Pontocho Kaburenjo Theater — Attraction in Kyoto

There are 3 floors. The upper 2 floors are for Japanese people and in a smaller theatre. The 1st floor theatre is like a small cinema and was just right. I came 1 hour early which is the earliest time to pick up the tickets and doors was open already. I went in for the tea ceremony which was a bun and matcha then wait until the start when they call us to go in. I went in early as the atmosphere inside was ancient. I recommend you to also go early but please be quiet or talk quietly. There was 2 parts in Japanese so a lot of guessing was involved but across l actions speak louder than words in my case. First half was mainly on stage. There was 2 stages. Second part you can see the behind the scenes people. The Orchestra and vocals which was so good. You can't have the play without the actors and the musicians. When you see it you will know what i mean. You need to be there to experience it. My seat was right next to a secret door which was scary. But I'm not saying anything else. It was a good 2 hour experience. If you read up until now you should just book it. I believe seats are in a first come first serve basis and seat is allocated that way. (Maybe) I was near the front so my neck was collapsing. Joke. It was close up.

Also you cannot use phones inside so be prepared to switch off your phone...

We visited the Pontocho Kaburenjo Theater in May 2025 to see the Kamogawa Odori, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable cultural highlights of our trip. The venue is stunning, with three floors—the first and second dedicated to seating, and a third-floor waiting area with a lovely balcony view over the surrounding neighborhood. There was also a small but thoughtful display about geisha and maiko history, which really added to the experience.

We arrived early to attend the tea ceremony with real geishas. While the setting was special, the ceremony itself felt a bit rushed—just tea and a sweet in a crowded room, with no explanation or context. Still, we got to keep the small plate as a souvenir, which was a nice touch.

The performance was incredible. Though it's entirely in Japanese, the leaflet we received at the ticket counter outlined the storyline clearly, making it easy to follow. The live music was absolutely transporting—traditional instruments and vocals that brought the stage to life. Just be aware that photos and videos aren't allowed during the show, which honestly helps keep the atmosphere respectful and immersive.

Highly recommended if you're visiting in spring—just be sure to...

Probably my greatest memory in Kyoto. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I will cherish it forever.

However, the online payment system isn't working well. I tried two different years to buy tickets on the website, with two different VISA credit cards, but I never made it through. I had to call the staff the first time, and to pay with LinePay the second time. These two bypasses are very hard or impossible to apply for foreigners who can't speak Japanese or who don't have a Japanese phone number/resident card to get LinePay.

When I came, during Golden Week, I was very surprised by the high number of empty seats considering the quality of the performance. This art may be the most precious in Japan. Unabling tourists to experience it makes the association sound like they don't wan't them to come and it doesn't serve the performers and the staff working on it. Tourists may not understand all the meanings of the performance, but they can still appreciate its beauty. I hope they can fix this issue and I wish them a bigger and more diverse audience for the years to...