Traditional Japanese Music at Wagakki Theatre

Throughout July in the tower connected to Ginza’s historic Kabukiza Theater, you can see immersive performances featuring traditional Japanese instruments. This is for a limited time only and includes hands-on experiences.

What to expect

For over 130 years, Kabukiza has been at the forefront of traditional Japanese performing arts. For the first time, the venue’s Kobikicho Hall will be entirely dedicated to presenting wagakki, traditional Japanese instruments.

The performances are entirely instrumental, so no language skills are required to appreciate the stagecraft and musicality. After each show, audiences will be invited to see the instruments up close and try on a traditional Kabuki theater kimono.

Schedule

Each 50-minute performance will feature four musicians playing the koto (13- and 17-stringed instrument), shakuhachi (a bamboo flute), and Tsugaru shamisen (a three-stringed folk guitar) — some of Japan’s most illustrative music tools. After the show, you can even step onto the stage and hold the instruments. Plus, try on authentic costumes used during Kabuki plays and take commemorative photos.

Performances will take place twice per day as follows:

• Tuesday, July 8 to Sunday, July 13: Two performances daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 15 to Monday, July 21: Two performances daily at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 22 to Tuesday, July 29: Two performances daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

*Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.

Tickets

Advance tickets are ¥7,700 for adults and ¥3,850 for children ages 4–15. Get your tickets here.
Tickets will also be available at the door for the same price as advance tickets (cash only).

How to get there

The performances will be held at Kobikicho Hall (Wagakki Theatre), an intimate event space that retains the aesthetic charm of traditional Kabuki theaters. The hall is located on the 5th floor of Kabukiza Tower in Tokyo’s ritzy shopping district of Ginza. The venue is directly attached to Hibiya-Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Toei Asakusa Lines.