Yachiyoza Theater

Yachiyoza Theater

If you find yourself exploring the streets of Yamaga, a small city in Kumamoto there’s a good chance you’ll stumble across Yachiyoza Theater, a stunning and historic theatre that hosts a wide range of performances to this day. If you have an interested in Japanese culture and the arts, this is one place you can’t miss when travelling through Kumamoto Prefecture.

Yachiyoza Theater

Originally built in 1910, the theatre was created during a time in which Yamaga city was going through a period of great prosperity as a bustling center of commerce and innovative industry, and a popular hot spring destination. Founded with the help of the Yamaga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the theatre was created for two main reasons, as a place for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to take their clients, and to embrace the growing popularity of the performing arts and culture, which was taking hold throughout the city and neighboring areas.

Yachiyoza Theater

Yachiyoza officially opened in 1911 with a kabuki performance. Over the following years the theatre’s popularity grew exponentially, and the space went on the host a variety of different types of entertainment including film screenings and live music. In 1970 however it did shut down due to a decline in business, but in the following decade a local grassroots movement reinvigorated interest in the theatre, and today it stands as a proud Yamaga icon and a favorite local destination for theatre lovers across the prefecture.

Yachiyoza Theater

You can visit the theatre for a small fee, and tour the building by yourself, or join one of the theatre’s regular Japanese language tours (don’t worry there’s an English handout provided). Be sure to put aside some time to explore behind the curtains scenes, under the rotating stage, and sit in the masuseki seating (four person tatami box seats) to fully immerse yourself in authentic atmosphere of this historic space.

Yachiyoza Theater

Opposite the theatre is the Yumekogura Museum. Hosted inside a converted warehouse that was originally constructed in 1887, the museum displays over 150 items that have been used in Yachiyoza, covering all facets of the performing arts including flyers, posters, film projectors masks, a miniature model of the theatre and other paraphernalia.

Yachiyoza Theater

The best way to get to the theatre via public transport is by getting the train to JR Kumamoto Station, from there you can catch the Sanko bus heading towards Yamaga Onsen, then get off at the Hot Spring Plaza stop (温泉プラザ前) from there it’s just a short walk. If you’re travelling by car, you can get to the site via the Kyushu Expressway, there’s free parking available nearby.

Yachiyoza

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Kumamoto Pref. Yamagashi Yamaga 1499

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Yumekogura Museum

Kumamoto Yamaga Yamaga 1499

0968444004

9:00-18:00(Last entry17:30)

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Kumamoto

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