An is the lodging house/drinking establishment with which a or geisha is affiliated during her career as a geisha. The is typically run by the "mother" of the house, who handles a geisha's engagements and the development of her skills, and funds her training through a particular teahouse. Though a geisha is legally required to be registered to an in order to work, and may live there as a trainee, it is not a legal requirement for geisha to live within their .

A geisha's