9 Theatres in Hyōgo worth your time

A five-story municipal arts hub in Kobe featuring a theater, gallery, and creative studios for local cultural exchange.

What it is

• A multi-purpose cultural facility established by the Kobe City government in 1996.
• A five-story community hub managed by the Kobe Civic Cultural Promotion Foundation.
• A public space dedicated to arts and interaction formerly known as Kobe Art Village Center.

What to see

• Art exhibitions and creative displays hosted within the dedicated gallery space.
• Live performances and events held in the theater and multipurpose hall.
• Creative workspaces including various studios located across the five floors.
• A dedicated free space for children and parents on the first floor.

When to go

• Visit between 10:00 and 22:00 for access to the facilities.
• Avoid visiting on Tuesdays when the center is closed to the public.
• Plan around the New Year holidays when the facility shuts down.

Getting there

• Walk three minutes from Shinkaichi Station to reach the facility.
• Walk seven minutes from Minatogawa Koen Station to arrive at the center.

Official site

s-ah.jp

Read more about Shinkaichi Community Center for Arts and Interaction

A major performing arts venue in Kobe hosting the local philharmonic and national dance festivals in two distinct halls.

What it is

• A public performing arts center that opened in April 1973.
• The primary performance base for the Kobe Philharmonic orchestra.
• A cultural facility located within the grounds of Okurayama Park.
• The venue is scheduled to relocate to a new site after 2027.

What to see

• A large performance hall with a seating capacity of 2,043 people.
• A medium hall designed for smaller events with 904 seats.
• A mural titled Ajisai created by the artist Chieko Takamura.
• Seating rows that are uniquely numbered starting from the back of the hall.

When to go

• The All Japan High School and University Dance Festival occurs here annually.

Getting there

• The venue is a one-minute walk from Okurayama Station.

Official site

www.kobe-bunka.jp

Read more about Kobe Bunka Hall

The primary performance venue for the Takarazuka Revue, featuring a massive auditorium and a museum dedicated to the troupe.

What it is

• The home base for the all-female Takarazuka Revue musical theater troupe
• A large performance facility with a seating capacity of 2,550 people
• The current building opened in 1993, replacing the original 1924 structure
• A complex managed by Takarazuka Butai Co., Ltd. in Hyogo Prefecture

What to see

• A bridge-like stage extension called the Ginkyo that brings performers closer to the audience
• The Takarazuka Revue Hall of Fame museum showcasing the history of the troupe
• Takarazuka Bow Hall, a smaller secondary venue attached to the main theater
• Quatre Reves, the official shop selling troupe merchandise and souvenirs

Getting there

• The theater is a 10-minute walk from Takarazuka Station

Official site

takarazukarevue.tw

Read more about Takarazuka Grand Theater

A multi-hall performing arts center and drama school known as Piccolo Theater, hosting local productions and professional theater training.

What it is

• A public performing arts facility commonly known as Piccolo Theater.
• The venue opened in August 1978 in Amagasaki City.
• Home to the Hyogo Prefectural Piccolo Theater Company founded in 1994.
• Site of specialized drama and theater technical schools established in the 1980s and 1990s.

What to see

• A large performance hall with a capacity for 400 people.
• A medium-sized hall that accommodates 200 audience members.
• A small hall designed for intimate performances of 100 people.

Getting there

• A five-minute walk from JR Tsukaguchi Station.
• An eight-minute walk from Hankyu Tsukaguchi Station.
• The facility is situated along Hyogo Prefectural Route 13.

Read more about Amagasaki Youth Creative Theater of Hyogo Prefecture

A modern 37-story multipurpose skyscraper in Kobe featuring professional performance halls, a large theater, and high-end European pianos.

What it is

• A multipurpose high-rise facility completed in 2008 managed by Nihon Geijutsu Center.
• The structure contains thirty-seven floors including residential apartments on the upper levels.
• A cultural hub housing four performance halls and a medical mall.
• The facility includes a gym and is owned by Sogo Shoji.

What to see

• The Kobe Art Theater which features one thousand one hundred seats.
• Four distinct performance halls located within the building complex.
• Five specific brands of European pianos installed throughout the various halls.

Getting there

• A four-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station.
• Multiple bus routes stop at locations nearby the center.

Official site

www.art-center.jp

Read more about Kobe Art Center

A modern performing arts complex in Nishinomiya featuring three halls and a resident orchestra led by conductor Yutaka Sado.

What it is

• A multi-hall performing arts facility opened in October 2005
• The center was built on the former site of Takamatsu Park
• It serves as the home for a dedicated resident orchestra
• The building was designed by Nikken Sekkei and won multiple architectural awards

What to see

• A large performance hall with a seating capacity of 2,000
• A medium-sized theater that accommodates 800 guests
• A small hall designed for intimate performances with 417 seats
• Modern architecture spanning six floors above ground and one basement level

Getting there

• The facility is a two-minute walk from Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Station

Read more about Hyogo Performing Arts Center

A historic 1927 playhouse turned cinema, serving as the only movie theater in the Tajima region with a retro atmosphere.

What it is

• A movie theater originally opened as a playhouse around 1927
• The only cinema currently operating in the Tajima region
• A reinforced concrete structure built during the early Showa era
• Reopened in 2023 under the management of Toyooka Community Cinema

What to see

• Two screening rooms with 186 and 50 seats respectively
• A lobby area featuring a cafe bar and a shop selling alcohol
• Historic early Showa era architecture restored through community crowdfunding

Getting there

• Located 1.1 kilometers away from Toyooka Station
• On-site parking lot available with space for 20 vehicles

Read more about Toyooka Theater

This 1901 playhouse is Japan's oldest existing theater building, featuring a restored revolving stage and traditional Edo-style architecture.

What it is

• The oldest existing theater building in Japan, founded by Kyujiro Obata in 1901.
• A designated Tangible Cultural Property of Hyogo Prefecture owned by Toyooka City.
• Named after the Sengoku clan family crest and restored between 2006 and 2008.
• A historic venue that served as a filming location for the movie Kokuho.

What to see

• Traditional theater architecture featuring earthen walls and a distinct drum tower.
• A functional revolving stage and a trap lift used for dramatic performances.
• An authentic interior with a seating capacity for three hundred and thirty-two people.

Official site

eirakukan.com

Read more about Eirakukan

A 526-seat theater in Hyogo where young Takarazuka Revue stars and new directors debut in intimate proscenium performances.

What it is

• A theater venue operated by the Hankyu Railway that opened in April 1978
• A training ground where young stars of the Takarazuka Revue play leading roles
• The site where directors must debut before moving to main stage performances
• The location for the Takarazuka Music School graduation performances

What to see

• A proscenium style stage measuring 16 meters wide and 14 meters deep
• An intimate auditorium with a total seating capacity of 526 seats
• Performances ranging from the Takarazuka Revue to general rental events

Read more about Takarazuka Bow Hall