Minamiza Theatre

Minamiza Theatre, located on Kyoto’s bustling Shijo Street in the famous Gion district, traces its origins back to the early 1600s, when kabuki was first taking shape as a popular form of entertainment. For more than four centuries, Minami-za Theatre has been a center of Kyoto’s stage culture, hosting kabuki along with a variety of performing arts. The theatre’s current Momoyama-style façade, with its traditional designs, reflects its deep historical roots, but inside, the building has been updated with modern facilities to welcome today’s audiences, all while preserving its historic atmosphere.
Each December, Minamiza Theatre hosts the Kichirei Kaomise Kogyo (Kabuki Annual Showcase Performance), a grand kabuki event that gathers some of the art form’s most celebrated actors. This annual highlight has continued for centuries and is regarded as one of Kyoto’s great cultural traditions. You can also join special stage experience tours to experience elements of kabuki staging firsthand (Held irregularly). Conveniently located just steps from Gion-Shijo Station, Minamiza Theatre offers a special chance to connect with the spirit of Edo period entertainment here in the heart of Kyoto.