Permission to access all areas in Japan’s oldest Kabuki theater in Kotohira.
What happens behind the scenes of a theater is often as interesting as the performances that take place on stage. Built in 1835, Kanamaru-za is the oldest Kabuki playhouse in Japan, and when performances are not taking place, the doors are open to the public to appreciate the impressive structure in all its glory and also to understand how it works. a Kabuki theater.
Visitors are invited to explore the main audience hall and back stage for a sneak peek at the dressing rooms before heading to the basement to see the mechanics of the rotating stage and human-powered hatches that allow for dramatic entrances and exits for actors during performances. The Kanamaru-za is a wonderful vision of the design, style, tradition and ingenuity of Japanese theater.