Dotombori Museum Namikiza — Attraction in Osaka

This place is super cute and the people super friendly. You pay 600 Yen for a 15-minute video that explains how Dotonbori used to be a huge theater district. If you are interested in checking out theaters, you get a map at the end as well. I found it really neat even though I was in there by myself learning about all this.

The lady also suggested a Kabuki show around the corner which I had already bought tickets for prior to arriving. Very glad I stopped here first because she let me know the daytime matinee show I booked would be different than the evening show. Unfortunately, she told me the daytime show can be confusing - even for Japanese people. Basically, one guy will play 5 characters through costume changes which she said won't be as easy to follow but... at least I was forewarned. Had I not come here, I would've thought all Kabuki performances were like the one I will see next week.

I didn't pay the extra 600 for photos but they still let me stand on the revolve and they spun it for me while I recorded a short video clip. Kind of wish I would've just done the photos because they really are so nice there.

They are only open from 1-5 and Dotonbori just starts getting busy around that time. So if they wanted to "trap tourists," they could. Instead they keep it family friendly. So, check it out if you have any interest in theater... it's only 15-30 minutes of your time and you'll walk away with more than you walked in with. To me,...

I had the enormous privilege of seeing Nozawa Matsuya and his fellow joruri and shamisen artists perform at one of the monthly events held at the museum. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming, with performers, museum staff and even audience members helping us translate, explaining the stories, and encouraging us to ask question. A very special experience and definitely one of the most memorable evenings of our trip. Thank you so much to everyone involved. If you're lucky enough to be in Osaka when these events are on, I'd highly...

This is a museum for those who want to know a little about Kabuki and other theatrical styles that have been part of Japan for at least 400 years. Inside the museum you feel inside a small Japanese village. Everything is very interesting and visually beautiful. You literally feel like you are back in the Edo period. It's closed on Mondays and an adult ticket costs ¥1,200. If you want, you can even take pictures wearing period Kabuki costume. The place welcomes everyone, whether you are a foreigner or not. Have...