(CNN) -- It's 5:55 p.m. on a warm summer evening on Hanami-Koji Street in Kyoto's historic Gion district.
A dozen or so camera-clutching tourists line both sides of the cobblestone road, waiting for that magical moment.
Then it happens.
A single apprentice geisha emerges from a nearby taxi.
The crowd descends, timidly at first, like a pack of wildlife photographers on safari not wanting to frighten their prey, all angling for a perfect picture.
Her bright red lips turn up into a small smile as tourists tap shutters and smart phones, but she doesn't stop, instead gracefully making her way into a nearby tea house.
The crowd is pleased. They've ticked off an item on their Kyoto "must see" list.
Such scenes are a nightly occurrence in Gion, with its traditional wooden machiya houses.
Though geisha can be found throughout Japan, the former Imperial capital Kyoto (794-1869) is considered the birthplace of geisha culture.
Contrary to unsavory myths, geisha -- or "geiko" as they're called in Kyoto dialect -- are actually professional entertainers hired to perform and interact with guests during dinners and other occasions.
But before you join the Gion masses in the hopes of snapping a geiko or maiko (apprentice geisha) on her way to work, there are a few things worth knowing.