This tour gives you your very own kabuki guide to explain the history and evolution of this unique stage art. You will appreciate the performance to a greater extent after learning of the finer points and background of the play.
Kabuki is one of the four traditional Japanese stage arts. It originated in the 17th century and was first performed by female dancers though current-day Kabuki has only men.
Its highlight is the stylized acting, costumes and grand scale. The most memorable points are the revolving stage and makeup worn by the actors.
This tour will be run by Sayuki, sometimes together with her trainees. Other programs run by Sayuki are run by her trainees. This is a way to let the little prospective geisha in Sayuki’s house practice their English skills and get some income during the crucial first year when they are training to become geisha. Do help us help the little geisha to continue the beautiful geisha tradition in Japan.
This tour gives you your very own kabuki guide to explain the history and evolution of this unique stage art. You will appreciate the performance to a greater extent after learning of the finer points and background of the play. Please be aware that kabuki does not normally run on the last five days of the month and the exact days differ slightly month to month so if your desired date is around this time let me know before booking. It will normally be at the Kabuki Theatre (〒104-0061 東京都中央区銀座4丁目12−15, 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, near Higashi Ginza station). We can give you instructions on how to get to the Kabuki Theatre from your hotel.
Highlights:
- All entrance fees included
- Fully narrated tour
- Informative, friendly and professional guide
- Perfect for all ages and skill level
What you can expect:
Kabuki is one of the four traditional Japanese stage arts. It originated in the 17th century and was first performed by female dancers though current-day Kabuki has only men. Its highlight is the stylized acting, costumes and grand scale. The most memorable points are the revolving stage and makeup worn by the actors. We will be watching one of the segments of a kabuki play or dance, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours in duration, depending on the play. Sometimes we will be able to watch a one hour play followed by a half hour dance. The program changes monthly. This tour will be run by Sayuki, the first westerner to become a geisha in Japan. Sayuki has been studying the music of the kabuki theatre for a decade. She has lectured in Japanese Studies at both Keio and Waseda Universities in Japan for nearly ten years. She will be able to give some insight into the background of the kabuki theatre, and the specific play being shown, and the artistic traditions behind the plays.
Inclusions
- Entrance fees
- Live entertainment
- Local guide
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off Transportation to/from attractions
Additional info: Confirmation will be received at time of booking Not wheelchair accessible Dress code is casual Children must be accompanied by an adult
Other informations
Cancellation Policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
Departure point: We will meet at the Kabuki theatre venue, it is called Kabuki-za
Departure time: 10:30 am or 4:30 pm on any any weekday except Thursday, and except the last five days of the month. If you want to book around this time, please confirm first. If you would like to book weekends please check availability first. This program includes tickets that are bookable on the day and that are cheaper than normal as a result. Occasionally, we will only be able to get tickets for a later time in the day, so best to flexible about plans later in the day.
Duration 2 hours (approx.)
Price 20,000 JPY per group up 4 people (ask for larger groups)

People say
Enlightening!
As a theatre professional myself, it was a truly wonderful and enlightening experience!! Sayuki, our extraordinary guide (and the one and only western geisha!), besides being a very charming woman, is a font of information on Japan. Because we were there on a holiday (Golden Week) we were told at the last minute that we were going to have to show up at 8:00am (instead of the original 10am meeting time) to get the tickets for an 11:30am show. Needless to say this did not sit well with me immediately. But, wow, it turned out to be a truly wonderful addition. It gave us (myself and the two other guests on this tour) a great opportunity to sit and converse with Sayuki and ask many questions about Japan, theatre, life as a geisha, etc, etc. Sadly, not everyone will be lucky enough to have an experience like this but I hope everyone reading this, who is interested in Japan, theatre and/or geisha life, will take this tour. The performance was amazing but meeting and learning from Sayuki is an experience you will not soon forget.
May 2019
A must see!
I wasn’t very aware of what Kabuki was before coming to Japan, but this Tour was the perfect introduction. Sayuki was charming and able to give us historical background on the play and the area, we chatted about her experience as a Geisha and living in Japan before the play and afterword cleared up quite a few issues. Even though she was able to provide us with subtitle translators there were still some elements and details that were lost in the viewing. The show itself was really interesting especially on how different it was to traditional European theater.
A definite recommendation for anyone in Tokyo.
March 2019