7 Theatres in Kyoto worth your time

A historic 502-seat theater in Kyoto hosting traditional Gion Odori dances and modern Yoshimoto comedy performances.

What it is

• A performance venue in Higashiyama Ward that opened in 1958.
• A former movie theater that now hosts Gion Gofukuza and comedy shows.
• A mid-sized theater with a seating capacity of 502 people.
• The permanent home for Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu performances since 2011.

What to see

• A tile mural on the exterior dating back to the founding year.
• Traditional Gion Odori dance performances held on the main stage.
• Live comedy shows and theatrical productions throughout the year.
• The mid-century architecture located along Higashioji Street near Yasaka Shrine.

When to go

• Visit in November to see the annual Gion Odori dance festival.

Getting there

• Walk five minutes from Gion-Shijo Station to reach the theater.
• Walk ten minutes from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.

Official site

www.gionkaikan.jp

Read more about Gion Kaikan

A cultural theater in Kyoto offering a one-hour showcase of seven traditional Japanese performing arts for international visitors.

What it is

• A night tourism venue opened in 1962 to showcase seven types of traditional arts.
• The facility is operated by the Kyoto Traditional Musical Art Foundation.
• Performances take place at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Small Theater.
• Programs are available in twelve different languages for international guests.

What to see

• Seven different types of Japanese traditional performing arts in one hour.
• The Maiko Gallery displays traditional hairpins and footwear used by performers.
• Photography is currently prohibited inside the theater during the performances.

When to go

• Shows are held daily at 18:00 and 19:00.
• The venue is closed annually from December 29 to January 3.

Getting there

• The theater is an eight-minute walk from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station.

Official site

www.kyoto-gioncorner.com

Read more about Gion Corner

A historic Kyoto theater and cultural property hosting the famous Miyako Odori spring dance performances since 1873.

What it is

• A theater in Higashiyama Ward dedicated to the annual Miyako Odori spring dance.
• Opened in 1873 as a dedicated venue for traditional performances.
• The current structure is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan.
• The facility features a pure Japanese architectural style.

What to see

• Traditional Japanese architecture dating back to the 1913 relocation.
• The main theater hall which underwent major renovations completed in 2023.
• Annual Miyako Odori dance performances held within the historic venue.

When to go

• Visit during the spring season to attend the annual Miyako Odori performances.

Getting there

• The site is an eight-minute walk from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station.

Official site

www.miyako-odori.jp

Read more about Gion Kobu Kaburen-jo

Japan's oldest theater, a registered cultural property in Kyoto hosting traditional kabuki performances in a historic Momoyama-style building.

What it is

• The oldest theater in Japan, originating between 1596 and 1615.
• A registered tangible cultural property owned and operated by Shochiku.
• The primary venue for kabuki performances throughout the year in Kyoto.
• A historic structure that underwent major earthquake resistance renovations in 2018.

What to see

• The current building featuring traditional Momoyama-style architectural design.
• The theater crest which uses the official Shochiku logo.
• Traditional kabuki stage productions and seasonal performances.

When to go

• The annual Kaomise performance held from November to December.

Getting there

• Located near Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line.

Official site

www.shochiku.co.jp

Read more about Minami-za

A modern performing arts venue inside Kyoto Station hosting professional musicals, plays, and concerts by the Shiki Theatre Company.

What it is

• A performing arts venue located within the East Zone of the Kyoto Station building.
• Opened in 1997 and serves as a major hub for professional musical theater productions.
• Managed by the Kyoto Station Building Development company across five different floors.
• Primary venue for the Shiki Theatre Company to perform famous musicals and plays.

What to see

• The main auditorium spanning floors two through six of the station complex.
• A dedicated ticket box office and a buffet area for theater patrons.
• Large scale musical productions such as The Phantom of the Opera.
• Various live concerts and theatrical performances by diverse touring groups.

Official site

www.kyoto-gekijo.com

Read more about Kyoto Theater

A 502-seat comedy theater in Kyoto featuring local and Tokyo-based performers in a former movie house.

What it is

• A permanent comedy theater operated by Yoshimoto Kogyo inside the Gion Kaikan building.
• The first permanent Yoshimoto venue in Kyoto since 1987, opened in July 2011.
• A performance space occupying a facility formerly used as a movie theater.
• The venue is scheduled to remain open until its closing on August 18, 2025.

What to see

• Live comedy performances featuring both local and Tokyo-based comedians.
• A seating area with a total capacity of 502 people.
• Traditional Japanese mats known as sajiki-seki available for eighteen of the seats.
• A house located behind the theater that serves as the dressing room.

Official site

www.yoshimoto.co.jp

Read more about Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu

The last remaining movie theater in Kyoto's Nishijin district, screening adult films in a historic three-story concrete building.

What it is

• A three-story reinforced concrete movie theater located in the Nishijin district of Kyoto.
• Opened in 1961 and stands on the former site of a brothel district office.
• The last remaining cinema in the area, specializing in adult films since 1971.
• Managed by Miyazaki Kogyo since 1968 and currently led by Tomohiro Tatsumi.

What to see

• The original three-story reinforced concrete architecture dating back to the early 1960s.
• A theater interior with a seating capacity for 300 people.
• Film screenings from studios including Shintoho, Okura, and Shin Nihon Eizo.

Read more about Senbon Nikkatsu