Originally built in 1889, this kabuki theater is the only theater in Japan made for Kabuki and was renovated in 2013.
If you are unfamiliar with Kabuki then look it up on Wikipedia for better understanding. Built using Momoyama style architecture, the building is a majestic piece of work. The interior does not disappoint either, filling the room with Japanese sense, it is something to gaze upon. There theater accommodates 1964 seats.
Below are instructions for beginners:
Seating & Tickets
To get a taste of Kabuki, it is recommended to buy tickets for just 1 act of the program. These seats are called “hitomaku miseki” – special seats for watching one act of a kabuki play.
For only ¥1,000-¥2,000 you can enjoy 30-60 min. of a play without getting lost or bored.
To obtain these tickets, you’ll have to wait 1-2 hours before the beginning of the play at the main entrance on the first floor of the theater (on the left.) The tickets are not sold online or beforehand.
There are a few sacrifices you must make for hitomaku miseki tickets which are listed below:
- You cannot enter the main area of Kabushiki-za. Instead, the these seats are in a more isolated area of the theater, with a seperate entrance from the more “expensive” seats. Therefore, you can’t access the gift shop or restaurants, or even experience the luxurious lobby atmosphere.
- Far from the stage. The seats are on the 4th floor, far from the stage and a bit difficult to see or hear what’s going on.
- You might be standing. There are 90 seats and 60 standing spaces, if you don’t get your tickets early enough you will be standing.
Understanding the story
Rest assured, you can rent an electronic English subtitle guide. It’s a portable monitor that explains the story in real time, incredibly convenient.
Cost: General seat: ¥1,000; Hitomaku miseki: ¥500 + ¥1,000 (insurance)
