HOME Back

Use the

Planning a Trip to Japan?

Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp

Kabukiza 歌舞伎座

Kabukiza Kabukiza
Kabukiza Kabukiza

Tokyo's premier Kabuki stage

The grand dame of Japan's Kabuki theaters, the Kabukiza theater in Ginza dates back to 1889. Sumptuous and an icon of the area, this tourist-friendly theater is the place to learn about one of Japan's most lively and captivating traditional artforms.

Don't Miss

  • The classic architecture of this 2,000 seat venue
  • Unique theater performances
  • Cafe Jugetsudo Kabukiza which faces the theater's rooftop

How to Get There

The Kabukiza is close to Higashi-Ginza Station, served by the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Asakusa Line. The theater is about a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station or a 10-minute walk from Yurakucho Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

One of Japan's three classical theatrical artforms

Alongside with bunraku puppet theater and Noh, Kabuki is one of Japan's traditional theatrical art forms. Dating back to the Edo period (1603-1867), there are many genres of Kabuki performance, but they share common elements.

Kabuki's deliberate motions, exaggerated posturing, and timing are highly technical, and the ornate costumes and accompanying live music are truly captivating. Even with little or no understanding of the language, the artform's allegorical nature should make it clear who the heroes and villains are.

Breathtaking architecture

The Kabukiza theater was built in 1889 primarily for performances of Kabuki. Having been stricken by disaster and rebuilt several times, it most recently reopened in 2013.

Seeking to embody the beauty of Japanese architecture, the theater's design by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma retains a characteristic tiled roof, camber barge-board (Chinese cusped gables) and Japanese-style balustrades.

Magnificent inside and out

While the exterior of the Kabukiza is impactful, the theater's interior, boasting about 2,000 seats and high vaulted ceilings, is no less impressive. You'll even get a good view of the stage in the cheap seats toward the back and high above the stage.

The stage sets also deserve special mention: revolving platforms and trapdoors allow for rapid scene changes or the sudden appearance or disappearance of actors. Also unique is the hanamichi or footbridge that leads through the audience, allowing for a dynamic entrance or exit.

Right in the act

These days, performances last about two hours. Tickets cost between 3,500 - 17,000 yen and can be booked online in English.



* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

Recommended for You

National Theatre
National Theatre
story guide
Theater in Japan

Please Choose Your Language

Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages