Geisha tours inspired by the new film

THE release this month of Rob Marshall’s movie “Memoirs of a Geisha,” based on Arthur Golden’s bestselling 1997 novel, is inspiring tours and hotel packages in Kyoto, Japan, where Golden’s heroine plied her trade.

Among the offerings:

Guests at Hotel Granvia Kyoto can opt for an ozashiki (geisha dinner) in the hotel or a traditional teahouse in the city. Package prices, for groups of four and up, start at about $425 per person. Information: www.granvia-kyoto.co.jp.

Kintetsu International Travel Consultants offers an optional “Memoirs of a Geisha” two-day extension to selected departures of its seven-day Kyoto tour, starting in January. The extension, at $763 per person, includes visits to locations portrayed in the movie. The regular Kyoto tour starts at $1,229 per person, double occupancy, including air fare. Information: (800) 422-3481, www.japanforyou.com/tour_geisha.html.

IACE Travel’s nine-day geisha tour, departing March 20, stops in Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka. In Kyoto, guests get a guided tour, a lecture and a dinner with geisha performers. Prices begin at $2,950 per person, double occupancy, including airfare from the West Coast. Information: (866) 735-4223, www.iace-usa.com.

Photographer Peter MacIntosh continues to lead walking tours of Kyoto geisha districts that cost about $25 per person for 90 minutes or $33 per person for two hours. Info: www.kyotosightsandnights.com/tours.htm.

Paris hotels

accused of

price fixing

SIX of the most opulent hotels in Paris received fines totaling more than $800,000 for allegedly colluding on information used to set room rates.

The hotels cited by France’s Competition Council were the Bristol, Crillon, George V, Meurice, Plaza Athenee and the Ritz. At least one of them has disputed the fine. In a statement last week, the Bristol did not deny sharing information, but said it did not collude on prices.

From Reuters

Travel notes

HOLIDAY fliers, take note: Starting Dec. 22, new airport security rules are scheduled to start. Among the changes: You can bring aboard scissors with a cutting edge of 4 inches or less, plus tools, such as screwdrivers and wrenches, smaller than 7 inches.

The federal Transportation Security Administration also said it will conduct more random screenings as part of an effort “to focus resources on more serious threats.”

The Assn. of Flight Attendants objected to the carry-on changes, and there were moves threatened in Congress to rescind them. For updates, visit www.tsa.gov.

A new website, www.sfholidayfest.com, posts last-minute hotel deals with rates as low as $58 a night at more than 260 Bay Area accommodations. Travel must be completed by Dec. 31.

-- Compiled by

Jane Engle