expensive, and not really a touristy thing. I don't know about "geisha shows". That would be what they do, but they are private affairs, like I mentioned.

I believe there is a Kabuki theater in Osaka...

I went to Kabuki in Osaka, and it was the most boring thing I've done.

It was muggy, crowded and completely untranslatable... I don't even remember if it was expensive.

Luckily an old woman fanned me off the whole time :D

I kind of have to agree. I went to probably the same one, and I think we had a piece of paper that told us in English what the story was all about, but it was a little like watching a play in slow motion. I don't know how long it was, but it felt very long.

I cant remember what the place was called, but it was near Gion. This place combined many of the traditional Japanese arts in a convenient 1 hour show. They went through a tea ceremony, two people playing a stringed instument ( I think it was a koto), a traditional comedic play, ikebana, and Bunraku. Bunraku is the puppet show where there are three guys to a puppet, and they are all wearing black so its harder to see them. I though the show was pretty good, it was kind of a crash course in Traditional Japanese arts. Plus it was only an hour so it wont take up a whole day.

Edit: Ah, I found the place I went to. It is 7 different Japanese arts in an hour.

Gion Corner:Kyoto Traditional Musical Theatre

That sounds like the perfect crash course for the MTV generation. Nice find!

10 things to do in Osaka
 

Here's an article with a list of 10 things to do in Osaka.. They're all quite "touristy" though.

Guide books tend to gloss over Osaka but it's great to get around and there's loads to see. I'd avoid kabuki; I love the Umeda Sky Building and Den Den Town's a good place to go if you want to feel attractive!