Nagoya Za Kabuki Café Tours and Activities

Nagoya Za Kabuki Café offers visitors the chance to enjoy a modern kabuki show, even if they don’t speak Japanese. Kabuki is a traditional form of Japanese theater that originated in the Edo days, but this performance gives it a modern edge, as well as interactive features that keep the audience entertained.

The Basics
Performances at Kabuki Cafe Nagoya Za mix action, comedy, and drama, and make use of costumes, props, and even a little audience participation—expect to cheer on the actors and throw things at the stage. While the dialogue is in Japanese, even non-Japanese speakers can follow along thanks to the visual effects, music, and action scenes. The show typically lasts two hours with a break. Most tickets include a complimentary drink of your choice, and booking in advance is recommended.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Kabuki Cafe Nagoya Za is a must-visit for those with an interest in Japanese arts.
• The show is suitable for all ages.
• You can upgrade to include dinner at Nagonoya Cafe, a minute’s walk from the theater.
• Patrons watch the show sitting on cushions on the floor.

How to Get There
Kabuki Cafe is a 15-minute walk from Nagoya station, which serves Shinkansen train lines to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as several other regional railway lines and the Higashiyama and Sakuradōri lines on the Nagoya Subway. It is less than a 10-minute walk from Kokusai Center station on the Sakuradōri subway line.

When to Get There
There are two shows, daytime and evening, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The daytime show begins at 1:30pm on Friday and 11:30am on Saturday and Sunday. The evening show begins at 6:30pm on Friday and 4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Endoji
The kabuki theater is a stone’s throw from Endoji, a traditional shotengai, an old-fashioned shopping arcade typical of Japanese cities. There are lots of food vendors in and around Endoji, and you are welcome to purchase food there and bring it into the theater.