The word geisha tends to conjure up a certain image.

But, in fact, the word geisha means something like art-doer. In other words, an artist.

Actually, they have to go through several years of expensive training before becoming full geisha.

Pre-20th Century, girls started training as early as 4.

Not an actual geisha trainee

Geisha still learn the traditional arts like playing shamisen, shakuhachi, and drums. They also learn other traditional arts like calligraphy, dances and tea ceremony.

In modern Japan, you will rarely see geisha on the street.

The 'geisha' you do see are often tourists who pay to dress up as geisha.

Wig

Kimono are way too gaudy.

Geisha now perform at tea houses, ochaya or traditional Japanese restaurants, ryotei.

Source: http://ochaya.kyo2.jp

They are paid by the number of incense sticks that burn during their performance and different geisha have different senkodai or incense stick fee.

There have been a few non-Japanese geisha. The most notable western is Fiona Graham, who is from Australia.

In February 2011, the Asakusa Geisha association allegedly disaffiliated her.

So, where does this misconception of geisha as prostitutes come from?

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Well, shortly after World War II, professional prostitutes fashioned themselves as geisha girls.

Geisha Girl?

At the same time, not many real geisha were working, so that's how geisha came to be synonymous with prostitutes.