Your first Kabukiza visit,
this guide is all you need.
From buying tickets to enjoying the theater and beyond.
6 steps to navigate your first kabuki experience.
How to Buy
- Ticket Web Shochiku (online) — the most common way. Register to purchase
- Ticket Phone Shochiku (phone) — open 10:00-17:00
- Box office — B2F Kobikicho Square ticket counter. Day tickets only if seats remain
- Hitomakumi seats — 4th floor. Affordable tickets to see just one act
Seats & Price Guide
* Seat categories changed from July 2025
- 1F Sajiki Seats: ¥20,000 (special seats with sunken kotatsu-style tables)
- Premium Seats: ¥20,000 (1F front center area)
- 1st Class Seats: ¥18,000
- 2nd Class Seats: ¥14,000
- 3F A Seats: ¥6,000
- 3F B Seats: ¥5,000
- Hitomakumi Seats (4F): approx. ¥1,000-2,000 (varies by play)
About Hitomakumi Seats
- About 90 seats on 4F (approx. 70 reserved + 20 unreserved)
- Reserved seats can be booked online from 12:00 the day before (credit card + ¥110 fee)
- Unreserved seats: cash purchase at the day-of counter (dedicated entrance on the left of the theater front)
- 1F-3F lobby and shops are not accessible (4F only)
Access to Kabukiza
- Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / Toei Asakusa Line "Higashi-Ginza" Station — directly connected via Exit 3 (no need to go outside)
- Tokyo Metro Ginza/Marunouchi/Hibiya Line "Ginza" Station — 5 min walk from Exit A7
Address: 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Recommended Arrival Time
Aim to arrive 30 minutes before curtain. There's more to do before the show than you'd expect — picking up an earphone guide, buying a bento, etc.
Performance Schedule
- About 25 days of performances per month (beginning to end of month)
- Split into matinee and evening shows, each with different plays
- Matinee: usually starts 11:00 / Evening: usually starts 16:30
- Tickets are purchased separately for matinee and evening
Dress Code
There is no dress code. Casual wear is fine. Some wear kimono, but many come in jeans and sneakers, so don't worry.
Rent an Earphone Guide
An audio guide that explains the synopsis and highlights in real time as the show progresses. It covers actors' house names, costume details & scene backgrounds — a must-have for beginners.
* No deposit. Return to the drop box near exits after the show
* Available at the 4F information desk. No advance reservation
Available at the east-side counter outside the theater (45 min before curtain) and the 1F lobby (from doors open). Reserving via the online store "Mimiyoriya" is smoother and cheaper.
Subtitle Guide (Portable Subtitles)
A service that displays dialogue and commentary as text on a tablet. You can also read gidayu and nagauta lyrics, resolving concerns about not understanding what's being said.
* Day-of, cash only. At the 1F subtitle guide counter
Buy a Program (Sujigaki)
A performance program with cast, synopsis & stage photos. Reading along greatly improves understanding. It's also a great souvenir.
Find Your Seat
Check the seat number on your ticket — the staff will kindly help you find it. Store large bags in the 1F coin lockers.
Applause
Applause is welcome. Feel free to clap naturally at curtain up, mie poses, curtain close, etc. Be restrained during dialogue and quiet scenes.
Shouts (Oomuko)
Calling out actors' house names like "Naritaya!" or "Harimaya!" is a traditional form of support dating from the Edo period. However, mistiming or volume can disturb others, so start by enjoying with applause.
Rules During the Show
- Turn your smartphone OFF (silent mode is not enough)
- Photography and recording are prohibited
- Eating and drinking only during intermissions
What is Makuai (Intermission)?
It's the break between acts. Usually 15-30 minutes. You can eat bento, browse shops, etc.
Bento & Dining
- Makunouchi bento available at in-theater shops (online pre-order also available)
- Dining at the 3F restaurant "Hanakago" is also possible (reservation required)
- Bento delivery to your seat is available (only during intermissions of 30+ minutes)
- Bringing in food purchased outside is also OK
- Eating at your seat is only allowed during intermissions (not during performances)
Enjoy the Lobby & Facilities
- 1F Souvenir Shop "Kobikicho" — kabuki goods, wagashi, limited items
- B2F "Kobikicho Square" — food stalls, shops (connected to Higashi-Ginza Station)
- 5F "Kabukiza Gallery" — a corridor showcasing kabuki history
- Rooftop Garden — a hidden gem overlooking Ginza
Return Your Earphone & Subtitle Guides
Return earphone guides to the drop boxes near each exit. Return subtitle guides to the 1F counter or designated spot. The ¥1,000 deposit for hitomakumi subtitle guides is refunded upon return.
Try Keeping a Theater Log
Date, play, memorable scenes, favorite actors… Keeping records makes your next visit even more enjoyable. Writing notes in the program margins is an expert's pleasure.
📓 Keep a theater log with KABUKI RECO →What to Watch Next?
Once you watch, "I want to see more" begins. Expand your world of plays.
→ View recommended plays🌿 Bring Kabukiza's magic home.
The plays you see today are actually performed
at festivals and shrines across Japan by local communities.
Enter the world of "jikabuki" — with a passion different from professional kabuki.