Tokyo Shows: A Cultural Extravaganza of Japan’s Rich Heritage
If you’re in Tokyo, why not add some showbiz to your trip? This city doesn’t just have bright lights and busy streets - it’s also a stage for amazing performances! From geisha dances to taiko drumming, Tokyo is your front-row seat to Japan’s cultural heritage.
In particular, September is a great time, with festivals and parades lighting up the city. But don’t worry, performances run all year round so you can find something awesome whenever you go. Whether you’re entranced by a bunraku puppet show or tapping along to kabuki theatre, Tokyo’s shows are the perfect mix of tradition and modernity. Ready to get started? Let’s get into Pelago by Singapore Airlines's guide to the top Tokyo shows and performances you won’t want to miss!
Tuna Cutting Show in Tokyo
If you want to enjoy some of the best travel experiences in Japan and most interesting activities in Tokyo, this show is the one for you. Get lost in the culinary and visual feast of the All-You-Can-Eat Tuna Sushi and Carving Show in Tokyo. Watch the art of making sushi, a Japanese favourite, with fresh tuna. See skilled chefs carve a whole fresh tuna and turn it into sashimi right before your eyes. Then eat all you can of this yummy fish and drink Japanese sake while you’re at it. Already hooked? Then, book your All-You-Can-Eat Tuna Sushi and Carving Show tickets now.
Classical Japanese Dance-Drama Show
Go back in time as you watch a Japanese dance-drama show while having a full-course dinner at restaurant SUIGIAN near Fukutoku Shrine in Tokyo. Get lost in Japanese art, history and tradition as an enchanting performance brings to life timeless stories of love, honour and betrayal through beautiful choreography and costumes. The show features multiple dance styles and dramatic elements to give you a glimpse into the history of Japanese performing arts. If you want to experience culture and art when enjoying a good meal, get your classical Japanese dance-drama show tickets today.
Samurai Performance Show
Get ready for a samurai experience like no other in Tokyo as you enter the world of these noble warriors at the Samurai Performance Show in the city. See these skilled warriors demonstrate the art of swordsmanship and traditional techniques passed down through the generations.
The show is a realistic recreation of the samurai world, with beautiful sword dances, intense battle scenes and warrior performances in Japanese armour.
With a history of over 400 years, this is an experience into the martial heritage of Japan and the code of Bushido - a moral code of conduct formalised in the Edo period that defines the behaviour, attitude and way of life of a samurai warrior.
Traditional Japanese Music Zakuro Show in Tokyo
Let the traditional Japanese show mesmerise you as talented musicians play shamisen, taiko drums and bamboo flutes in an up-close and personal setting. Watch top musicians perform as you learn about the history of the music and their instruments. From the Koto and Flute to the Taiko drums and Base Harp, you’ll be on a musical adventure like no other during the Zakuro show in Tokyo.
Magic Show at Mahou Dining Bar Osmand
Be amazed by a magic show at Mahou Dining Bar Osmand in Roppongi, Tokyo as you watch incredible tricks and sleight of hand as the magicians spin a web of wonder. From mind-bending to mind-reading, this show will blow your mind.
While you’re at it, enjoy a meal with courses, all-you-can-drink options and an a la carte menu. Take in Tokyo’s nightlife at Mahou Dining Bar Osmand as the magicians show off their magic. If you want a night of mystery and magic, you don’t have to look any further than this.
Stand Up Comedy Show
Go to the only comedy club in Tokyo for a stand-up comedy show! See the best comedians in the city bring funny and light-hearted jokes to life. Prepare for gut-busting laughter as these comedians talk about everything from life in Japan to sea cucumbers’ survival tactics!
Worried about the language barrier? Don't be - the show is in English so sit back, relax, grab a craft beer and get ready to laugh out loud in this comedy extravaganza.
Traditional Shamisen Music Show
For those who don’t know, the shamisen is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument known as a Japanese banjo. It has a wooden body, a long neck where the strings are strung and plucked, a rectangular sandbox and an unfretted fingerboard. It’s known for its versatility in musical expressions and is used for puppet theatre, kabuki (drama), narrative songs and koto chamber music.
Watch a traditional shamisen music show and be captivated by the soulful melodies, timeless beauty and depth of this ancient art form at the heart of Japanese classical music. In this performance, the shamisen is the star of the show with narration and musical accompaniment.
Myojin Show
Before we get into the show, let’s talk about Myojin. Myojin was an old title used to describe Japanese or Shinto gods and their shrines. In English, Myojin means bright, something lit up by light, so it’s bright and clear.
Now onto the Myojin Show - it’s fun and magical, to put it mildly. A mix of traditional rakugo (comic storytelling), juggling (daikagura) and magic (wazuma), this enchanting performance is a unique blend of storytelling and entertainment. Laughter and surprises await you in the whimsical world of the Myojin Show where the performers will use humour and magic to entertain you.
Shining Beacons of Japan’s Rich Artistic Legacy
These shows in Tokyo are the embodiment of Japan’s history and art. They are not just spectacles, but they are living and breathing examples of Japan itself, preserving the old and embracing the new. Each performance, whether it is a geisha or samurai show, offers tourists a unique window into Japan.
Much like these shows, Pelago by Singapore Airlines has a list of authentic experiences such as sumo wrestling attractions to find the magic in the Japanese traditions that still exist today!
Commonly Asked Questions
Where can I see a geisha in Tokyo?
Geisha can be found in various shows and events in Tokyo. The Akasaka Odori Video and Geisha Experience in Luxury Restaurant and Myojin Show are some options.
What are the different traditional Japanese performances?
Traditional Japanese performances include dance dramas, samurai shows, Noh theatre, music shows, magic shows, stand-up comedy and bunraku or puppet theatre.
What is traditional Japanese theatre called?
Traditional Japanese theatre is called Noh or kabuki. Noh is a classical form of musical drama that has been around since the 14th century and kabuki is a more flashy and dramatic form of drama that emerged in 17th century.
What is Kyogen Theatre?
Kyogen is a traditional Japanese comic theatre, performed as interludes between Noh plays. They feature short humorous sketches that comment on society and entertain the audience.
What is Japanese puppet theatre called?
Bunraku. It started in the 17th century, where puppets made of wood and paper were manipulated by skilled puppeteers to tell dramatic stories with live music and chanting.