Unfortunately, English subtitle device rental is temporary unavailable at the Kabuki-za theatre but instead we will provide you with detailed English summaries.
Accordingly, we have just started our new service: “Enjoy a Kabuki performance with your tour guide” service for people who attend our private tour.
Good news: English audio devices are available at the National Theatre in September and October.
We are looking foward to ensuring every moment at the theatre will be unforgettable for all our guests.
TOKYO KABUKI GUIDE
TOKYO KABUKI GUIDE is a special concierge service. We have been providing you all the information you need to know about Kabuki in Tokyo since 2010.
We operate several types of Kabuki tours to enhance your Kabuki experience. We provide advanced tickets, handouts, English summaries and a pre-performance presentation. Tours for people who buy one act tickets or visit the Kabuki-za Gallery are also available.
Tailor-made tours, such as tours for a big group, students etc. are also available. Please feel free to contact us!
Where and when is Kabuki performed?
Kabuki is performed for about 25 days per month at two theatres in Tokyo as below:
Kabuki-za Theatre: every month.
The National Theatre: January, March, June, July, October, November and December.
There are some theatres for Kabuki in other cities but Kabuki is rarely performed outside of Tokyo.
Why did you start this service?
Founder Kazui Yabe, a Japanese female licensed tour guide and volunteer Japanese language teacher, has enjoyed introducing Kabuki to both Japanese and visiting friends for many years before establishing Kabuki tour guide in 2010.
A note from Kazui: "I believe that with the help of some essential information about the art itself and the plays in performance, Kabuki becomes even more understandable and enjoyable. As a Japanese person, I love to help guests find points of interest to them within each performance and am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience of Kabuki. I look forward to welcoming you to my tour!"
Seeing Kabuki is to see Japan’s traditional stage arts which have been established for over 400 years.
The Japanese government had a seclusion policy in place for more than two hundred years, from 1639 to 1853.
In this period, the administration was stabilized and a period of peace ensued bringing with the unique cultural development.
Kabuki is one of the best examples of this.
Kabuki, which is the most popular of the traditional Japanese stage arts, is still hugely popular in Japan.
It is said that there are so many Kabuki plays in existence.
However, only about 400 of these have retained their popularity over time.
Kabuki has developed by taking many elements of the traditional stage arts,
such as Noh theatre and Bunraku Puppet theatre and combined them with the Japanese sense of beauty.
There are many unique features of Kabuki performance including acting techniques,
costumes, wigs, stage setting mechanisms etc. that can only be seen in Kabuki.
It has been said that Kabuki is the closest you can get to a true sense of Japanese aesthetic beauty.
Kabuki is unpretentious, easy to enjoy and much more accessible than other traditional performance such as Noh theatres.
However, knowing a little background information will enhance your Kabuki experience.
Which is why we would like to provide our guests with a pre-performance presentation.
Please join us!
We are looking forward to ensuring every moment at the theatre will be unforgettable for all our guests,
beyond couples, family, student on a group tour or anything in between.
December 2023 － February 2024
★ New★
“Enjoy a Kabuki performance with your tour guide” service for people who attend our private tour.
■ December 2023 ■
Kabuki will be performed at the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo as below.
- No.1 Regular tour
【Tour date】December 3-10, 12-18, 20-26
【Ticket type】Advanced ticket included
The best choice of seat depends on the show or programs. We provide guests the best available seeats in each grade for the show.
【Package contents】40 minute pre-performance "About Kabuki" talk (including visual presentation), Japanese tea and sweets, Kabuki advanced ticket, ticket-handling, English summaries, useful map of the Kabuki-za theatre and its attractions, suggestion for the intermission.
【Kabuki-za Gallery tour】Not included
【Note】All tickets are not refundable. Please do not change your schedule after we purchase your tickets.
Cancellation Terms and Conditions
We like to buy our guests' tickets during pre-sale in order to provide them with better seats. So please contact us at your earliest convenience.
The best choice of seat depends on the show or programs. We provide guests the best available seats in each grade for the show.
■ January 2024 ■
Kabuki is performed at 2 theatres in Tokyo as below.
| Venue | New National Theatre | |||||||||
| Show | 1pm show | |||||||||
| Start time | 1:00pm | |||||||||
| Performance date |
January 5-27 (No performance dates: 11 and 22) |
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End time |
4:50pm | |||||||||
| Ticket grade and price |
First grade: 14,000 yen, Second grade: 8,000 yen Third grade: 4,000 yen |
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| English device |
Unavailable Insead, we would like to porvide our guests the detailed English summaries in advance. |
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| If you would like more information, we will be happy to email you programs and photographs from the shows. | ||||||||||
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We provide advanced tickets, handouts, English summaries etc. in our pre-performance presentations. We offer tailor-made tours, such as tours for a big group, students etc. also. Please feel free to contact us! |
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| Tour No. | Tour No.5 Premium tour | |||||||||
| Venue | New National Theatre | |||||||||
| Show | 1pm show | |||||||||
| Meeting time | 11:00am | |||||||||
| Tour ends | 12:40am | |||||||||
| Show starts | 1:00pm | |||||||||
| Package Contents | Ticket handling, pre-performance presentation over coffee/tea, handouts and English summaries. | |||||||||
| Lecture place |
Coffee Shop |
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| Tour fee per person | 7,000 yen plus ticket fee | |||||||||
| Please note the total tour fee is tour fee plus show ticket fee. | ||||||||||
| Ticket grade and price |
First: 14,000 yen, Second: 8,000 yen, Third: 4,000 yen |
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| Ticket presale | December 11th | |||||||||
| We like to buy our guests' tickets during presale to provide them with better seats. | ||||||||||
| English subtitles |
Unavailable. Instead, we will provide our guests English summaries in advance. |
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■ Feburuary 2024 ■
Kabuki is performed at 1 theatre in Tokyo as below.