What other travelers are saying about Konpira Grand Theater (Kanamaruza)
Of course the Konpira Grand Theatre in itself is magnificent, a very interesting showcase of traditional architecture, craftsmanship, and art. But for me the highlight of the visit was the volunteer guide who showed me around the place, blending Japanese and English, to the best of his abilities, explaining plenty of little details the ordinary visitor would never notice alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kanamaruza is Japan's oldest surviving kabuki playhouse, built in 1835 during the Edo period to entertain pilgrims visiting Konpira Shrine. It's designated an Important Cultural Property.
The theater preserves authentic Edo-period kabuki architecture with a revolving stage (mawari-butai), hanamichi (raised walkway), and trap doors operated manually with ropes and human power, not modern technology.
Yes. The theater hosts an annual kabuki performance season in spring (typically April) featuring renowned actors performing in the historic setting with traditional staging techniques.
Yes. Performance tickets during the spring season require advance booking and sell out quickly due to limited seating in the historic theater.
Nearby attractions include Konpira Shrine (requiring 785 steps to the main shrine or 1,368 steps to the inner shrine), the Kanamaru-za Theater Museum, and Kotohira's traditional shops and restaurants.
Kompira Grand Theatre "Kanamaru-za" is a must see in Shikoku, Japan. The theatre was built almost 200 years ago and is still used as a living stage for Kabuki plays in the spring. During the off Kabuki performances, you can visit the backstage area and see the interesting mechanisms of the man-powered structures. If you are visiting Kotohira-gu Shrine (Kompira-san), be sure to stop by.
The theatre is beautiful but the rooms have very bare bones signage and they could do a lot more to explain what each room is used for, maybe add some props inside the rooms as well given the signs are only in Japanese.
Fantastic. The oldest kabuki theater in Japan features a lot of hidden details and things to discover. You can move freely but the guides on-site will tell you a lot of great stories and share their background knowledge.
Very good historical building with wooden structure. Only one japanese performance every April. Good guided tour by the volunteer~theatre security. Clear explanation and you are welcome to walk through the auditorium, stage area, under stage area and dressing room.
