Tokyo Ginza Kabukiza Theatre Kabuki Show Ticket

Kabuki for Beginners:
Tokyo's Signature Traditional Performance

The Kabukiza Theatre offers a genuine taste of Japanese traditional arts, accessible even for first-timers. With vibrant costumes, makeup, stage transitions, and live music, each scene is brought to life.

Subtitles are available for certain performances, helping you understand the story even if you don't speak Japanese. While Kabuki's unique style and acting may seem unfamiliar, following the main scenes allows for an enjoyable introduction to traditional performances.

Enjoy Multiple Acts with One Ticket

Kabukiza Theatre typically operates with daytime and evening performances, each lasting about 4 hours. Importantly, multiple acts are presented sequentially within a single performance time, rather than concurrently. 

Intermissions are often included, allowing you to pace yourself during the long performance. A single visit lets you experience various types of Kabuki, including dance, historical dramas, contemporary plays, and modern Kabuki. This is especially appealing for travelers new to Japanese traditional performance, offering a broad overview of Kabuki's diverse styles rather than focusing on a single genre.

Seating Information

Seat numbers cannot be pre-selected and are automatically assigned within your chosen seating option.

First Class Seating 1F (Blue Area)
Seats are located on the 1st floor, close to the stage.
Recommended for those who prefer an immersive viewing experience.

Second Class A Seating 1F (Green Area)
Seats are located relatively further back within the 1st floor area.
A great option for those who want to enjoy the atmosphere of the 1st floor at a slightly lower price.

First Class Seating 2F (Yellow Area)
First class seats located on the 2nd floor.
Offers a good view of the entire stage, ideal for those who want to appreciate the stage layout and group dances broadly.

Performance Information

The Kabukiza Theatre varies its program each month. Even within Kabukiza performances, the atmosphere changes significantly depending on the time of year, making it fun to enjoy different works each season.

February Performance Information

11:00 AM (Daytime Performance)

• Edo Souvenirs (Oedo Miyage)
  A new Kabuki-style comedy set in the lives of commoners in the Edo period. It humorously unfolds the story of women who come to Edo every year to sell textiles, meeting a young couple and being moved by romance. Enjoy the bright atmosphere and chemistry between the characters unique to Edo commoner plays.

• Kite and Servant (Tobi Yakko)
  A lively dance performance based on a scene where a kite snatches the season's first bonito, which a servant chases with a pole. It concisely showcases the wit and rhythm of Edo commoners, making it easy to enjoy.

• In Front of the Saruwakaza Theatre (Yaoi Shibai Nigiwai Saruwakaza Shibaizen)
  A work that recreates the atmosphere of the street in front of the Nakamura-za (Saruwakaza) theatre in the Edo period. The main actors gather around the space in front of the theatre, making it more about enjoying the liveliness and festive atmosphere of the theatre district at the time than the story itself.

• Snowy Barrier, Accumulating Love (Tsumi Koi Yuki no Seki Tobira)
  A dance drama that is one of Kabuki's most popular repertoires, incorporating romance, drama, and comedy. Set against a fantastic backdrop of a snow-covered barrier and blooming cherry trees, the legendary setting features a nobleman disguised as a gatekeeper and a woman who subdues him. Especially recommended for those who appreciate stage art and scenic beauty.

4:30 PM (Evening Performance)

• The Battle of Ichinotani Jinmon/Kumiai (Ichinotani Futaba Gunki Jinmon/Kumiai)
  A traditional historical drama set against the backdrop of the Genji and Heike battles. Centered on the Kumagai family (father Naozane and son Naoie) and the young Heike general Atsumori, it unfolds loyalty and tragedy in war. The key point is the choice to sacrifice his own son to save Atsumori, the emperor's son, leaving an emotionally heavy afterglow even as a heroic tale.

• The Fox Praying for Rain (Amagoi Gitsune)
  Sunshowers, where the sun shines while it rains, are a dance performance that starts from the folk imagination of a fox wedding. It is a transformation-style dance that quickly changes between roles with different atmospheres, such as a fox, a shaman performing a rainmaking ritual, a blind masseur, and a fox bride, making it fun to watch the actor's skills and transformation production.

• Ume Koyomi (Ume Goyomi)
  A modern Kabuki based on the Edo-era love story 'Spring Colors Ume Koyomi'. Set in the Yoshiwara and Fukagawa red-light districts, the story unfolds with a love affair surrounding Danjiro (a conflict between his fiancée and two geishas), and an incident surrounding the family's heirloom tea caddy. With love stories, slapstick, and reconciliation of relationships all in one work, it has a strong dramatic feel.

March Performance Information

11:00 AM (Daytime Performance)

• The Return of Iwafuji, Iwafuji Gathering Bones (Kagami Yama Sai Iwafuji Hone Yose no Iwafuji)
  The focus of the March daytime performance is a historical drama with a strong eerie atmosphere. It unfolds with the power struggles of the Taga clan, the vengeful spirit of the maid Iwafuji who sided with the villains, rumors of the princess's illness and curse, and the conspiracy of forces seeking to seize power. It is a work where you can expect Kabuki's unique stage devices and bizarre productions, such as the scene of praying at the grave and the scene where Iwafuji's bones gather and the vengeful spirit appears.

4:30 PM (Evening Performance)

• Gobiki's Joy Celebrating Spring (Kotobuki Haru Hōō Matsuri)
  A celebratory dance named after the phoenix, the Kabukiza's emblem. It is a work that was premiered to commemorate the opening of the 5th Kabukiza (2014), and has a strong character of a gorgeous group dance that contains the meaning of the beginning of spring, the prosperity of Kabuki, and the transmission to the next generation. It is a performance that enjoys symbolism and a festive atmosphere rather than a heavy plot.

• Three Kichisa and White Waves (Sannin Kichisa Tomoe Shiranami)
  One of the most famous thief plays in Kabuki. Three different thieves all have the name Kichisa, and the story begins when they form a brotherhood because of an incident surrounding money. Afterwards, the incident grows into robbery, murder, and a chase, leading to a scene where they gather again on a snowy night. It is a work with a strong narrative that mixes crime, melodrama, and tragedy, making it especially impressive for those who like story-centered viewing.
  
  ※ Performance composition, detailed production, cast, and some running times are subject to change. Please check the latest monthly program before booking.